Justin's Journey

'It's was mind destroying, at least for me it was.'

Justin Owen

In the mid 2000's Justin Owen was one of gay porn's hottest, and most popular stars.  Owen worked for several studios between 2013 and 2018, making close to 50 films.  Although most were for Helix, Owen went on to work for Next Door Male, Dylan Lucas and Randy Blue.  I hadn't seen any of Justin's videos when I did a piece featuring some of my favorite promotional shots from his work. (HERE:)

What I did see, was Justin's work with photographer Ed Olen, promoting his work with Dylan Lucas.  I loved the beach shots, and eventually found the behind the scenes video.  Justin had that rare combo look of young and innocent with sexually starving.  Ultimately, Owen left the business in 2018, and wasn't really heard from for awhile.  I read a few posts on-line that he had become a born again Christian and was identifying as straight and that he regretted his time in porn.  

Regardless of the reasons, as much as I love telling a positive story, I also love looking into models and actors who don't have positive memories of their time in the industry.  Justin did a video chat a few years ago, that I recently saw again on-line.  I didn't want to include the video, as the copy I found was cut with clips from his porn career, below however, are his answer to why he left the adult film industry.  The image here, are not promotional photos from Justin's films, but mostly selfies he posted on his Twitter, which oddly, still remains.

'Why did I leave... hmmm, ultimately, it was unfulfilling.  To me, it was just dirty.  Money makes you happy temporarily,  ultimately, you have the memories of that.   Some people might relish in those memories, some people worked in this industry and went, 'this is my dream job'.  I'm telling you though, even you feel that way, it takes a toll.  I mean especially something so dirty.  I know it will be forever found, as the Internet still stands.  It was mind destroying, at least for me it was.' 

'It's just a tough thing to hold on to, and I'm surprised I did it for as long as I did it... regrettably.  Why did I leave, I was just not spiritually and physically fulfilled. It bought me cool things, it bought me cool experiences, but... it leads nowhere.   It's going to hurt you mentally.  So ultimately, that's is why I left, I just couldn't handle it mentally, physically, it ate at me, it ate at my conscious.  It was just a dirty feeling, unfulfilling, nothing I could be proud of, no one I could tell.'