With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today during our fall member drive.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Porn Actor Admits He Forged His Syphilis Test
An 18-year veteran of the porn industry has come out and admitted that he performed after testing positive for syphilis, on the heels of an outbreak has shut down the industry.
The porn actor named Mr. Marcus told Adult Video News: "So now we're dealing with [syphilis] in our industry, and I'm the guy. I didn't want to be the guy, but I'm the guy."
Earlier this year Mr. Marcus gained some mainstream notoriety this year as the dude who starred in a porn filmed at the Coliseum. He recently got calls from his mom and Snoop Dogg congratulating him for his work over a decade after it was filmed.
But now Mr. Marcus is gaining notoriety in another way. He said that he tested positive for syphilis, went to the doctor and followed the instructions. He told AVN that he got a shot and waited the prescribed amount of time (7-10 days) before he had sex again, but later tests continued to show that he had syphilis.
Support for LAist comes from
He alleges that the Talent Testing Service removed the positive syphilis results from his tests at his request, and he managed to hide his results from producers—until he got caught. But the testing service denies that. Its president told AVN that it wasn't even possible for them to create a report that omitted a test performer's results: "Our system does not permit that to be done. The system does not allow for that to happen. There's no way of choosing what tests to put on a report."
Mr. Marcus said he figured that he was clean because he had followed a doctor's orders, so he doctored his test to avoid the stigma. Now he realizes what he did was wrong:
"I tried to cover it up. I didn't want to have to share that part because it was like the Scarlet Letter. Because then it's like Mr. Marcus, syphilis? Mr. Marcus, the one I worked with? Mr. Marcus, the one everyone's worked with? The one that's been in this industry forever? Yeah, you got all that shit man. It ain't just me. There's so much more…I've wanted to just like make sure that the people I worked with got tested. That whatever if people wanted to talk to me directly, which they can, my number ain't changed and I'm not hiding from anyone, I can tell you. And when I finally owned up to the alternate test that's when I said, 'Yeah, I guess I need to do it this way because I know people were disappointed because I am held to a standard and I should set a better example.' I know that now. I didn't think of it, I just thought okay, how do I not have this on my test? No one else is talking about it. Now it's all we're talking about it. The whole city's talking about it."
For now, the Adult Production Health and Safety Services is trying to piece together who might have contracted syphilis while the industry is on hiatus. It's looking to see who had sex with performers in Budapest, which was the source of a recent syphilis outbreak.Related:
Syphilis Outbreak Brings Porn Industry to a Halt
Condoms in Porn Measure Scores Spot on November Ballot
At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
Restaurants share resources in the food hall in West Adams as Los Angeles reckons with increasing restaurant closures. -
It will be the second national day of protest against President Donald Trump. -
The university says the compact, as the Trump administration called it, could undermine free inquiry and academic excellence. -
This is the one time you can do this legally! -
Metro officials said it will be able to announce an opening date “soon.” -
While working for the county, the DA’s office alleges that 13 employees fraudulently filed for unemployment, claiming to earn less than $600 a week.
Best of LAist