YouTube has removed Part Two of the documentary exposé “The Devil And Shelley Lubben,” produced by Michael Whitacre and Lydia Lee, following a reported violation of the platform’s nudity and/or sexual content policy. The documentary focuses on Shelley Lubben, a former adult film performer and current anti-pornography activist.

Documentary Focuses on Shelley Lubben

“The Devil And Shelley Lubben” is described as a documentary exposé of Shelley Lubben, an anti-pornography activist who founded the Pink Cross Foundation. The Pink Cross Foundation is a public charity that states its mission is to offer assistance to adult industry workers and help those addicted to pornography. Lubben, born in 1968, is a born-again Christian and mother of three. She self-published an autobiography titled "Truth Behind the Fantasy of Porn" in October 2010, detailing her past experiences.

According to an interview with Deseret News, Lubben stated she was sexually abused at age nine and worked as a prostitute from age 18 to 26. She also reported battling alcohol and drug addictions. Lubben entered the adult film industry at age 24, where she claims she contracted herpes. Her pornographic career lasted from 1993 to 1994, during which she says she appeared in "about 30" hardcore movies. Lubben has also stated that as a "survivor of the porn industry," she contracted human papilloma virus and herpes, which she claims led to a battle with cervical cancer requiring the removal of half her cervix.

The documentary features Sam Phillips as narrator and includes appearances by Nina Hartley, Julie Meadows, Kayden Kross, Sinnamon Love, Melissa Monet, Monica Foster, Guy DiSilva, Danny Wylde, and Ernest Green. Michael Whitacre and Lydia Lee, who performed in adult movies under the name Julie Meadows, released the first two parts of the documentary on YouTube on February 14, 2011. AVN reported on February 21, 2011, that the documentary begins its dissection of Lubben's claims regarding contracting herpes and human papilloma virus during her time in the adult industry.

Producers and Their Backgrounds

Lydia Lee, known professionally as Julie Meadows, was born on February 3, 1974, in Texarkana, Texas. She is an American writer, web designer, and former pornographic actress who became a documentarian after retiring from the adult film industry. Meadows was active in the adult industry from 1998 to 2004. Her first film was Ed Powers' Dirty Debutantes 94. She was a contract performer for VCA for two years, leaving in January 2003. Meadows retired from the adult industry in 2004, stating she was no longer interested in making movies.

In March 2010, Meadows appeared in a Public Service Announcement for the Free Speech Coalition on the topic of Internet infringement of adult content. This PSA, titled the "FSC All-Star Anti-Piracy PSA," was directed by Michael Whiteacre and featured other adult performers such as Lisa Ann, Kimberly Kane, Ron Jeremy, Alektra Blue, and Kaylani Lei. Meadows met film director Michael Raven while dancing in Dallas and moved to Los Angeles, California, six months later to begin working in adult films.

YouTube's Content Policy and Removal

Part Two of “The Devil And Shelley Lubben” was removed from YouTube, with the platform citing a violation of its nudity and/or sexual content policy. The removal reportedly occurred at the behest of Lubben and her supporters. The documentary aims to expose what its creators describe as "lies" by Shelley Lubben. The first two parts of the documentary were released on YouTube by Meadows (as Lydia Lee) and Michael Whiteacre on February 14, 2011.

Key Facts

  • YouTube removed Part Two of “The Devil And Shelley Lubben.”
  • The documentary was produced by Michael Whitacre and Lydia Lee (Julie Meadows).
  • The removal was attributed to a violation of YouTube’s nudity and/or sexual content policy.
  • Shelley Lubben is a former adult film performer and current anti-pornography activist.
  • Lubben founded the Pink Cross Foundation, a public charity.
  • Julie Meadows (Lydia Lee) is a former adult film actress, writer, and web designer.