I’ve been talking to Kelly Klass. She was injured on a set. She didn’t want it out. She was keeping it to herself. Someone emailed MikeSouth.com a little blurb about it. So now that part of the story is out, she has decided to reveal the details. We talked back and forth on Twitter and email, so part of this is Kelly’s explanation to me, and part is answers to questions I asked her. There are also pictures of her injury…
The day it happened
Day 20
Burn today
Can you tell me what happened to you?
On June 8, 2011 I was hired by director Johnny Thrust aka ********** to shoot a boy/girl scene for Brazzers.com. Prior to the scene, during pretty girl stills, I was positioned in front of an older van. When Thrust was positioning me for stills, my left ankle rubbed against the side tail pipe of the van, resulting in a medium sized burn. At the time, we were in the mountains of Simi Valley.
I requested some kind of assistance, even a bottled water to pour onto the burn. Nothing was readily available. They told me the burn did not look bad, I should finish the scene (or not get paid, even a kill fee) and they would take me to get medical attention following.
The scene was completed. I was expecting to get medical attention, instead I was taken to Porno Dan’s studio for a first aid kit. I immediately requested to be taken home, as i merely consider this the proper medical attention necessary.
At that point, I went to a doctor on my own. Within 2 hours, the top layer of skin had started to bubble and bleed. If I had waited, I would have ran the risk of being exposed to bacterial infections, including the set, van, and studios where I was taken to following the injury.
My burn was second degree in severity and took a total of 6 weeks to fully heal. At that point, I was allowed to shoot 1 scene, at day 35 of my healing process. I suffered the loss of MANY shoots due to this injury. My agent at time of booking (type9) tried to communicate with Brazzers and Johnny Thrust, as well as myself, to no avail, almost 3 months later.
I still have a scar, which I currently am receiving laser therapy and skin grafts for, to minimalize the scars and such. I have an all natural body, girl next door look. I have 1 tattoo and had 0 scars, until now. All I asked for was assistance in the treatment and loss of work. I now have an attorney, and will proceed accordingly.
Who drove/owned the van? The van is owned by David Lord and was driven by his assistant, Crash.
How did you bump your leg on the tail pipe? I got burnt when Johnny thrust was positioning me for pretty girls and I rubbed up against it.
What reaction did you have when you got hurt? I immediately said "ow! Omgosh I’m burnt my leg!" then I immediately said I needed water or something.
What reaction did those around you have? Johnny said it didn’t look bad, it would take too long to drive back down to "the city" and wouldn’t be able to finish the scene. He said I wouldn’t be paid my rate nor a kill fee. The male talent could tell the severity of the burn, and since it was a POV type scene, he shot quickly so I seek attention immediately.
What did the doctor say when he saw the burn? The doctor said the burn was a second degree burn. I was treated with antibiotics and silvadine dressing changes every day. It took 6 weeks for the burn to fully heal.
Do you have medical insurance? I do have medical insurance, however, it does not cover work related injuries.
How much has all this cost you for Medical treatment? In lost work? I have ready been out thousands in medical expenses. I lost over $10,000 in work when I was off. The laser and skin graft treatment will exceed $15,000.
How are you paying your bills? I am now able to shoot while not receiving treatment.
Who do you feel is responsible for helping with these bills? What movie company/site was Thrust shooting for? I believe both Brazzers and Johnny Thrust should cover medical expenses, lost wages, and all effected due to this injury. I was shooting for IKnowThatGirl.com.
What about liability insurance for the shoot? Johnny thrust has no liability insurance,
Car insurance on the van? I have not received any response regarding the van being insured.
I will post about this on my site. Thank you for letting me know what happened, and I am so sorry about your injury.
Thank you. I appreciate it! Please let people know, if this matter had been dealt with the right way, originally, I wouldn’t make a fuss. To this day, I have yet to publicly say anything about it. Instead, I’m questioned constantly on sets by directors because Johnny calls me things such as "crazy" and that I’m suing him, even then, I smile, and keep quiet. I don’t know who posted about it on Mike South’s site, but since it has been made public, I feel the truth needs to be told and photos need to be shown. I’ve heard great things about you and your site from a dear friend . I appreciate you taking the time to listen :-).
Not sure id wanna be driven around by a guy whos nickname is crash..Who ever the scene was for should pay the bill…and im sure any judge would say the same thing…Unless there was some sort of contract labor thing that was signed like a hold harmless agreement…
sound shytty either way
Another story about a producer shooting without insurance! Blows my mind. What was that song lyric back in the day? ‘Accidents will Happen’. Shit does happen but it is best for producers to be professional and have your ducks all in a row. Best to Kelly.
Sounds like yet more folks that think the talent is easily replaceable and of little value when they might have to reach in their pocket. She should have been talen to the hospital/primary care and they pick up the bill for the visit.
Johnny Thrust shoot, need I say more. I’d say take him for every dime he has but he doesnt have any…why the hell was the van running? Oh wait, Johnny Thrust.
NL- i know u r being sarcastic, BUT Kelly didn’t want it out at first. After it was up on MikeSouth.com she wanted it out. She gave me permission several times to run it. AND to use her own words that she wrote to me. AND if you read the whole interview, u will see i tell her i will be posting the story & she thanks me.
Cindi — you reveal that Kelly didn’t want this story out.
WHAT? A story on a porn site has violated someone’s privacy?
How could that be? Why would someone publish it without asking her permission, or corroboration first?
I wasn’t aiming my sarcasm at you, Cindi. It was a friendly jab aimed at Mike for his original post about it.
Y’all need to get unionized 😉 Seriously if there ever was a group of workers that could benefit from a strong union it would have to be sex workers.
We need a topless Norma Rae holding up the “union” sign (fantasy).
Jack Youngblood played an entire game with a broken leg
Phillip Rivers played an entire game with a torn ACL
Hockey players get their jaws shattered by 100mph pucks, spit their teeth out, get it wired and are back in the game within 15 mintues
Weird Al Yankovich played a concert just hours after being informed that his parents were dead of CO2 poisoning.
Whatever happened to “the show must go on?”
good luck!!! Johnny is soemthing else and should be in prison where he would like it!!
Another day, another dumbass producer with no liability insurance and no regard for talent. What else is new.
Hell!! File a class action lawsuit and YOU’ll Recover$$$$.
and the UNION thing? won’t happen here today and anytime soon. Too many druggies and people that give a fuck about the 2-300 they are making ! Too weak. AFL-CIO doesn’t want anything to do with them!
I sadly have to agree, Rick. The majority of talent seem pretty unresponsive to any idea about forming a union.
You gotta remember the vast majority of talent seems to be broken (and uninhibited) pretty people that like sex and think of a quick buck, many escort for their $$$ and are only doing porn to make a name for themselves before they go back into escorting. They aren’t thinking of making the business better for the ones that will be following them.
There aren’t many folks that enter this business with a long term outlook to how they will live in the future.
I just don’t want to believe that, Karmafan, but I have to somewhat agree. “Porn-star” is in decline. It’s mostly about escorting now.