Will Ryder Responds To Fleshbot’s Complaints About “Not The Cosbys XXX”

Yesterday, I posted a rant about race-related issues raised by a press release for "Not the Cosbys XXX" (you can read it here). My thoughts provoked a lot of comments, including one from director Will Ryder.

In order to give Mr. Ryder an equal platform to respond to the post, we've reprinted his comment here. - Lux

Lux,

Your story on our movie Not the Cosbys XXX 2 while well-written is very misleading to your audience so much so in fact that I felt I had to respond. First off, read the PR story once again without looking at the ‘shocking title' and see if it doesn't read a whole lot differently.

When we did our parody of the Cosby Show, we certainly gave every character the respect and dignity that they deserved and made sure to write a story that was not typical of what many would think that the porn industry would create. I championed every single performer especially Misty Stone who I believed was a great actress from the first time I ever shot her for a series that I created for Hustler called Barely Legal Black Chicks.

I remember talking to Hustler about making a very well-produced movie featuring beautiful black girls in gorgeous nicely shot settings. I thought there were enough ‘junk in the trunk' type black movies and I wanted to give a stage to up and coming black girls so that they could have the same high quality movies that the white girls had. I had to really push hard and long to finally get them to agree and that result led us to creating Not the Cosbys XXX.

For you to make me seem racist is so laughable to me that I don't know if I should smile or cry. Not the Cosbys XXX put black performers on an equal stage with their white peers and truly shed a light that black could be a part of the awards parade and gain additional fans. The sad part is that we do live in a black and white world where I sadly found out that no matter how good or well-produced Not the Cosbys XXX would become it would not sell nearly as well as our other white parodies. I thought it would sell in Brady Bunch type numbers but my reports from retail stores all carried the same message which was "too many blacks on the cover".

I am a guy that grew up in one of the most racially polarized cities in America yet I always had black friends. I made a twenty year career as a musician working mostly with other black musicians of which I lived, shared meals, rode thousands of bus hours with and enjoyed life with yet you suggest that I am a racist? I won't even tell you about the girl I was involved with for a 16 year relationship because then I would sound a bit self-serving.

The point is I wrote a PR story that needed a shocking title and yes I bowed down to the powers of retail by creating a cover that might intrigue more buyers because we do live and die by the sale but there are not many white people in porn industry that has championed the black performer more so than me and I say that not expecting any pats on the back or special words. I just wanted to make a great parody of a wonderful television show and we succeeded. I also wanted to shed light on some truly unique talent like Thomas Ward as Cliff and Misty Stone as Denise who deserved every award, nomination and critical rave they have and continue to receive.

I think it is very unfair for you to even suggest that I set porn back with this PR story. I am glad that people will now read it because we are in the business of getting exposure which usually results in move movie sales. More money means we can continue to create what could be considered risky projects by many including more black shows.

I am quite proud of what we have accomplished and the recognition we have received and our actors who have shared the spotlight by being in a movie that we put our heart, soul, love and money into. The fact that I want to sell a ton of Not the Cosbys XXX 2 does not and never will make me a racist or taint the tiny legacy that I hope we have created with this wonderful porn franchise. I appreciate your words but I must say you missed it this time.

Thank you,
Will Ryder