Porn Star August Ames Found Dead at Age 23 After Enduring Online Harassment
The prolific adult superstar likely committed suicide.
August Ames—real name Mercedes Grabowski—was an incredibly active porn star until her death on Tuesday, December 5, at the age of 23.
The Canadian-born Ames, who starred in over 270 movies, was found dead in Ventura County, California. While the Daily Mail reports the medical examiner hasn’t issued a cause of death, it’s likely she committed suicide based on protracted harassment accusing her of being a homophobe.
Ames tweeted the following on Dec. 3:
whichever (lady) performer is replacing me tomorrow for @EroticaXNews , you’re shooting with a guy who has shot gay porn, just to let cha know. BS is all I can say🤷🏽♀️ Do agents really not care about who they’re representing? #ladirect I do my homework for my body🤓✏️🔍
— August Ames (@AugustAmesxxx) December 3, 2017
There was an almost immediate backlash, and Ames tried to respond:
NOT homophobic. Most girls don’t shoot with guys who have shot gay porn, for safety. That’s just how it is with me. I’m not putting my body at risk, i don’t know what they do in their private lives. https://t.co/MRKt2GrAU4
— August Ames (@AugustAmesxxx) December 3, 2017
Ames was reacting out of a common concern in the porn industry perhaps left over from the early days of AIDS, when stars generally stayed away from “crossover” performers out of concern they might contract HIV.
Most girls I know DON’T work with crossovers! Loving all the love and help ladies👌🏽 https://t.co/Qj9fiNBado
— August Ames (@AugustAmesxxx) December 4, 2017
She also challenged accusations of homophobia by pointing out her own same sex attraction.
How am I homophobic if I myself am attracted to women? Not wanting to have sex with gay men is not homophobic; they don’t want to have sex with me either👋 so byeeeee
— August Ames (@AugustAmesxxx) December 3, 2017
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August Ames’s final tweet was the day before she was found dead.
fuck y’all
— August Ames (@AugustAmesxxx) December 5, 2017
There was immediate reaction on social media from accounts representing porn outlets like Brazzers as well as from longtime veterans of the industry such as Jenna James.
Like everyone else we're just hearing about @AugustAmesxxx and we're devastated. Our thoughts go out to her friends and family. Heartbreaking news. RIP
— Brazzers (@Brazzers) December 6, 2017
I would like to point out the incredible amount of attacks that were made on me by the lgbt community when I voiced my opinion on a trans woman being in Playboy. I received death threats against me and my daughter. This went on for days. This mob mentality must end. #augustames
— Jenna Jameson (@jennajameson) December 7, 2017
https://twitter.com/Nicolette_Shea/status/938649614068080642
The Blast reported that Ames did deal with “longterm depression” and the harassment may have been a catalyst pushing her toward suicide.
Ames had a witty online presence on Instagram, which doesn’t allow porn or full-on nudity. It seems right to remember her as she presented herself there—confident and comfortable with who she was and the work she did.
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RIP.
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