Working in the Adult Film Industry Left Lana Rhoades Struggling with Depression and Suicidal Thoughts
Warning: This article discusses suicide, which some readers may find distressing.
At the height of her fame, Lana Rhoades was one of the most sought-after names in the adult film industry. However, beneath her success, she experienced a “dark side” that was far less visible to the public.
Lana was still a teenager when she entered the adult film world, beginning a career that would last just eight months before she decided to walk away.
What led to her departure? It was the nature of some of the scenes she was expected to perform in.
Although Lana has since left the adult film industry and now focuses on creating content for YouTube and podcasts, the effects of her brief time in the industry still haunt her.
Credit: Instagram / @lanarhoades
In 2022, Lana opened up on her podcast 3 Girls 1 Kitchen, sharing a deeply personal and emotional conversation about her experiences in the adult film industry.
She reflected on the “humiliating” scenes she had been pressured into filming and admitted her “naive” understanding of the industry before she became involved.
“I was so naïve when I first got into porn, I didn’t realize that sex was part of the deal,” Lana admitted. “It didn’t really hit me until I was already in. I didn’t think about the specific acts I’d be expected to perform.”
At first, Lana expressed to her agents that she preferred working in girl-on-girl scenes. But they made it clear that she wouldn’t be able to get work unless she agreed to do boy/girl scenes. Reluctantly, she complied, only to find that her managers started pushing her into more extreme content to maximize their profits.
“They would make it sound glamorous to do more for less money because it brought in more for them,” Lana explained.
Credit: Instagram / @lanarhoades
“They don’t care about the girls; they only care about pleasing the producers and film agencies.”
Lana clarified that while she never did anything against her will, she often felt pushed into accepting roles she wasn’t entirely comfortable with.
As her fame grew, so did the extremity of the demands placed on her.
Lana spoke about the disturbing stories she’d heard from her peers in the industry:
“I’ve had friends who were choked so much during scenes that they passed out.”
“There’s some really crazy stuff happening that leaves lasting damage on people’s bodies.”
Though Lana never suffered physical injury, the mental strain took a significant toll, leading her to seek therapy.
Looking back on the most distressing scenes, the 27-year-old recalled:
“There were 3-5 that were especially traumatic for me—whether it was being sent to work with someone much older or being pressured into doing something I was afraid of because it was too extreme. Those moments were definitely traumatic, and I’d say that’s the main reason I left the industry.”
Lana (pictured left) with Alex Janai.Credit: Rodin Eckenroth/Getty Images
Years after leaving the industry, Lana describes her time as a porn star as a “life sentence,” with its lasting impact continuing to affect her.
She has openly discussed struggling with depression and suicidal thoughts as a result of her experiences.
Since then, Lana has become an advocate for the banning of pornography.
