Exclusive: Next Door Studios Responds Regarding the Switch to Bareback

Even as Kink.com was struck with some bad press last month surrounding the revelation of two recently infected, HIV-positive performers (though there was no evidence that either was infected on set), the trend toward barebacking in the established gay porn world has been growing for several years now. We noted a week and a half ago that Next Door Studios was the latest to shoot their first bareback scene, and today The Sword brings you some exclusive commentary from Next Door’s CEO Stephan Sirard.

Sirard was a vocal opponent of bareback shoots in years past, going so far as to say to The Advocate in 2009, “Studios that don’t use condoms and don’t test should be in court for murder.” Now Sirard tells the Sword that the availability of new and improved testing methods ultimately swayed him, and he still intends to have at least half of Next Door’s scenes be shot with condoms if that is what the models want.

When asked what the customer response has been so far to “Suck,” the first bareback scene on Next Door Buddies featuring Slate Steele, Cole Christianson, and Austin Storm, Sirard said, “[It’s been] good. I personally didn’t think it was a great scene, but the response has been very positive.”

As far as what Next Door’s “best practices” will be going forward when it comes to testing and condoms, Sirard had this to say:

We have been one of the most aggressive studios on model STD testing. Our panel testing is more elaborate than any other studio out there; we test for every sexually transmitted disease. The primary laboratory that conducts our test is not affiliated with the adult industry and is an independently accredited laboratory that conducts every medical test for every doctor’s office and hospital in the nation. It is costing us more money to do bareback scenes. We are not interested in increasing our profit margin at the expense of our models health, which is why we increased our testing budget to allow for the use of the most advanced testing techniques which includes three phases of testing.

Most gay studios don’t test but use condoms and use performers who are HIV positive. Condoms break, come out, or fall out and there are other ways to contract sexually transmitted diseases during a sex scene.
We will continue to aggressively STD test all models regardless of their choices, but for models who select condom-free they will be tested 3 times; three weeks prior to their scene for HIV only, then one week prior to their scene for all STDs, and finally we will add the CVS HIV home test kit for every model that appears on our site and it will be the model’s choice to use condoms or not. Practicing safe sex is a must but it is equally important to test so you know your status. It will be the model’s choice to decide if they want to perform with a condom or not, not the studio, not the government, but the performer’s choice.

So, to be sure, Sirard is not on the side of those who want to mandate condoms industry-wide, and since this testing now exists he and Next Door are putting the onus on performers to make the choice themselves.

As a result of the Kink situation and the recent moratorium on all shoots, gay and straight, industry-wide, on-set testing is now being mandated for all porn performers every 14 days.

Cal/OSHA, the California department that oversees workplace safety, will meanwhile continue to be on alert for the next publicized situation involving a performer who’s infected.

Previously: NEXT DOOR STUDIOS GOES BAREBACK

18 thoughts on “Exclusive: Next Door Studios Responds Regarding the Switch to Bareback”

  1. Well I’m pleased I unsubscribed because if I hadn’t I would have after that bareback scene appeared. Like Michael Lucas he’s another hypocrite!

    I wonder if one or more of the models become HIV+ will they help them with their medical bills out of the extra profit they make?

    Anyway there’s too much bareback…..I’m done with porn!

  2. He’s right. Next Door’s first bareback scene was not good at all. If I was a Next Door subscriber I would be pissed that the CEO is admitting that he is putting out scenes that even he does not think are very good.

  3. Right, because horny men NEVER lie…right? I’m suuuuure that these men remain celibate for the three weeks prior to bareback scene. What nonsense. People lie. Horny MEN lie. When we’re turned on and in the moment, we feel like invincible gods. The studios could have an assistant follow the men 24/7 for three weeks to make sure they don’t give in to temptation before the shoot – but even then, they’d probably end up fucking them!

    Ridiculous. Wear condoms. 99% safe is a lot better than playing Russian Roulette. I’ve never watched a Trenton Ducati scene and thought “Aw man, that condom is turning me off”. What’s wrong with these people? I guess some people just look at porn stars as “things”. Products. They don’t care about their health or well-being. In fact, whenever a porn star comes out and says they’re positive, I see a lot of comments here mocking them and cracking jokes. It’s disturbing.

    My hope is that the mainstream stars will stay away from bareback. It’s not safe, no matter how many times someone is tested before the shoot. It’s not just about educating the public and setting a good example – it’s about caring about the health and well-being of the models. The fact that so many guys are begging for bareback in porn makes me worry about our community in general, especially the younger generations. There’s no cure yet, guys. Wear condoms.

  4. Freddie, the commenter

    I don’t understand why they will test the guys for HIV three weeks prior the scene if next to the scene the performers will be retested with ” CVS HIV home test kit “. Bullshit much? And this CVS HIV kit must be used at least in the day before the scene because if one performer got infected between the last test and his ‘ work ‘ all precautions are in vain. Bareback porn is a very safe way to earn money.

  5. Seems more like an act of desperation to get and keep members on their part. Lets face it, after they got rid of all of their gay 4 pay performers and the 2 gay performers they had I’m pretty sure business has been tanking for them. Granted I never had a membership to nextdoor and managed to rub one out quickly watching just the previews. The latest run of gay 4 payers they have signed don’t compare with the original. Nextdoor will be gone in no time soon and all for the better. That is one site that preys on desperate old queens who fantasize about being with that one straight guy who in reality finds them repulsive(Cody Cummings comes to mind). Though I must admit the men are hot but I’ll be damned if I spend a dime on it.

  6. I mean, the performer’s “choice?” First, for most of these guys, this is their sole line of work, or the guys are desperate for cash, so let’s not pretend that these performers all have the same level of motivation or risk-avoidance.

    Second, one simple question: are the performers in bareback scenes being paid more per scene by NDS?

  7. seems i read this same stuff over and over and over…everyone has the latest greatest test ….but somehow people are still getting poz’d……strange…

    …..WHY take the chance no matter how slim…..use this same analogy with ..say sky diving…like we are trying to make the jump more fun so we’ve clipped a few of the strings…we can tell people its safe…

    1. Yeah, but any self-respecting jumper always packs his own chute…he doesn’t let Next Door Studios, or CVS (!) do it for him…you can only trust yourself for some things.

  8. “The primary laboratory that conducts our test is not affiliated with the adult industry and is an independently accredited laboratory that conducts every medical test for every doctor’s office and hospital in the nation.”

    what? LOL

    1. Oh come on devin, if THAT’S not enough for you, these industry titans go on to say “finally we will add the CVS HIV home test kit for every model that appears on our site”…
      You can’t say they aren’t trying…

  9. What a hypocrite!

    “Studios that don’t use condoms and don’t test should be in court for murder.” – unless we really need the money.

    You’re not only putting models at risk but also discriminating against models who are already HIV+.
    So sad.

  10. #1-If performers don’t wanna take the risk, they can refuse to do the scene and go home, or work elsewhere.
    #2-If consumers are offended, they can refuse to watch/purchase/support bareback scenes
    #3-If studios don’t wanna do bareback, they are free to continue using condoms
    See How freedom of choice works? Now, stop bitching.

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