‘Deep Throat’ screening at Rio draws backlash

A planned screening of a controversial adult film at Vancouver’s Rio Theatre has people calling for its cancellation — and not because it’s pornography.

The venue is set to show “Deep Throat”, which has prompted outcry from the public because the film’s star has said she was coerced into it by her abusive partner.

Linda Lovelace, who died in 2002, wrote in one of her books that her ex-husband forced her into porn by threatening her with a gun. During a commission on pornography in 1986, she testified, “when you see the movie ‘Deep Throat’, you are watching me being raped.”

“We’re talking about exploitation — documented exploitation — of somebody that was involved in this film,” explained Angela Marie MacDougall, executive director, Battered Women’s Support Services.

“Her voice matters, her experience matters.”

MacDougall says Lovelace was “pretty clear about what it was like for her to be a battered woman” during the making of the film, adding “those are facts: the fact she was abused, that she was exploited.”

Online, people are calling the planned screening disgusting and appalling.

it is appalling and disgusting to screen this film, especially after admitting you are aware of Linda's abuse during the filmmaking. i would encourage moviegoers to visit theatres managed by people who model empathy and respect – and to avoid this one.

— tár (@alyakc) September 11, 2022

Disgusting. The Rio has seen all these replies and is still perpetuating this filmed sexual abuse.

— theDTESbear (@theDTESbear) September 11, 2022

However, Corinne Lea, who owns and operates the Rio, says Lovelace has also made statements suggesting she wasn’t coerced

“It’s not really clear that there’s just one way of viewing her experience with the film,” Lea told CityNews. “‘Deep Throat’ has always been a historically significant film in that it changed pop culture significantly and the way porn was viewed.”

Lea says the screening Wednesday night — marking 50 years since the film — will feature a panel discussion with a film professor, sex worker advocates, and the son and daughter of the film’s director.

She adds a portion of the proceeds from the showing will go to the WISH Society, which supports sex workers. However, in a statement to CityNews, WISH Society says it will not accept donations from the event, adding, “We are not affiliated with this event, we did not accept to participate.”

“We understand that this is controversial and that’s why my sister and I are here in Vancouver ourselves to present the film,” explained Gerard Damiano Jr., son of Gerard Damiano, the director of “Deep Throat”.

“Linda suffered greatly at the hands of her own husband in really what is a case of domestic abuse.”

“Linda’s perspective on her involvement in ‘Deep Throat’ evolved over time as did she. And most people base their judgement not on the film itself because most of the people that are critical have never even seen the film,” Gerard Damiano Jr. added.

He notes following the film, Lovelace returned to porn and even “attended conventions where she signed ‘Deep Throat’ memorabilia.”

“There’s a lot of misinformation about what happened and what went on and people love to form their own opinion from something that they’ve heard. So we want to be able to really give the truth of what happened,” Christar Damiano, the director’s daughter, added.

“This is something that blew up and opened the dialogue for women about sex and their pleasures and their needs and never before had that happen so I think that’s what really made it the phenomenon it was and still is,” she said.

MacDougall says she understands why the theatre would want to screen something that is historical but adds when something is shown without critical analysis, exploitation can be reinforced.

“The biggest question is, do we care about sex workers? And do we care about people that do sex work and are exploited?” she asked.

Lea says there will be critical analysis during the panel, adding the movie is discussed in universities and has “been featured at the Museum of Sex because of it’s focus on the narrative, which hadn’t been done prior to.”

“So we felt that this was something that was important to screen publicly, to make it accessible to people,” she explained.

“It’s important for us as a public venue to do what we can to elevate the level of discourse and create a safe space for people to share ideas.”

Amid the backlash, Lea says the theatre has received death threats and threats of violence. She tells CityNews she has had to report these threats to police.