Latest news with #Brazzers
Time of India
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Vox Media's gaming website Polygon sold to pornography Mogul Hassan Youssef's Valnet; almost entire staff laid off
Representative Image In a surprising move, Polygon, Vox Media's video games website, has been acquired by Valnet, a media company founded and led by Hassan Youssef , a former figure in the adult entertainment industry and co-founder of the well-known pornography site Brazzers. The news of the acquisition and subsequent layoffs at Polygon broke abruptly on social media, with numerous Polygon writers and editors reporting the sudden termination of their employment. According to a report by 404 Media, the acquisition by a company with ties to the pornography industry has left many within the gaming journalism community reeling. This development comes amidst an already challenging period for media, with widespread layoffs impacting various publications for years. Video game publications have been particularly affected recently, with the closure of the legendary magazine Game Informer in 2024 and layoffs at Gamespot and other outlets. However, Polygon, a brand built from the ground up by Vox, with its substantial staff, reputable reporters, significant YouTube presence, and what was perceived as stable leadership, did not appear to be on the brink of a sale and mass layoffs. Valnet Media owns a portfolio of adult entertainment websites Valnet Media owns a portfolio of entertainment websites, including Screen Rant and Collider, as well as several gaming-focused sites such as TheGamer, DualShockers, and Game Rant. 404 Media sheds light on Youssef's background, tracing his entry into the internet pornography industry back to 2003. Starting with a foosball enthusiasts group that included his brother Sam and Concordia University students Matt Keezer and Stephane Manos, Youssef and his partners recognized a lucrative opportunity in online adult entertainment. This led to the creation of sites like Jugg World, Ass Listing, KeezMovies, and XXX Rated Chicks. Jugg World eventually evolved into an affiliate network, and Brazzers was launched as a pay-per-view site. 404 Media notes that some attribute the prevalence of "giant boobs" in pornography to the business strategy of Youssef and his associates, who reportedly focused on this niche for its low cost and high traffic. Former Mindgeek CEO Feras Antoon reportedly told New York Magazine that they concentrated on breasts "because the big-tits niche was so cheap," and subsequently expanded into the "MILF niche," becoming dominant in that area. Sam and Hassan Youssef also co-founded Mansef, an early "thumbnail gallery post" website for pornography. 404 Media details the subsequent complex history of acquisitions and sales within the pornography industry, noting that Mansef was sold to Fabian Thylmann and became Manwin. Thylmann continued acquiring numerous sites before facing tax evasion charges and ultimately selling his holdings to Antoon and David Tassilo, who rebranded the company as Mindgeek and continued the acquisition spree, including the flagship site Pornhub. Antoon and Tassilo resigned in 2022 amid accusations of abuse on their platforms, and private equity firm Ethical Capital Partners acquired the company in 2023, renaming it Aylo. Hassan Youssef on Polygone acquisition Following their ventures in the broader pornography industry, Sam and Hassan Youssef co-founded Valnet. Hassan currently serves as the company's CEO, while Sam is a board member and also the founder and CEO of Valsoft, an enterprise software company. In a press release, Hassan Youssef, now identified as Valnet's founder and SEO, stated, "This moment marks a powerful reaffirmation of our deep commitment to gaming, a space we've passionately invested in for years. The addition of Polygon not only strengthens our editorial muscle but also amplifies our ability to deliver unmatched value to both audiences and advertisers. At Valnet, we're not just participants in this space; we are its undisputed leader, and today, that leadership has never felt stronger." The acquisition of a prominent gaming news site like Polygon by a company with roots in the pornography industry, coupled with the reported immediate layoffs of a significant portion of its staff, has sparked considerable discussion and concern within the media and gaming communities. The long-term implications for Polygon's editorial direction and the broader landscape of video game journalism remain to be seen. AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
News.com.au
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Story behind porn star Angela White's ‘boss' awards pic
The Australian woman crowned the world's most popular porn star has revealed the true story behind her iconic photo. Angela White was named Pornhub's most popular female performer during the platform's 2024 Year In Review report, with Ms White racking up a whopping 1,558,201,885 video views. Now, the adult star is up for three awards at the seventh annual Pornhub Awards — Nicest T*ts, Favourite Female Performer and Top DP performer — on May 8. 'I am extremely excited. This year is Western themed, so it's going to be really cool to see everyone dressed up in cowboy boots and hats, and riding the mechanical bull at the Saddle Ranch on Sunset,' the 40-year-old told 'And I feel like if anyone can tame that bull, it would be the professional riders of porn.' It's not the first awards ceremony for the adult industry this year, with the AVN Awards taking place in January. Ms White was up for a plethora of awards at the ceremony, and ended up walking away with seven of those gold trophies. This included Best Star Showcase for F*** ANGELA, Ms White's film that she released on VHS, DVD and in digital. The film was a love letter to the early 2000s Gonzo era of pornography. After her win, Ms White, who is known as the Meryl Streep of the adult film world due to her countless accolades, shared a snap of herself surrounded by trophies and eating a burger. Ms White was still in her floorlength sequin black dress from the event, which featured a high neckline and long sleeves. Fellow performers and fans flocked to the comments section to congratulate Ms White on her wins. Lisa Ann commented with several fire emojis, while a fellow Australian porn star known for being well endowed said: 'Living legend. Honoured to win one with you.' Brazzers, a porn studio whom Ms White is a contract performer with, said: 'W's in the chat.' Heidi Grey said: 'This is such a boss pic.' Another wrote: 'Congratulations and all the best wishes. Well deserved to the most beautiful and hottest lady with the most wonderful eyes. Enjoy your time and have fun.' 'Hello Queen … You will never read it but you deserve this award very much,' one said. 'The GOAT of adult entertainment,' commented another. Now, Ms White has revealed to the story behind the epic photograph. 'That was taken straight after the awards in Vegas. We went back to my villa — it was my team who helped me shoot that movie F*** ANGELA, which was the big award we were celebrating that night. 'It won Best Star Showcase at the AVN Awards. Whenever I win an award, I always celebrate with burgers or pizza — that's my tradition. 'And since we won that big award, I took my team back to my villa — and some of my friends — and we just sat there eating burgers and having a good time.' The Pornhub Awards aren't the only thing Ms White is gearing up for. She is also getting ready to speak at the University of Santa Barbara, to do a lecture with students enrolled in Film and Media Studies. The course, which the university website reads 'approaches pornography as a major instance of film and popular culture, from the prehistory and history of cinema and video to the internet and virtual worlds,' is the longest-running class on porn in North America. Ms White is speaking about her thesis, The Porn Performer, which aims to look beyond the idea that women in the sex industry are forced into it. The thesis itself explores the lives of six Australian women in sex work, and the impact it has had on their sexuality. Ms White, who has spoken to students about her thesis previously, said it's always an 'honour' to do so. 'I've done this several times. Every time I do it, I am always surprised at how thoughtful the students are, they always ask well thought of, provocative questions. They've really engaged with not only my academic work but also my performance work,' she said. 'I know that this year, they're going to be looking at F*** ANGELA as a project as well, so I will be getting new questions this year. It's an incredible experience. The students are just so wonderful. 'I am just so happy this class exists, where pornography is seen as worthy of intellectual and academic study — like any other film genre.'
