Get the best celeb gossip with the Daily Star Showbiz newsletter
Five young porn actresses died in chillingly quick succession, each losing their life to suicide or a suspected overdose between November 2017 and January 2018.
The adult entertainment world was stunned when Olivia Lua, 23, Shyla Stylez, 35, Olivia Nova, 20, Yuri Luv, 31 and August Ames, 23, all died within just weeks of each other.
Their tragic and untimely deaths sparked calls for increased mental health support for vulnerable adult industry workers who are negatively affected by sex work stigma.
Later, well-known porn actor Bill Bailey died attending a sex festival in Mexico City with his girlfriend, as he plunged to his death during the event.
Daily Star has taken a look at the string of shocking deaths which have rocked the adult entertainment business.
Dahlia Sky
Adult star Dahlia Sky was tragically found dead in a car in San Fernando Valley, LA, in July 2021 after battling terminal cancer.
Dahlia, 31, was reportedly suffering from depression whilst fighting stage four breast cancer and officers said at the time she died from a gunshot wound.
The death was described as a "potential suicide," with LAPD detective Dave Peteque telling AVN that suicide was "what the investigation is leaning towards, and there's no evidence at this time that there's any foul play."
Adult film producer Hans, who worked with Dahlia on her 2020 movie Always Dahlia Sky, claimed she had been struggling with her mental health, saying: "During her last year, I spoke to her several times about life. It was not an easy ride for her.
"This will take a long time to get over, if it's even possible. Dahlia Sky, you beautiful soul, you funny, complicated, and warm-hearted friend! I am going to miss you so much."
Olivia Nova
Adult film star Olivia Nova suffered a lonely death in January 2018 when a urinary tract infection spread to her kidneys and turned to sepsis.
The 20-year-old lay dead in her bedroom for 12 hours before she was discovered face down and naked from below the waist.
Her room in Las Vegas was strewn with medication for kidney infections and UTIs and Olivia – real name Lexi Forde – had apparently been warned by doctors that her "days were limited" unless she quit booze.
Devastated by the death of her boyfriend Nolan in 2017 from a heroin overdose, she is said to have turned to booze to cope.
Close friend Jimmie Romero told Mirror Online: "She said she wanted to change her lifestyle – she looked in my eyes and said to me, 'I want to stop and change my life. I have a family that loves me.'"
August Ames
Canadian-born August Ames starred in more than 290 porn films before she was found hanging in a public park in the early hours of December 5, 2017.
Her shock death came just two days after she was mercilessly trolled for refusing to shoot a porn scene with a "crossover actor" – someone who has unprotected sex with both men and women.
The star – real name Mercedes Grabowski – was branded homophobic but hit back, stating she was bisexual herself.
"NOT homophobic. Most girls don’t shoot with guys who have shot gay porn, for safety," she tweeted.
"That’s just how it is with me. I’m not putting my body at risk, I don’t know what they do in their private lives."
August had suffered from depression in the months leading up to her death and took her own life just 20 minutes away from the home she shared with her adult film director husband Kevin Moore.
Bill Bailey
Bill Bailey plunged four floors to his death after an apparent all-day drinking session at a hotel in March 2018.
The 38-year-old actor – who had starred in more than 2,000 adult movies – fell over a railing in a stairwell at the plush Hotel Grand Prix on Rio in Mexico City and died on impact.
He had been in town for Mexican sex festival Expo Sexo y Erotismo 2019 with girlfriend AJ Applegate and a group of pals.
The Secretariat of Public Security said: "A 29-year-old woman from Florida in the US who was staying in the same hotel as her boyfriend, the victim, said that they were both in Mexico for professional reasons and to visit the sex expo.
"She also said that she is a porn actress and claimed that her boyfriend had been drinking all day."
Yuri Luv
Mystery surrounded Yurizan Beltran's death after she was found lifeless in her flat in December 2018, reportedly surrounded by bottles of pills.
It took the coroner four months to find that Yuri, 31, was killed by bronchopneumonia, or inflammation of the lungs, sparked by an overdose of prescription opioid hydrocodone.
Her friend Nick Melillo claimed she had died in her sleep following a drawn-out battle with drugs.
He told Newsweek: "It’s very difficult for girls in the adult business to find men who are willing to accept them… That’s why she took drugs here and there."
"The adult business is rampant with drugs — especially crystal meth, because it's cheap, and pills."
Olivia Lua
Olivia Lua, 23, was found dead in rehab in January 2018 after battling an addiction to prescription drugs.
Also known as Olivia Voltaire, a spokesperson revealed she suffered a devastating relapse one week earlier and had checked back into rehab in a bid to save her life.
And in a final chilling Instagram post, the young actress hinted at her hopelessness, telling fans: "I feel it everywhere, nothing scares me anymore."
Confirming her death, Olivia's agency, LA Direct Models, said Olivia had been facing some "personal challenges" and had been in and out of residential rehab for almost three months.
It read: "Much comment has recently been made on the number of adult stars having passed in the last year and with great sadness we must inform that the list has grown longer.
“Olivia had not been available for work since early October of last year… She had been out for about a month, hoping to make a return to work in the early part of this year.
“Family and close friends said they had deep concern at the volume of prescription drugs prescribed to Olivia and the danger this posed to her.
“If this was mixed with recreational drugs or alcohol, it is believed this to be the cause of her passing.”
Shyla Stylez
Canadian actress Shyla Stylez – aka Amanda Friedland – died suddenly in her sleep aged just 35 in November 2017 amid rumours she'd suffered an overdose.
The actress – who was famed for her 'hardcore' performances as Shyla, Amanda Auclair and Shyla Stylex – was found in bed unresponsive by her mum after spending the night at the family home in British Columbia, Canada.
Fans were horrified when tweets continued to be made from her account in the days after her death.
"Many unanswered questions are on your mind today, yet you won… More for Libra," read one, prompting some to question if her death was a hoax.
It transpired that the tweets were automated horoscopes. No cause has ever been given for her death.
For emotional support you can call the Samaritans 24-hour helpline on 116 123, email [email protected], visit a Samaritans branch in person or go to the Samaritans website.
- Drugs
Source: Read Full Article
