Updated: NBC Investigates Allegations Against LA Direct's Derek Hay (XBIZ)
Read the full article by Gustavo Turner at XBIZ.com
LOS ANGELES — NBC released today a 75-minute exposé investigating accusations against prominent industry agent Derek Hay and his agency LA Direct Models by several adult performers he formerly represented.
Hay, who has also performed under the name Ben English, founded LA Direct Models in his native U.K. in the early 2000s and built it into a leading LA- and Vegas-based operation during the last two decades.
NBC producer/editor Dan Przygoda reported the piece by interviewing performers Bunny Colby, Lydia Dupra, Adria Rae and Hadley Viscara, all of whom had been represented by Hay. Przygoda also interviewed Lisa Ann, who worked for Hay’s agency during a break from performing in the mid-2000s, and performer and sex worker advocate Siouxsie Q, who offered illuminating context about how some of Hay’s business practices differed from industry standards.
The article that accompanies NBC’s documentary points out that four models (only identified as “Jane Doe”s) filed a complaint last June with the California Labor Commissioner. The State Labor Board of California is tasked with regulating modeling agencies like LA Direct and also with approving contracts between talent and agencies.
NBC reports that the models “say in the complaint that they fear retaliatory physical or mental harm and the ruin of their careers by a powerful industry insider.”