Mainstream blogs (JMG, DListed, Queerty, etc.) are covering the passing of Erik Rhodes, and SFist has an insightful take on who Erik Rhodes was and what he meant to the industry as one of its last traditional gay porn stars:
Since [2004], he starred in numerous films, became one of the only name-brand stars in an industry increasingly faltering amidst the explosion of piracy and amateur cam sites. He wrote about his life as a porn star and prostitute on various blogs, never sparing anyone the nakedly honest details of his depressions, his abuse of party drugs like GHB and meth (link NSFW), and the ups and downs of his relationships, including one with a boyfriend of four years which ended earlier this year. Most interestingly, he was always glad to take criticism from “fans” and have public dialogues in the comments on his blogs, and to try to make people understand his dark sense of humor, his nihilism, and how the persona of ‘Erik Rhodes’ contrasted with his actual self. All of it felt like an art project at times, a critique of gay male norms and body image issues, in which he, himself, was the medium and the subject.
There was a lot to love and appreciate about him, but the one thing I loved and appreciated most about Erik Rhodes was that he “got it.” “It” being the ridiculousness of fame, the ridiculousness of the industry he worked in, and, at the risk of sounding obtuse, the ridiculousness of life in general. He loved what he did on camera, but Erik Rhodes never took “Erik Rhodes” seriously. Erik Rhodes was humble, full of humility, and completely self-aware, perhaps to a fault. Ironically, he was more grounded in reality than most of his peers, and especially his detractors.
Rhodes admitted to participating in comment threads on various blogs, including this one. He told me he would use aliases and engage commenters, tricking them into phony arguments for his own amusement. So, for those who have left disparaging comments on the post about his death and/or plan to do so on this one, please know that it’s exactly what Erik would have wanted. I’d like to think that he’s in the comments right now, somehow trolling all of us from beyond and having the last, great laugh.
Can we please stop with the hero worship of this asshole already…
In his own words:
“My twin brother and i tortured the gay kids in my high school. Which was weird when years later i ran into 2 of them while out at Limelight in the city… This one comes running up to me screaming “you have to be fucking kidding! You made my life hell”. To which i could only reply, “I’m sorry, i didnt know”… of course he forgave me then tried to hook up with me…typical fag.”
Well, and ultimate and total way to break away from your porn history is this…
turn into a muscle god- get famous in porn, then meet up with a rich business gay guy who will become your sugar daddy… afterwards make an official announcement that you die, and then be left alone because you have a twin–and when some fan looks at you assume you are that twin. hmmmm.
Erik, would be a fucking genius if that were true!
I WANT TO SEE THE AUTOPSY PHOTOS! :D
FYI: There is no afterlife, so it is unlikely he is laughing at us. He is gone and will be forgotten soon enough, another batch will come off the bus and end up taking his place.
How creepy would it be if his twin got into porn?! oooh!
Creepy? Or hot?
I believe his twin is straight and has no drug issues, as told by James Naughtin himself. Hence, Jon is not going into porn anytime soon, I think.
Now his surname’s come out, it’s become extremely easy to google his twin and he has a proper job and an art degree and is an awesome illustrator. He illustrated a fantasy novel and I’m not a fan of the genre but the illustrations are truly impressive.
I think he has a lot going for him without having to get into porn.
(I hope all of that’s vague enough to not violate his privacy. I wasn’t trying to be creepy in doing the search. I was just mildly curious.)
I think people are making more out of this then it is. He was always certain he would die, and then he did. End of story.
So how can someone feel “sorry” or “remorse” for someone who lived life as he wanted, and on his own terms—even despite how screwed up they were.
Its not like he is some child with leukemia, who dies before he even gets a chance at life…Well, Erik had his chance.
If he wasn’t so obsessive of being a roided muscle freak,( for lust and your support,) none of you bitches would give a damn cause he wasn’t a sex object. How many people overdose everyday? And none of you even think twice about it!
Probably one of the best Erik Rhodes posts you will read, right here: http://www.derekhartley.com/2012/06/end-of-rhodes.html
“I wanna keep it kind of fresh,” says Rhodes with a smile. “I don’t wanna ruin my fifteen minutes. Gimme thirty minutes, then get rid of me.” But after 30 minutes, we’ve only just gotten warmed up.
You are forgetting he has a twin brother who for the rest of his life will be stopped in the street and asked “Aren’t you erik rhodes?” If he’s laughing from the grave at that then fucking on camera was his only reason for living so maybe it’s better he’s dead. That twin brother who’s done nothing to deserve being burdened with erik’s problems will now be infected with erik’s pain and may even die young himself because of it.
Not to mention erik was a contract player and didn’t own the rights to his moves so that means strangers will be making money from his films long after he’s dead. They got the last laugh, certainly not erik.
Maybe it’s better that he’s dead and his only reason for living was fucking on camera… Your callousness knows no bounds
At least he had a reason for living, apparently you have none other than blog trolling. You want callousness? I hope you live forever, so you can see pain and suffering for eternity. Maybe at some point you’ll shut up.
I hope I do too. Thank you
Go use right now. U know ur itching to
I’m not surprised by this but I am upset. He was so pathologically honest. I will never be that courageous but I looked up to him for it. I know some people can attain that build and still be desperately insecure underneath but who else would just come out and say so?
At least dying in your sleep has to be the most painless/non-traumatic way to go. He probably knew nothing about it.