Kink .com
Kink.com
Kink.com is an American adult entertainment company specializing in BDSM and fetish content. Founded in 1997 by Peter Acworth and headquartered in San Francisco, the studio became renowned for its raw authenticity, performer-led productions, and ethical approach to hardcore themes. It has played a pivotal role in bringing BDSM into the spotlight of adult entertainment, often sparking both acclaim and controversy.
History
Kink.com was launched in 1997 as Hogtied.com by British entrepreneur Peter Acworth. A Columbia Business School dropout, Acworth created the site to explore and monetize his own interests in bondage. His approach was simple but revolutionary: feature real-life BDSM enthusiasts performing authentic scenes, with full transparency around consent.
Over time, Kink expanded into a network of niche sites including:
- Bound Gods
- Device Bondage
- Water Bondage
- Public Disgrace
- The Upper Floor
- Hardcore Gangbang
- Electrosluts
- Everything Butt
In 2006, Kink.com purchased the historic San Francisco Armory for $14.5 million, converting the vast space into its headquarters and main production set. The Armory became symbolic of the brand—opulent, mysterious, and unapologetically kinky.
In 2018, Kink sold the Armory, shifting to a more decentralized production model aligned with changing industry economics and the rise of creator-owned content.
Notable Films
Kink.com does not produce traditional feature films. Instead, it has created influential BDSM *series* that helped define online fetish content:
- Public Disgrace – Public BDSM with real audience interaction, filmed in bars, streets, and clubs.
- The Upper Floor – A web-based reality series portraying a 24/7 BDSM household.
- Bound Gods – Gay male bondage with a strong focus on D/s roles and discipline.
- Device Bondage – Elaborate and restrictive metal bondage devices.
- Hardcore Gangbang – Female-centric gangbangs with extended negotiation scenes.
- Electrosluts – BDSM scenarios involving electrical stimulation.
- Everything Butt – Anal-focused kink, including gaping and fisting scenes.
These series shaped the visual language of online BDSM and inspired a generation of performers, producers, and kink educators.
Awards
Kink.com has received critical acclaim and industry awards for its innovation, ethics, and niche excellence:
- AVN Award – Best Specialty Website: BDSM (multiple years)
- XBIZ Award – Fetish Studio of the Year
- Feminist Porn Awards – Nominations for performer-centered kink productions
- Free Speech Coalition – Recognition for consent education and performer advocacy
Despite producing extreme content, Kink earned respect for its transparency and professionalism, and has been featured in academic and media discourse globally.
Ethical Practices
Kink.com positioned itself early on as a leader in ethical porn. Its commitment includes:
- Pre- and post-scene interviews with performers detailing consent, limits, and expectations.
- A visible Stoplight System (green/yellow/red) to manage real-time consent.
- Behind-the-scenes negotiation videos available to subscribers.
- Highly paid scenes for performers undertaking extreme acts.
- Emphasis on performer aftercare and mental well-being.
- Publicly accessible Code of Conduct and producer guidelines.
- Partnership with sex-positive events like Folsom Street Fair.
This framework not only improved the safety of performers but educated audiences about BDSM etiquette and informed consent.
Controversies
Despite its ethics-driven model, Kink.com has faced scrutiny:
- Accusations from outside the industry labeling its content as "violent" or "abusive"—typically by critics unaware of BDSM consent culture.
- Performer disputes over boundaries—most of which led to public revisions in studio policy.
- Neighborhood opposition in San Francisco during the Armory era.
- Public outcry from conservative groups and anti-porn activists.
A 2013 campaign by some former performers raised concerns over high-pressure practices, but also triggered a more rigorous enforcement of performer check-ins and consent verification.
Ethical Leadership & Evolution
After Acworth stepped back from daily operations in 2017, a new leadership team emphasized:
- More diverse representation across gender and race.
- Increased performer autonomy.
- Transparency in pay, production, and editorial decisions.
Kink now operates more like a network, supporting performer-producers and moving away from a centralized studio model.