We Need To Talk About Nadia White’s Troma Trauma
An adult film star is asked to ignore COVID on set. Here’s why it matters for you.
As many of you know, I’ve always enjoyed Lloyd Kaufman. His films are inspirational simply because they are campy, cheesy, and 100 percent independent. That’s right: Troma Entertainment is an indie movie house.
It also helps that I’m a massive fan of the Toxic Avenger and Kabukiman. They’re crazy campy, and I’ve always found them to be a hilarious take on the '80s cheese superhero trope.
So, when I heard that my friend and colleague, Nadia White, was going to be cast in another Kaufman role, I was elated. The movie in question is called The Power of Positive Murder.
It was not her first rodeo with Troma by any means. She also had roles in Shakespeare’s Shitstorm and Return to Nuke’em High Vol 2. She’s a talented actress in all senses of the word.
But things took a turn for the worse in a way that I just couldn’t believe.
Nadia was fired from her role in the upcoming Troma film. As someone who hears almost everything in the porn grapevine, I know this is a shocker for adult film professionals.
You see, Nadia White is famous for her professionalism as well as her exceptional behavior on set. Seeing her get fired is something that just doesn’t jive. So, what gives?
It all boils down to COVID-19 regulations.
In August, Nadia posted that she was let go from the upcoming Troma shoot. Why? Because the staffers alerted her that there were four COVID cases on set, and that the number kept on growing.
Nadia asked to avoid attending the shoot during the outbreak, citing concern for her health. COVID-19 is a potentially lethal disease that can permanently alter a person’s breathing. I ought to know. It happened to a close friend of mine.
Troma Entertainment initially said they’d reschedule, then later called her to tell her she’s been fired. This is extremely surprising since Nadia has had a longstanding relationship with Troma Entertainment.
Since then, Troma Entertainment claimed only one person was COVID-positive, an allegation Nadia disputed with a screenshot of her conversation discussing the cases.
Why does this matter?
It’s simple: the pandemic never truly ended. People are still dying from COVID-19, and vaccines aren’t always effective. Health should always be a top priority on set, regardless of the type of shoot it is.
I don’t know Nadia’s health issues, nor do I feel the need to ask her. If she feels unsafe on set, she has a right to ask for reasonable accommodations. In this case, shooting via a green screen was a viable option.
They denied her that.
That’s the equivalent of having an employer tell a person allergic to nuts to work in the Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup factory after they are hired. Or, in my case, that’s the equivalent of telling me to go camping in a bright, sunny desert with my condition.
You just don’t do that.
You’re better off telling people if there’s a risk they need to be aware of before they’re hired. Or you can not hire them at all and avoid getting their hopes up. It’s a matter of decency.
It goes even deeper than that because she’s an adult film star.
Remember when I said that the pandemic isn’t over? COVID-19 still has ramifications for people everywhere. One of the most heavily-affected industries is, surprisingly, mainstream porn.
I remembered hearing about COVID restrictions in 2020. I asked her if they’re still in place. Here’s what Nadia had to say:
“You wouldn’t be allowed to shoot, no. When we first got back to shooting, we all had to have negative COVID tests to be on set — often, a 24/48 hr test was required, no exceptions. We take health very seriously in adult. We are on a 14-day full panel test with oral and rectal swabs plus and additional test for MGEN (which the general public isn’t even aware of is a STI).” — Nadia White
Restrictions aside, people often don’t realize how grueling porn acting is. A single porn shoot can involve eight to 12 hours of physical work. That’s enough to make a physically fit person exhausted.
If you have COVID-19 or long-term respiratory damage from it, that could make you unable to perform in your chosen job. That’s a huge risk. Going on a COVID-positive set as an adult film star is a literal gamble on your future.
She explained, “It’s another reason I am so careful. My job is obviously very physical and viruses and bacteria are easily passed around. It’s not fair for me to engage in any unnecessary risks.”
Because I try to get both sides, I want to post Troma Entertainment’s response.
Nadia explained that this take from Jessa Flux contained falsehoods in an Instagram post made a couple of weeks ago.
As someone who is not involved in the new Troma film, I personally cannot verify what either side is saying. However, I can say that Nadia has a sterling reputation among adult film production companies and I am inclined to believe her side of things.
With hope, this is a learning experience for Troma Entertainment in the era of COVID.
COVID changed the way the world works. It’s now a serious health concern that should be treated the same way that disabilities need to be treated. If you have a sensitive respiratory system, getting a vaccine and telling potential employers is a smart choice.
Employers who want to work with people who have special COVID concerns need to address them upfront. If the adult film industry can care that much about actor health, there’s no reason why mainstream filming can’t, either.
Nadia didn’t deserve to have to choose between her health, her livelihood, and an acting role. This is a worker’s rights issue. Nadia is lucky because she is famous. Most people who deal with this won’t have that luck.
We need to stay conscious about this. With hope, this will never happen again.
While I would not normally read a post about the sex and porn industry (just too damn old) the covid angle got my eyeballs.