The California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) has launched an investigation into embattled porn star James Deen’s adult film production company, James Deen Productions, for alleged violations of a mandatory condom law on Los Angeles-area film shoots.
A Cal/OSHA spokeswoman told the Wrap that Deen’s company was being investigated for repeated violations of Measure B, legislation approved by voters in 2012 that makes condom use mandatory on all adult film sets in Los Angeles County.
The investigation reportedly began after the AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), an agency instrumental in the passage of Measure B, lodged a complaint against the production company “for lack of condom use.” A spokesman for the group told the Wrap that it had “submitted videos” as evidence in its complaint.
The investigation comes as Deen, long considered the “boy next door” of the porn industry, faces multiple rape and sexual assault allegations from more than a half-dozen porn stars. Deen’s ex-girlfriend, porn star Stoya, alleged in a recent Twitter post that Deen held her down and had sex with her even as she repeatedly pleaded with him to stop and used a “safeword.”
In the wake of Stoya’s tweet, eight other women have accused Deen of various forms of rape or sexual assault.
Deen broke his silence on the allegations earlier this week, telling the Daily Beast that he was “completely baffled” by them and denying any wrongdoing.
The AIDS Healthcare Foundation and its president, Michael Weinstein, are behind a new ballot measure that would mandate condom use on all adult film sets in California, not just in Los Angeles County as Measure B currently requires.
The group is also behind a revised set of Cal/OSHA porn safety standards that would require, among many other things, that performers wear eye protection while shooting adult films.