Gay porn actor accuses co-star of sexual assault
Tegan Zayne claims he was sexually assaulted by Topher DiMaggio before filming a scene.
By Will Stroude
A leading gay porn star has publicly accused one of his co-stars of sexual assault.
Tegan Zayne, an American adult actor who has appeare in a string of X-rated titles, claims fellow gay porn star Topher DiMaggio sexually assaulted him while the pair were staying together before a shoot.
Zayne made the allegations on Twitter on Sunday (21 January) using the hashtag #MeToo, which has been used by victims of sexual assault and harassment since the Harvey Weinstein scandal broke late last year.
He told followers: “I think it’s time I tell a #MeToo story, I have so many but this one really takes the cake, because of how recent it was and especially because the guy responsible is still thriving in the porn industry while i suffered”.
The adult star then shared a longer message to the site in which he accused DiMaggio of sexually assaulting and raping him in 2016 in a shared living quarters the night before the pair were due to film a scene together.
Zayne alleges that DiMaggio entered the room where he was sleeping and “instantly went for it” and “insisted” on sex.
The performer went on: “‘No'” I said, ‘I didn’t clean I don’t want to… This was a repeated dialogue.”
Zayne, who says he told friends about the encounter at the time, claims that DiMaggio then ejaculated inside him despite being asked not to.
He added that he was then “belittled and degraded” while the pair were working together following the alleged incident.
“I haven’t told anyone else this because I’ve struggled with the idea that maybe he didn’t rape me, and maybe I did enjoy it,” Zayn wrote.
“Maybe having someone c*m in you when you repeatedly tell them ‘no’ is not a big deal when you’re a sex worker. Maybe I’m wrong for pointing this out.
He went on: “Does it even matter? Does anyone care? Nothing is going to happen, he will still be getting awards and jobs, so why am I telling this story? Because it can happen to anyone.
“You will be manipulated to think YOU are the one in the wrong. It happens to men, sex workers, LGBTQ. If you feel you’ve been wronged, don’t let anyone tell you how to feel.”
Zayne added that the did not want to start a “witch hunt” but that he wanted to shed light on the issue of sexual assault in the sex industry.
“I’ve seen a lot of stories come out about the metoo thing, but it feels like no one care about the male victims, or the sex workers,” he said.
“As someone else said ‘rape doesn’t exist in this line of work’ and it couldn’t be more true.”
In a statement to QueerMeNow, DiMaggio, 32, accused Zayne of “twisting” events.
“He’s crazy and twists stories,” he said. “He was so happy to film with me even the next day. It’s sad.
“I’m going to give it any attention [sic].”