In 2019, news broke that Phoenix Marie had signed an exclusive contract with Brazzers. By 2023, that deal had gone sour.

Phoenix Marie is now suing the parent company Aylo and director Danny D, seeking damages of $80 million for alleged abuses on set, including being forced to continue filming after a co-star’s overdose. Danny D is one of Brazzers most popular directors in the UK, with more than 700 productions to his credit for the company.

The lawsuit details a harrowing incident during a film shoot in Barcelona in 2023, where Hutchison’s co-star, referred to as Zaawaadi, reportedly overdosed on lithium. Despite the life-threatening situation, Phoenix Marie alleges that director Danny D coerced her to proceed with the scheduled orgy scene, physically barring her from exiting the set.

“Danny D forcibly grabbed Phoenix Marie and demanded that she finish the scene, despite her protests and the critical condition of her colleague,” the lawsuit claims.

Danny D provided the following statement to AVN: “The claims made against me are completely false and unfounded. On a Spanish production [Marie] gave tablets to Zaawaadi, who then had a medical emergency due to taking those tablets, thankfully we were able to save her life.

Phoenix Marie who is celebrated for her two-decade tenure in the industry, was also reportedly involved in life-saving efforts for Zaawaadi, actions that were met with hostility rather than gratitude.

Following the incident, Phoenix Marie asserts that Aylo, alongside Ethical Capital Partners, engaged in a smear campaign to frame her as unstable and drug-dependent, an accusation she vehemently denies. The narrative purportedly painted by Danny D and supported by the production company was that Phoenix Marie had poisoned Zaawaadi despite evidence suggesting the drugs belonged to Danny D’s girlfriend, according to the lawsuit.

The lawsuit highlights the immense power Aylo wields over the industry, controlling an estimated 90% of all pornographic content production and distribution. This monopoly, Phoenix Marie and her lawyers claim, has allowed them to manipulate her image negatively, resulting in significant professional and personal losses.

Please note this 90% number was provided by Phoenix Marie’s lawyers, and anyone who has been in the industry for a while knows that’s far from the truth. There are many large players in the game including Adult Time (Gamma), and Vixen Media Group, who hold a signficiant amount of power in their own rights.

As a result of the incident and the subsequent corporate maneuvers, Phoenix Marie says she has faced not only a tarnished reputation but also profound mental health struggles, including PTSD, anxiety, and sexual dysfunction. Financially, the impact has been devastating; Phoenix Marie estimates her losses at nearly $2 million, with potential future damages running into the tens of millions due to continued ostracism within the industry.

“Aylo and their affiliates have used their dominant position to effectively blacklist Phoenix Marie, cancelling her shoots, and scrubbing her presence from promotional materials,” states the complaint.

The case was originally filed in Nevada but moved to federal court on jurisdictional grounds on April 5th. Phoenix Marie’s legal team, led by the firm Kerr Simpson, has expressed a robust commitment to not only reclaiming Phoenix Marie’s tarnished reputation but also challenging what they describe as “unregulated monopoly power” in the adult film industry.

“We are poised to expose the systemic abuses that have been shielded by Aylo’s market dominance,” a Kerr Simpson representative remarked. “This lawsuit is not just about one actor’s grievous experiences but about uplifting industry standards and ensuring safety and respect for all performers.”

As the legal proceedings gain momentum, the industry and its observers are closely watching, recognizing that the outcome could have far-reaching implications for governance, operational ethics, and performer welfare.

You can follow Brazzers on X at @brazzers

You can follow Phoenix Marie on X at @pmarizzle

You can follow Zaawaadi on X at @zaawaadi

You can follow Danny D on X at @dannydxxx