A California woman was shocked when she discovered images on social media of her home as the set for an X-rated film after she had rented it out using Airbnb.
Kristina Knapic rented her house out using the online rental service, Airbnb to Michael Lucas, an adult performer and producer and owner of Lucas Entertainment, a local NBC affiliate reported.
Ms. Knapic says she was never told her home would be used as the set for a gay porn film, and was shocked by the items she found left behind in her house.
“They found a sex toy under one of the beds,” said John Thyne III, one of Ms. Knapic’s attorney’s handling a lawsuit she has now filed against Mr. Lucas.
“They noticed some enema kits in the bathroom [and] some what turned out to be, I believe, male steroids in the refrigerator,” Mr. Thyne told NBC.
Mr. Thyne and attorney Lacy Taylor said Ms. Knapic contacted them with concerns the pornographic film could damage her house’s image as a rental property.
“She feels violated,” Ms. Taylor said.
But Mr. Lucas, who has worked in the adult film industry for nearly 20 years, said its common for porn makers to use rentals as film sets.
“She’s correct in saying that I didn’t tell her,” Mr. Lucas admitted to NBC.
“We rent houses all the time,” he added. “Never did we run in to this problem.”
Mr. Thyne said he has spoken to at least two other home owners who’ve had porn filmed at their houses without their knowledge, but he said they are too embarrassed to come forward.
It’s happening more and more since Los Angeles’ condom law went into effect in 2012. Since then, the porn industry has moved into neighboring counties like Ventura, which requires a permit for every film production.
Not getting a permit is a misdemeanor and violators could face a $1,000 fine and six months jail time, but the county said it has never prosecuted anyone, according to NBC.
Airbnb prohibits commercial filming without the consent of the host and agreed to pay Ms. Knapic’s cleaning fees.
But Ms. Knapic is concerned about the damage to her home’s reputation and is now suing Mr. Lucas for a cut of the profits from his films.
It’s not the first time this has happened in an Airbnb rental.
“It doesn’t shock me at all that this would happen,” said Ari Teman of Manhattan, who rented out his apartment in 2012 only to learn the renter was advertising “XXX Freak Fest” there that night.
Airbnb told NBC that adult filming in its rentals is “extremely rare” but wouldn’t say how often it happens.
“We have zero tolerance for this type of behavior in our community, and we have permanently banned these guests from Airbnb,” it said in a statement.
• Kellan Howell can be reached at khowell@washingtontimes.com.
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