Writer, director, and producer Erika Lust launched her new memoir, Lust: Pleasure, Performance, Power, on Tuesday night in Los Angeles. The event, held at Dynasty Typewriter inside the Hayworth Theatre, featured a discussion with Lust and journalist Gigi Fong, followed by a book signing.

Memoir Details and Launch Event

Erika Lust's memoir, Lust: Pleasure, Performance, Power, chronicles her journey as a feminist pornographer. The book, published by Metropolitan Books, presents a case for ethical pornography and explores how adult media shapes lives, arguing for an ethical industry that can transform perceptions of sexuality, power, and representation. Lust has been creating adult content for over 20 years, aiming to expand the parameters of pornography and approach it with a cinematic vision.

The Los Angeles launch event on October 21, 2026, was presented by Los Feliz bookseller Skylight Books. It began with a question-and-answer session featuring Lust and Gigi Fong, a staff writer at VICE specializing in sex and wellness. During the discussion, Lust addressed various topics, including the complexities women face regarding sexuality, such as reconciling feminism with submissiveness. She highlighted the detailed pre-conversations and clear boundaries established in performer contracts for her films, aiming to educate people on the distinction between performance and reality in pornography. Lust suggested that understanding these processes could inform how individuals negotiate sexual relationships in their private lives.

Lust also spoke about her personal experiences, including discussing sexual topics with her parents, noting the absence of such conversations in their upbringing despite her access to sex education in Sweden. She recounted her relocation from Sweden to Barcelona, Spain, describing it as a city that "absolutely changed my life."

Responding to audience questions, Lust admitted to being turned on by her own films, explaining that while filming is technical, she appreciates "real connections" on screen. She reflected on watching her films later, without the technical focus, and realizing their quality. Lust also discussed her parenting, stating, "I think I'm better at being a mother than being a daughter." She shared that writing the book revealed "lots of shame" in her family's history. She has two children, aged 16 and 19. Her elder child, a trans man, came out at 15, which Lust expressed pride in, attributing it to creating a safe space. She also mentioned navigating her 16-year-old daughter's self-expression, balancing her belief in women's rights to dress as they choose with parental concerns.

Ethical Filmmaking and Industry Inclusivity

Lust elaborated on her approach to performers who later have second thoughts about their appearances in her films. She recounted a situation where a performer transitioned and requested a film be taken down, stating, "That person is not representing me any more." Lust confirmed, "We took that film down." She also mentioned another instance involving two performers in a difficult divorce, where one requested material be removed because "It doesn’t feel good any more." Lust stated that in such "particular situations, we are open to study the possibility of taking down that material."

Gigi Fong commented on the book, stating her interest in "what it means to be an ethical feminist pornographer." Fong specifically appreciated the "Good Pornographer" chapter, noting how Lust "had to dive deep and unpack some things, like her experiences with Hollywood and how that led her on her own journey." Fong mentioned Lust's past pitches to companies like Playboy and Netflix. Fong also highlighted Lust's experience creating a gangbang with performer Kazumi, who was in attendance at the event, and how it challenged Lust's "own feminist ideals surrounding pornography."

After the signing, Lust told AVN that the event "went very good," expressing her pleasure at being back in Los Angeles and the "love" she received from attendees. She noted the presence of people she had worked with, including Nina Hartley, whom she described as "one of my absolute favorite actresses." Lust also mentioned the importance of hearing stories from attendees, particularly trans people who shared their experiences after she spoke about her son. She emphasized the importance of the adult industry being inclusive of these stories, lamenting that "heteronormative perspective is being pushed on people" and that positive experiences from queer communities and women are often unheard in mainstream media.

Industry personalities present at the event included Lilly Bell, Casey Calvert, Bree Mills, Nicole Vaunt, and Leo Vice. Photography for the event was by Jeff Koga.

Key Facts

  • Erika Lust launched her memoir, Lust: Pleasure, Performance, Power, on October 21, 2026, in Los Angeles.
  • The event was held at Dynasty Typewriter inside the Hayworth Theatre and presented by Skylight Books.
  • Lust engaged in a question-and-answer session with journalist Gigi Fong, a staff writer at VICE.
  • The memoir explores ethical pornography, consent in filmmaking, and Lust's personal journey and experiences.
  • Lust discussed her policy of removing films if performers transition or experience personal changes that make them uncomfortable with the material.
  • Industry figures including Nina Hartley, Lilly Bell, Casey Calvert, Bree Mills, Nicole Vaunt, and Leo Vice attended the launch.