Hirsch Shoots Back at MiM's Trueman

LOS ANGELES—Vivid Entertainment founder/co-chairman Steven Hirsch today blasted Morality in Media president Patrick A. Trueman for making “inflammatory and ridiculous assertions” about the impact of pornography on society.  In response to Trueman's allegations that there is an “untreated pandemic of harm from pornography” and “according to many studies, children and adults are developing life-long addictions to pornography,” Hirsch stated, “Contrary to Mr. Trueman’s claims, there are no reputable facts or studies to back up his assertions."He added, “Mr. Trueman makes his living trying to control the legal choices adults have in the kind of entertainment they can enjoy. It is obviously in his economic interest to make inflammatory and ridiculous assertions about the so-called detrimental effects of adult entertainment, since that is what he is paid to do. He preys upon weak politicians, eager for votes from people who drink his anti-free speech Kool-Aid.“Instead of advising people who don’t like adult films to simply not watch them, Mr. Trueman chooses to try and control what everyone can and cannot watch, a fundamental right protected by the First Amendment," Hirsch continued. "But I think people like Mr. Trueman don’t intimidate anyone, any more. They reject the nonsensical diatribes of a man who wants to rob them of their right to make their own decisions about what they view and read.”          Hirsch demanded that Trueman immediately cease making defamatory and untrue personal attacks on him or face legal consequences. He referred to a recent statement issued by Trueman calling him a “man whose business is sexually exploiting young girls for profit.” “We do not sexually exploit or coerce anyone,” Hirsch said. “All of the people with whom we work are consenting adults and they perform in our productions according to strict standards regarding age, health tests and other legal criteria.”