May 25, 2014

Porn Star Belle Knox Speaks Out On Alyssa Funke Suicide: ‘That Could’ve Been How It Ended For Me Too’

Belle Knox, a former porn actress, found herself in a comparable circumstance when she was revealed to be the woman her classmate had seen on a pornographic website, despite explicitly requesting that he keep her identity private. Knox detailed the similarities between her own experience of being bullied after being outed and the tragic story of Funke, who took her own life after facing cyberbullying. Knox's powerful letter discussing these parallels garnered so much attention that the xoJane website temporarily crashed upon its initial publication.

“Upon hearing your story, I was overcome with a torrent of emotions that brought me to tears. I experienced feelings of outrage, anger, shock, and a sense of dreadful disgust that made my body shiver and my chest constrict. It dawned on me that the same fate could have befallen me, and that realization hit hard.”

“As various media outlets have pointed out, your story, my story, and the story of every young woman who has worked in the porn industry are all too similar. We share a tragic experience that has become a parent's worst nightmare, and our decision to make an X-rated video for the internet, for financial gain, has resulted in us being stigmatized and shamed forever.”

 

Knox disclosed that she too had contemplated ending her own life but managed to cling on to a glimmer of hope that helped her persevere through the negativity. She emphasized that she does not hold the porn industry accountable for Funke's suicide, but rather the cyberbullying and negative stigmas attached to pornography, which individuals use to justify their mistreatment of porn actors.

 

Knox expressed regret that she did not have the opportunity to speak with Funke before she took her life, and conveyed her heartfelt wish that she could have provided her with encouragement to keep fighting. She lamented that she was unable to support Funke and reassure her that despite the darkness, things will improve in time, and the narrow-mindedness of some college students will have no significance in her future success as an anesthesiologist. Knox underscored that an individual's self-worth is not determined by their sexuality, and that every person has the right to lead their life on their own terms.

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