A lawsuit filed by Alexander Rhodes and NoFap LLC against Aylo, the parent company of Pornhub, has shed light on a previously unreported demand made by the attorney representing Rhodes to Taylor & Francis, an academic publisher.

Background on the Lawsuit

The lawsuit alleges a civil conspiracy bankrolled by Aylo to defame Alexander Rhodes and NoFap. The suit was filed in a court of common pleas in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, and has since been removed to federal court by the defendants.

Taylor & Francis Demand

According to Retraction Watch, an attorney representing Alexander Rhodes and his firm, David Kobylinski, sent a letter to Taylor & Francis in August 2024. The letter stated that it was the client's intent to commence a lawsuit against Pornhub in the immediate future and that they planned to name Taylor & Francis as a co-defendant.

The attorney wrote: "Please note that it is my client's intent to commence a lawsuit against Pornhub in the immediate future, and we plan to name Taylor and Francis as a co-defendant. If your organization would like to avoid the expense and burden of litigation, kindly note that my clients have authorized me to extend [this] demand."

Demands Made by NoFap

Alexander Rhodes sought $20 million in compensation from Taylor & Francis as part of the demand. He also requested a retraction of an article written by two scientists who had critically reviewed NoFap in the Taylor & Francis-published peer-reviewed journal Deviant Behavior in 2023.

The article, which was written by Dr. Nicole Prause and Dr. David Ley, was critical of NoFap's methods and claims. Rhodes also demanded that Taylor & Francis disclose "academic fraud and the clear and undeniable conflicts of interest held by the authors of the article."

Key Facts

  • Alexander Rhodes and NoFap LLC filed a lawsuit against Aylo, the parent company of Pornhub, alleging a civil conspiracy to defame.
  • The attorney representing Rhodes demanded $20 million from Taylor & Francis in August 2024 to avoid being named in the lawsuit.
  • Rhodes also requested a retraction of an article written by Dr. Nicole Prause and Dr. David Ley in the Taylor & Francis-published journal Deviant Behavior.
  • The lawsuit was filed in a court of common pleas in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, and has since been removed to federal court by the defendants.
  • Taylor & Francis is an academic publisher that publishes peer-reviewed journals, including Deviant Behavior.