LOS ANGELES – In a lawsuit filed Monday in Los Angeles, adult performer Nikki Benz alleges she was subjected to battery, assault, sexual battery, various civil rights violations and gender violence while shooting a scene on December 17, 2016.
The lawsuit, which names MindGeek USA, MG Premium Ltd. (DBA Brazzers), 5 Boroughs, Tony T (AKA Abraham Ismail), Ramon Nomar (AKA Ramon E. Perez Fernandez) and 50 John Doe defendants, also alleges she was exposed to a hostile work environment and that the defendants failed to prevent a hostile work environment.
According to the complaint, Benz performed in shoots directed by Tony T on both December 16 and December 17, 2016, with the first of the two shoots going “according to plan.”
Unlike the December 16 shoot, Benz did not receive a script in advance for the shoot the following day, nor was she informed of the “the title of the scene or what it would entail,” according to the complaint.
“The shoot was booked as a ‘boy girl,’” the complaint states. “Benz was only aware of the facts the shoot would be hardcore and what she would be wearing. Benz knew nothing else about the shoot.”
The complaint further alleges that when filming began, “Tony T yelled at everyone to leave the room, and shut the door,” which the complaint states is “contrary to industry standard and practice.” It also states that Benz “wore a mask throughout the entire shoot, leaving only holes for her mouth and eyes. In addition, Benz’s underwear was tied around her mouth, making her gag.”
The complaint describes a scene with very rough sex – including acts which are not entirely uncommon in gonzo porn, but in which Benz claims she didn’t consent to participate.
“Throughout the shoot, Tony T grabbed Benz’s head and forced her to open her eyes,” the complaint alleges. “Repeatedly, Tony T slapped Benz’s face and breasts, saying ‘Open your eyes, bitch,’ and ‘Open your fucking eyes.’ He would film with one hand and choke Benz with the other hand. Nomar stomped on Benz’s head. Between Tony T and Nomar, Benz was hit, slapped, choked, and thrown on the ground and against the wall. Benz was struck on the face, head and breasts hard enough to cause her to bleed.”
The complaint claims Benz “never consented to having Tony T touch her during the shoot or at any time,” and “Benz called ‘cut’ several times during the shoot to express this to Tony T and Nomar.”
The complaint further alleges Benz was coerced into giving a positive on-camera exit interview, after initially saying she would not work with Tony T and Nomar again. According to the complaint, Benz was told “if she did not do so, Benz would not receive her check.”
Asked for additional comment on the complaint, Benz’s attorney Dan Gilleon told YNOT “The #metoo movement applies to everyone including porn stars.”
“Nikki did not sign up for a brutal rape scene and she’s not going to cower from asserting her rights like any other woman would,” Gilleon said. “Tony T screwed up by assuming Nikki would not have the courage to speak out.”
In a statement provided Tuesday afternoon, Karen Tynan and Rich Freeman, the attorneys representing Tony T, told YNOT their client “has not yet been served with this recently filed lawsuit of Nikki Benz.”
“However, as you may be aware, our Client filed his own Lawsuit back in January, 2017 in the Los Angeles County Superior Court seeking to stop Nikki Benz from making false claims against him,” the statement continued. “Nikki Benz sought to stop that lawsuit and when her Motion to Dismiss was denied, she appealed. She has twice delayed in filing her Appellate Papers. Our client is confident that when the unedited footage is seen (without battery, blood, and choking) and the statements of the percipient witnesses are heard, everyone will appreciate that truth is on the side of our Client and that he will be vindicated. Beyond that, we respect the judicial process and will appropriately deal with these matters there.”
