Two students have become wildly popular on a website featuring homemade adult films. Over two and a half million people have so far watched the film in which the two men are engaged in sexual activities while in their university accommodation.
Posted eight months ago, the students’ soundless video is now topping the most viewed chart of the free-to-watch adult films website – XTube – with over 2.5 million views. Besides the millions of viewers, over 3000 people have rated the homemade sextape with 4.5/5 stars and over 200 congratulatory and lusty comments accompany the page.
The two students describe themselves on their XTube profile as “a gay couple that go to the same university, and live in halls together.” They are 20 and 21 years old now, live in Celtenham, and they “thought it’d be hot to submit a video” on the adult website and are very happy with the responses they have received so far. They even promise that they will submit more videos – but so far, the two have left their audience begging for more.
Their XTube profile reveals some other of their preferences. The boys say they enjoy photography and photo-manipulation, have a “strange fascination with T-shirts” and dislike “bad hygiene and ugly flat mates who never stop coughing.”
A viewer of the sex tape with the username “stevegoryan” gives a possible explanation on why the video is so popular, even months after it was originally uploaded. He says it is all in “the looks you shoot at your boyfriend, the smile, the intensity in your eyes, the facial expressions, the way you move around (…),” while other commentators are more captivated with the rather physical nature of the video.
But there are also students at the University of Lincoln performing in these types of productions, says Michael Jones – a 21 year-old retail worker on Lincoln’s High Street. Michael, who is also a member of Lincoln’s gay community, says: “On XTube, there are quite a few people from Lincoln and quite a few from the student body, that have profiles on there but disguise their identity. […] There’s a few students that I know about, but their identity is not public knowledge.”
But what could motivate students to share their homemade sextapes with the world? Michael Jones explains: “when they’re on there [XTube], they do stupid things and people influence them to do stupid things when they’re drunk.” “Some do it for fun, […] some people do it because they get emails from other XTube members asking them to make videos and I’m pretty sure that there would be at least a minority in Lincoln, who would or probably have made a video for money or to sell it to somebody else on Xtube – someone who likes what they’ve seen in a previous video on the site.”
When the University of Lincoln was asked whether it thinks that students who post online sextapes bring it into disrepute, they replied with a statement from Judith Carey, Director of Student Services: “While this may be legal, this is not an activity that the University would encourage. At a wider level, we are concerned that students’ sexual relationships are safe. There is support and advice available to any student with concerns about this through Student Services and the Student Health Centre.”
UPDATE: February 26
Since the publication of this article, it has been confirmed that the two students in the highly popular sextape are not enrolled at the University of Lincoln (changes are reflected throughout the article).
One of the protagonists of the sextape, contacted The Linc addressing some of the ethical issues debated in the comments section of this article.
He says: “In my opinion the article is okay, I’m pretty happy with the way my actions have been presented, but I do think it’s worth pointing out that my life has not been affected negatively at all by the video’s popularity.” “I’ll try not to climb too far up a pedestal, I’m starting to sound like the spokesman for amateur porn,” he added.
However, he wrote on his XTube profile: “More videos? I’m unsure because it seems everyone I’ve ever met has seen this one; something I wasn’t aiming for and has had unexpected consequences.”
Additional information surfaced on home made sex videos made by University of Lincoln students but when contacted by The Linc, they declined to comment.
At the end of the day it’s their business what they enjoy whether it be sexual or otherwise. I hardly think there is a need to write about this seen as there are also countless heterosexual people on similar websites. It’s not hurting anyone and I do find this a little bit homophobic and discriminatory.
Where is this video? I want to see it.
Chris, I don’t agree. It’s amazing.
Wheres the link? Can someone post it please or at least give us a name.
Joe, use some initiative.
Xtube.com / Videos / Most viewed / I already said it’s number 7.
Homophobic is not a classification of this article. If people have a problem with being found out then perhaps they should think twice before posting. Which obviously Adam you have, hence deleting your videos. You may also notice there has been no comments from the stars themselves, which would suggest that they are not only happy with the article in it’s entirety but also that they are probably sitting back watching their fame mount.
They are I’m sure exhibitionists (why else would you post this for the world to view?) and whilst I’m not suggesting that is wrong or right, I feel that if they are in a situation of a university setting, they should have forethought into who may stumble across their ‘fun’ and then be ready for the consequences. If this is simply being exposed through a campus publication, so be it. It could have been done through many different portals like Facebook, Twitter, text message, email or word of mouth.
News is news regardless of race, sexual orientation, gender age etc. I’m sure the story would have been just as ‘exciting’ if the couple were straight. As tabloid like as the article is, it had the desired effect, you picked up the newspaper and you read it and that, my dear friend, is journalism not homophobia.
I didn’t delete my videos out of shame, I did so out of respect and courtesy as I am no longer in a relationship with any of the people in my videos and they have new partners, who would not like to see their partner sleeping with someone else.
Whilst the article itself is not homophobic, it does emphasise the fact that these 2 are gay and focuses only on gay men making videos, which implies it is common only in the gay community.
With the current media attention on the online gay community with the Jade Goody vs Joe from Fitlads fiasco, an article such as this only goes to amplifiy negativity towards the gay communities online practices.
Had the article at least given facts about the numbers of straight users on the sight or spoken to, or about, even one straight person, then it would have been significantly improved.
Indeed it does focus on the gay people making a film and the reason for that is that it was a gay film! If it had been a straight one then i’m sure it would have been written from a straight point of view. I really am stuggling to see your damage.
The video was made 8 months ago and only now has it been written about. Has The Linc been waiting in the wings until the gay community is under scrutiny before writing the story, in an attempt to amplify negativity towards the activities of the online gay community? I’d very much doubt it.
Anybody of any knowledge of the site knows that it is not a gay website and those curious enough to look into the site who don’t already know, will then see that it isn’t a gay only site.
If it did have facts about straight users I personally would have questioned the relevance of that information. Therefore the article, in my humble opinion was well written, to the point and I found all the information relevant.
As for people removing videos for moral reasons, fair enough. Everyone will have their reasons for posting as well as removing, but all the time they are available to view, the stars are putting themselves up for opinion. Whether the video is a gay video or a straight video is fundamental to the story. It was a gay video therefore the gay community will be interviewed and questioned. There would be little to no point in asking the straight community about the gay community, in very much the same way it would be fruitless to ask the gay community about the straight.
This isn’t a personal attack towards the gay community I’m sure but the story has obviously given some food for discussion and thought.
The title does not state gay, it states student.
“When the University of Lincoln was asked whether it thinks that students who post online sextapes bring it into disrepute,” – The interview with the University was not about gays, it was about students.
Yet the interview with the public was with a gay, non student, about gays. Wether deliberate or not, mascerading this is a student issue to try and get more publicity on a gay issue seems to very poor journalism.
I maintain that the article is deliberately unbalanced (even if not meant in offence) and creates an image that the gay community partakes in activities commonly frowned upon by the straight community – hence asking if this would cause bad publicity for the University.
Holy smokes. I’ve been quoted! Well good on ya… and on me?
:-) I stick by my assessment!
Sorry Steve, but I don’t agree that you should be happy. I agree with Adam and Chris, why should the Uni care what its students get up to within their free time?
Chris made a good point when he said “I hardly think there is a need to write about this, seen as there are also countless heterosexual people on similar websites.” How come you didn’t write an article about heterosexual people making their own videos on XTube?
In addition, and as Adam has rightly pointed out, the article was not about Gay Xtube videos, and should not have been directly so negatively at the fact it was a gay couple. There are likely to be plenty of heterosexual Xtube videos from this campus and other universities that outnumber the gay Xtube ones looked at here. It is neither in the Uni’s interests, this or any other, as to what its students get up too in their free and very personal time, and in this case singling out their gay students’ personal activities online is out of line and an invasion of privacy.
Just because they posted it online, doesn’t give the Uni jurisdiction and it doesn’t impact them, or wouldn’t have, if it had not been made public. All it has done is given added additional criticism to the gay community for those who are not so fond, when in reality these activity’s could have been committed at any Uni, by any student gay or straight, and this article does nothing to highlight that.
Hi Lee,
Well, I have a number of things I’d like to bring to light here. I’ll try to keep them brief.
1) Do you also write into the newspapers and tabloids when Britney Spears is on the cover for something stupid? Or Milie Cyrus or all of the other tabloid junk? I would have to doubt it. And I would offer that your reason would be that they don’t affect you (and the University, right?)
2) Suppose this paper did several follow ups on the straight (it’s OK, gay, bi and straight folks are used to using “gay”, “bi”, and “straight” instead of homosexual, heterosexual and bisexual) porn that’s being made, and more importantly, being made available to anyone/everyone via the Internet. Would that make you feel better? No, I’m not trying to be catty. I am actually curious. Part of your arguement is that this article focused on a gay couple and now that’s brought negative attention to the gay community, is that right? So if several articles were to be published about all the other kinds of porn that might be going on there (or in the community without being at the University)… would that balance things out? I see this article as completely benign. I didn’t pick up any negative innuendos or positive ones for that matter.
3) You ask why the University should care what the students do with their free time. So if you push that theory to all the way through, growing pot, making crystal meth, and blackmailing professors – these aren’t the university’s concerns, right? And yeah, that’s negative, so what if I put it this way – helping out the Lighthouse for the Blind, spending time at the local soup kitchen to provide food and clothing, working at the local aids chapter or delivering food for meals on wheels…. those aren’t noteworthy either. I get the impression that the only reason you responded to this article is because it is something that you personally don’t like. I doubt you would have responded or maybe even read the article on these two guys if it was about them ‘adopting a highway’ or making pottery that happened to look like something made in ancient Rome. Sounds like the ‘porn’ or ‘gay’ thing is what caught your eye to me…. but then, that’s just what I see.
4) You mention an invasion of privacy. I can’t really go too far on that one because I don’t know that it really is. I mean, they have publicly posted a video of themselves having sex. An article on that video or their profile from the website doesn’t seem much like an invasion of privacy
5) The Director of Student Services, Judith, says that it’s not illegal and her actual concern is the practice of safe sex for all the students. She admits it’s not something they at the university endorse, but then, they can’t really say that on something so controversial, now, can they? I agree with her published comments here. I think this is very professional and very responsible. And she offered information on where students could go with concerns. If you’re a student there, this might be a good avenue for you to pursue, Lee.
So, all in all, I agree with one point you’ve made here. I believe The Linc should do at least one more story (I’d suggest 2 or even 3 over the next few weeks) on straight porn being made and made public in the same or similar fashion. And, I’ll be honest, I believe if that were to happen, there would be just as big of an uproar… although more positive from the students and more concerned from the faculty.
The article should have been balanced and included other sexualities, even if only briefly. It doesnt even mention the site has more straight users than gay or that straight students ‘might’ also make videos. I believe no effort was even made (apparent in the article) to find out if they do. I also hope the update is put out in the next issue of The Linc to correct the mistakes of the original.
My biggest problem with the article is that its portrayed as a student issue, yet most of the questions, research and interviews are not even about students, but about gays. Look at the interview with Michael Jones (a non student), he is listed as a member of the gay community and starts by describing the gay community, of which only a part are students (probably the same % of lincoln’s population that are students), that make videos.
Taking evidence of activity of gays in general, rather than students, and then asking the Director of Student Services if this brings a bad image onto the University, therefore gives the impression she was being asked wether gays were giving the University a bad image through their behaviour; even if this wasnt intended.
Point 3 above; it’s important to remember that none of the acts in the video are illegal, yet all those you listed are. The University should only be concerned with illegal or unsafe activities, which is clear in Judith’s comment. Therefore dramatising the article by asking if it puts out a negative image, does imply that their private lives are being paid too much attention by the University.
Point 1, normally people only make a big deal when celebrities do something illegal – drugs, assault, drink driving, public nudity, child neglect, etc – so see above.
Show us the video ! :D
The profile is here. Within the profile, in there you will see the video.
Bah, I was looking for that vid for ages but it turns out to be pretty boring. Needed more zombies. And a car chase… oh and sound would have been nice.
Ok so here’s my deal, i stumbled across this page by accident and found it interesting. I’m a 21 year old straight male and i don’t think the article singles anyone out. So what if he used the word gay to describe them. They clearly are and they made it everyone’s business when they placed the video on the net, making it public knowledge. They can’t just go oops, I take it back, and they dont seem very worried based in their comments.
Then there is the whole freedom of the press issue, where they can print whatever they want. If it wasn’t getting reactions like this, it wouldn’t be a good article, would it? The whole point is to get stories out there that people will find interesting and controversy just makes it more interesting. My whole point is that not everyone will agree on it, but you all still read the article and felt the need to comment, so in my eyes it was a good article.