Baller Alert spoke exclusively with adult film performer Mr. Marcus in June 2013, and this is part two of that interview. Here is the background. The Associated Press reported on June 4, 2013 that Mr. Marcus pleaded no contest in Los Angeles to charges that he knowingly exposed performers he worked with to syphilis. He was sentenced to 30 days in jail, 15 days of community service and three years of probation. In our conversation, he gave his side of what happened.
On the rash and the diagnosis
Mr. Marcus told Baller Alert that he did not think the skin irritation he noticed was serious. He said he believed it was dry skin, used lotion on it, and wondered whether stress or missing vitamins were to blame. He said he later went to a doctor, and that the condition he was diagnosed with was a curable bacterial infection that was treated.
On the jail time and community service
He described the sentence as time served, and said he regrets how the situation looked. Mr. Marcus told us he believes media coverage was unfair to him, and he said the clinic where he had been tested at the time did not catch the infection. He also said he feels few people are sympathetic toward performers in his industry. Prosecutors, as reported by the Associated Press, said he knowingly exposed others, and Mr. Marcus entered a plea of no contest.
On whether he knows the source
Mr. Marcus said he does not know who he caught the infection from, and said it changed how he sees his work. He told us he has pulled back from the business and had not filmed a scene since.
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On life after the headlines
He said the attention has been hard on him and the people close to him. He also said his relationships within the industry have shifted, with some colleagues keeping their distance and others showing support. Mr. Marcus said he is not planning to retire and is working on some business ventures.
On what he wants people to take away
Mr. Marcus said his goal is to make young people think twice, and that he may speak to college students about getting tested. His advice was simple: see a doctor, do follow ups, get tested and consider a second opinion.
The story is far from over for Mr. Marcus, who still faces the task of rebuilding trust with colleagues and the public. Many readers will have strong opinions about what happened, and it is fair to point out that he went online for answers instead of going straight to a doctor. Plenty of us have searched our symptoms before calling a physician, but this is a reminder to see a medical professional first. Whatever you think of the situation, the takeaway is worth repeating: get tested regularly and practice safe sex.
