CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – A 20-year veteran of the online adult industry is gravely ill and needs the industry’s help. A GoFundMe campaign has been established to assist with medical bills and other expenses.
Robert Jenkins, better known in the industry as Khan, was the first person Rick Muenyong hired after founding the YNOT Network in 1996. Kahn oversaw the YNOT.com message boards, among other responsibilities. When Muenyong sold the company in the middle of the 21st century’s first decade, Khan left with him and went to work for Muenyong at TheBestPorn.com, PornUsers.com and MyPorn.com.
According to Muenyong, Khan has battled severe heart disease for almost a decade. Recently, his condition took a turn for the worse.
“Robert suffered a severe heart attack in 2007,” Muenyong wrote on the GoFundMe page. “Stents were inserted at the time, but it was not enough to keep his heart’s ability and health from deteriorating. Numerous issues have popped up over the years, ranging from fluid buildup in his heart and inconsistent blood pressure to neuropathy in his legs. Still, he maintained a great attitude and work ethic, taking small breaks to take short walks as directed by his physicians but making it up with late nights and early mornings.
Muenyong said a recent change to Khan’s medication precipitated additional health issues, including kidney and liver damage.
After new diagnostic tests, “he made the bold choice to forego further medical tests, procedures, and treatments in order to not further burden his friends, family and wife with more bills and emotional trauma,” Muenyong said. “He was moved to a hospice facility last Friday, and his current prognosis gives him a few days to a week or so left with us.”
Muenyong said he established the GoFundMe campaign not only as a fundraiser to help with the expenses Khan will leave behind, but also to assist his wife as she struggles with health issues of her own.
Mostly, though, Muenyong wanted a way to say goodbye to a friend.
“This GoFundMe page is an online memorial for our good friend Robert Jenkins,” Muenyong wrote on the page. “I set this up to give everyone a chance to send their respective goodbyes, as I’m hopeful Khan will have a chance to read these comments in his final few days. He is one of the true original old-school guys in the biz, but he always kept up with current trends, spoke his mind, stayed true to himself and is a true professional. His hard work and loyalty to both the adult community and to me will be missed and never forgotten.”
Current YNOT co-owner Jay Kopita echoed Mueyong’s sentiments.
“When YNOT hired me in 2000, I had the pleasure of working hand in hand with Khan from the start,” Kopita said. “He was equal parts helpful and tough love, and he was definitely instrumental in making YNOT the early industry success that still holds true today. He is a legend that anyone old-school would remember. I respect this guy so much. Losing him will be hard for many in this industry.”
By noon the day after Muenyong launched the GoFundMe campaign, the project had received $1,645 of the $10,000 it seeks to raise.
“Any donations, big or small, are greatly appreciated by [Khan’s] wife and me, personally,” Muenyong noted on the page. “Though we all enjoy the fun and relaxed atmosphere that working in the adult industry provides, it hurts to see someone who was so dedicated and hardworking have to suffer and worry about his loved ones and their future at a time like this.
“He touched many people over the years,” Muenyong added, “and we hope we can show him now how much he impacted us all.”
The campaign’s page is at GoFundMe.com/robrose.
