STATEMENT – McDonald’s Must Warn Employees About Porn Industry Recruitment Efforts

Washington, DC (April 28, 2020) – The National Center on Sexual Exploitation (NCOSE) has requested that McDonald’s warn its employees about a pornography website that is targeting them for recruitment during COVID-19. Porn website IsMyGirl reportedly sent a press release to 500,000 McDonald’s workers to entice them into creating pornographic content.

In a letter to McDonald’s Corporation CEO Chris Kempczinski, National Center on Sexual Exploitation President & CEO Patrick Trueman asked that McDonald’s send company-wide messages to warn employees about pornography website IsMyGirl’s offer and to educate about the harms that getting involved would entail.

“In light of legal actions McDonald’s employees have recently taken towards corporate regarding sexual harassment, it is even more important and timely for you to respond to this targeting of your employees,” Trueman wrote.

“We do not believe this is a ‘legitimate option’ for anyone, especially those who are already particularly affected or suffering during these trying times. It is vital to recognize that pornography itself is a form of sexual exploitation, where ‘performers’ endure physical and mental trauma due to sexual harassment, grooming, abuse, and more.

“We are particularly concerned for your employees living in households where domestic abuse and manipulation may lead to pressurized environments forcing them to partake in this industry to gain promised financial stability.

“It is vital to recognize that it is impossible for the pornography industry to judge from the content of a video or image whether force, fraud, psychological coercion, social manipulation, etc., were used to instigate it. This is especially true considering many sex traffickers and abusers will groom victims to claim that they are operating of their own free will.

“In response to the targeting of your employees, we believe it is your social responsibility to make them aware of the exploitation and harms of the pornography industry. This action will also advance your reputation by refusing to aid in further trauma and effects of the trade, including sexual harassment and harms that your workers may face.

“We call on your company to live up to your corporate ethical commitment to ensure the health and safety of your people and provide a workplace free of harassment and its effects,” Trueman concluded.