What is Jon Ronson’s new podcast The Last Days of August about?
What is Jon Ronson's new podcast The Last Days of August about? The writer, investigator and podcaster tells a story about the porn industry and public shaming Jon Ronson is known for his storytelling.
Who is the creator of the last days of August?
Jon Ronson, creator of new podcast The Last Days of August. Photograph: Alamy Jon Ronson’s The Butterfly Effect was one of the most talked about podcasts of last year, its account of the rise of the free porn industry proving grimly gripping.
Who is August Ronson’s husband Kevin Ronson and how did she die?
Adult filmmaker Kevin was married to August at the time of her death and features heavily in Ronson's podcast. In January 2018, shortly after Ronson made contact, he released a lengthy statement on his late wife's website blaming cyberbullies for causing her death.
What happened to August Ames?
Adult film actress August Ames is pictured at the 2016 AVN Adult Entertainment Expo at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino on January 21, 2016 in Las Vegas, Nevada. She died by suicide in December 2017 after tweeting that she did not want to perform with a male actor who did crossover scenes. Ethan Miller/Getty Images
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What is The Last Days of August about?
Ronson's new podcast was prompted by the death of 23-year-old August – real name Mercedes Grabowski – in December 2017, days after a tweet she sent about refusing to work with an actor who had shot gay porn.
Who is Kevin Moore?
Adult filmmaker Kevin was married to August at the time of her death and features heavily in Ronson's podcast. In January 2018, shortly after Ronson made contact, he released a lengthy statement on his late wife's website blaming cyberbullies for causing her death.
Does The Last Days of August become a murder mystery?
No. Ronson is keen to separate his podcast from the mix of amateur audio crime investigations that have sprung up in the wake of Serial. "I have a love/hate relationship with true crime podcasts. I'm a fan of them and I also find myself wincing at their ethical shortcomings quite frequently."
So, why did Jon Ronson decide August's death was something he should investigate?
It's an important question and Ronson admits having "long, dark thoughts" about the story he was reporting. But he remains convinced it needed to be told. "There were a few reasons why I decided to continue but one of the main ones was the realisation that not continuing would be worse than continuing.
What was August Ames' cause of death?
3. On Dec. 5, 2017, the body of 23-year-old porn superstar August Ames was found in a park near Los Angeles. The cause of death was asphyxiation from hanging.
Why did Misitzis and Ronson laser in on Ames' final scene?
At the end of the podcast series, Ronson and Misitzis laser in on Ames’ final scene because it was so clearly outside her upbeat comfort zone. Performing with 30-year-old Russian porn star Markus Dupree, who is known for his domineering style, Ames was pushed to her sexual limits and possibly beyond.
When was Ames' final tweet?
Wheeler sent his appalling message telling Ames to “swallow a cyanide pill” in the early hours of Dec. 5. Ames’ final tweet, a simple “f–k y’all,” was sent on Dec. 4 and her body wasn’t found until Dec. 5.
When was the Oscars for Adult Video News?
At the Adult Video News Awards — porn’s version of the Oscars — which were held on Jan. 27, 2018, Moore stood before the entire industry and declared, “Who you work with is up to you. It’s your body, it’s your choice. No agent, no producer, no company, and certainly not social media, decides what you do with your body.”.
Who is Kevin Moore's wife?
Kevin Moore speaks about his late wife, August Ames, at the 2018 Adult Video News Awards. Getty Images. Ronson, who wrote a book called “ So You’ve Been Publicly Shamed ,” on the early days of cyberbullying, dissects Moore’s version of events with the precision of a surgeon.
Did Drake apologize for Ames' death?
Drake issued a heartfelt apology nonethe less, three days after Ames’ death, and in a rare interview, tearfully revealed to Ronson that she, ironically, was now the subject of intense internet bullying. Ronson’s reframing of Wheeler’s indefensible tweet is even simpler.
Why did Ronson want to delve deeper into Ames' shocking death?
Ronson said he wanted to delve deeper into Ames’ shocking death in part because of his knowledge of the adult film world, along with his past study on the effects of cyberbullying for his book, "So You've Been Publicly Shamed.".
Who filmed the last scene of Ames?
But Ronson and Misitzis also point to Ames’ last ever scene, filmed six weeks prior to the Twitter controversy, as being a potential trigger for alleged suicide. The scene, shot with porn star Markus Dupree, was reportedly a departure for her typical style and was aggressive.
Was Ames homophobic?
Ames herself clarified her position saying in another post that same day that she wasn't homophobic and had made the decision not to participat e in the shoot to protect her body.
How did August Ames die?
In December 2017, famed adult film star August Ames died by suicide in a park in the Conejo Valley. Her death came just a day after she’d been the victim of a social media pile-on by fellow porn professionals—punishment...
When is the last day of August episode 5?
The Last Days of August: Episode Five. April 11, 2019 • 29 min. Jon Ronson, the creator of Audible Original The Butterfly Effect, delves into the pornography industry again as he unravels the never-before-told story of what caused a beloved 23-year-old actress’s untimely death. In December 2017, famed adult film star August Ames died by suicide in ...
What episode of The Last Days of August is the Butterfly Effect?
The Last Days of August: Episode Seven. April 11, 2019 • 39 min. Jon Ronson, the creator of Audible Original The Butterfly Effect, delves into the pornography industry again as he unravels the never-before-told story of what caused a beloved 23-year-old actress’s untimely death. In December 2017, famed adult film star August Ames died by suicide in ...
How did August Ames die?
In December 2017, famed adult film star August Ames died by suicide in a park in the Conejo Valley. Her death came just a day after she’d been the victim of a social media pile-on by fellow porn professionals—punishment for her tweeting out something deemed homophobic.
What is Jon's journey into the world of custom porn?
Jon journeys deeper into the mysterious and delightful world of custom porn, which may never have existed if it weren’t for Fabian. He meets producers and their clients, and discovers that these films offer a remarkable window into our inner lives.
What episode is the last days of August?
The Last Days of August: Episode Seven. 4/11/2019. Jon Ronson, the creator of Audible Original The Butterfly Effect, delves into the pornography industry again as he unravels the never-before-told story of what caused a beloved 23-year-old actress’s untimely death.
What happened to Ashley Madison?
The Ashley Madison hack of 2015 resulted in the leaked names and email addresses of 37 million aspiring cheaters around the world. In this episode, Jon unravels PornHub’s relationship to Ashley Madison, and the catastrophic effects the leak had on some users. Jon visits Louisiana, where he meets a community profoundly impacted by one outed user – their pastor.
Talking Points
Jon Ronson’s The Butterfly Effect was one of the most talked about podcasts of last year, its account of the rise of the free porn industry proving grimly gripping.
Picks of the week
Secrets revealed … Stephen Fry offers plenty of Victorian debauchery. Photograph: Neil Mockford/GC Images
In focus: US political podcasts
With the midterms looming, now is as good a time as any to add some American political podcasts to your regular rotation. There are certainly plenty to choose from, with most media organisations providing a weekly, biweekly or, in the case of the New York Times’s The Daily and NPR’s Up First, diurnal offering.
Guardian pick
On this week’s Science Weekly, Nicola Davis travels to Botswana to see how empowering women and giving them the chance to control a fundamental part of the their lives has not only reduced fertility rates but has had enormous ramifications for their health, education and employment.
Readers picks
Ben Cartwright, producer of Who Are Ya podcast. Photograph: Ben Cartwright
