“When you fetishize a person, you are dehumanizing that person into a thing,” he says. He also notes that Black men are still fetishised in degrading ways within the industry, and the impact on the actor is severe.
I was also the only Black person on staff.” The fetishisation of Black people in the gay porn industry is a persistent problem. “I was the only person laid off at that time.
He says he was told they had no need for two casting directors. “I was made to feel like I was not worthy of praise, validation, and definitely less valuable than all of the white actors.”Ĭooper says his time with the company ended when it merged with Falcon Studios.
