If you or someone you know is a current or former adult performer seeking health resources or legal advocacy, contact the Adult Performer Advocacy Committee (APAC).
If "Slammed" pushed the boundaries of drug use, TIM’s 2014 release, obliterated them regarding HIV. The film, which centered on bareback sex between HIV-positive and HIV-negative men, featured a graphic scene where a jar labeled "POZ CUM" was emptied into a performer's body. The studio's press release for the film was equally inflammatory, referring to sex as a "virus" that men are compelled to "breed" and spread. This was not just a description of a fantasy; it was a direct fetishization of HIV transmission risk. The industry blog STR8UPGAYPORN wrote that "Treasure Island Media isn’t really a gay pornography studio anymore... Their business model is 100% focused on spreading infectious diseases," comparing the release to a "snuff film". This release reignited legal battles, with Cal/OSHA upholding serious citations against the company for workplace hazards.
Directed by Liam Cole and shot in London, "Slammed" was marketed by Morris as "Liam Cole's most extreme video to date," describing it as "an honest and true record of the lawless men of the 21st century". The title itself was a provocative clue. In drug culture slang, "slamming" refers to the intravenous injection of drugs like crystal meth or MDMA. True to its name, the film graphically depicted men shooting up crystal meth before engaging in bareback anal sex. Treasure Island Media Slammed
The most severe and prolonged criticism against Treasure Island Media stems from its explicit promotion of barebacking, particularly during the height of the HIV/AIDS epidemic and the years preceding the widespread availability of PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis).
Furthermore, critics point out that waivers are legally tenuous when a power imbalance exists. Many TIM performers have been homeless, addicted to substances, or desperate for cash—a fact the documentary highlights with disturbing specificity. If you or someone you know is a
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A recently released independent documentary, The Uncut Truth , features interviews with five former TIM models who worked for the studio between 2010 and 2020. In the film, they allege that the studio actively discouraged testing for STIs between shoots to maintain a "spontaneous" aesthetic. One performer, using the pseudonym "Alex," claims he contracted syphilis and drug-resistant gonorrhea on two separate shoots and was told to "self-treat" rather than file a workers’ compensation claim. The studio's press release for the film was
One of the most bewildering aspects of the "Slammed" controversy was its stark contradiction of owner Paul Morris's own past actions. Outrage was compounded by the revelation that Morris had previously financed a documentary on meth, designed to highlight the devastating negative consequences of the drug on gay communities. Critics were left wondering how a man who funded a film about the horrors of meth addiction could then turn around and produce a feature that fetishizes its use as a prelude to sexual activity. As one analysis put it, the juxtaposition raised unsettling questions about where the studio was heading, suggesting that TIM felt "a bit lost at the moment".
Furthermore, proponents emphasize that the performers involved are consenting adults who actively choose to participate in niche genres. They argue that stigmatizing the production forces these expressions underground, whereas a structured studio environment—regardless of how controversial the output—allows for a baseline of administrative oversight. Conclusion
In 2014, an Administrative Law Judge upheld the OSHA citations against TIM, establishing a landmark ruling that barrier protection is necessary safety equipment, affirming that performers are employees subject to occupational health standards. Industry Bans: