‘Girls Gone Wild’ CEO Joe Francis Shifts Blame To Young Victims

Disgraced videographer Joe Francis of “Ladies Gone Wild” infamy has gone on document accountable the underage ladies who destroyed his raunchy and controversial empire.

Sitting down for his first interview in additional than a decade, the 51-year-old founding father of the franchise spoke brazenly about his experiences throughout GGW’s heyday and a current docuseries, “Ladies Gone Wild: The Untold Story,” that chronicles the rise and fall of Francis – and the place he’s right this moment.

For a time, commercials for Francis’ “Ladies Gone Wild” sequence have been a staple of late-night television, teasing long-form movies of social gathering ladies all all over the world taking all of it off on-camera.

Starting in 1997, Francis would launch footage of those ladies by way of house video supply. By 2002, he acquired over $20 million in gross sales by way of 83 totally different “Ladies Gone Wild” titles.

Nearly instantly following his success, allegations from ladies who claimed to have been inebriated whereas being filmed started to swarm Francis and his firm. Francis was in a position to dispel a few of their claims with footage of them acquiescing and showing of sound thoughts doing so.

Extra severe claims of filming and sexually participating with minors would observe in 2003, main Joe Francis to be charged with youngster abuse and prostitution in 2008. He would plead no contest and be sentenced in 2015 to spend lower than a 12 months in jail – which he had already served.

He additionally acquired six months of “non-reporting” probation and was banned from filming in Panama Metropolis for 3 years.

With authorized troubles mounting, Francis left america and moved to Mexico, the place he at present resides. He’s thought of to stay “in exile,” partially as a result of his refusal to face trial over one other warrant issued in 2014.

Talking to journalist Scacchi Koul in regards to the “Ladies Gone Wild” docuseries and the actions that led him to shame, Francis defiantly refused to take accountability– most notably concerning the fees from 2008.

“They have been 17, simply shy of 18,” he acknowledged, refusing to consult with the victims as being “younger.”

“[The girls were] those that victimized [“Girls Gone Wild”],” Francis continued, as transcribed by Entertainment Weekly.

“We imagine they have been put up by the Panama Metropolis police, and it was all [part of] an operation. I imagine that was fairly orchestrated. I walked right into a f-cking snake pit, okay?”

All 4 victims would allege that they have been minors after they have been filmed performing intercourse acts and posing topless at a Panama Metropolis hotspot. They’d ultimately report Francis to the native police, who, in flip, would compile a RICO case towards Francis and the “Ladies Gone Wild” firm.

To at the present time, Francis claims to really feel no guilt over filming the underage ladies or supplying them with alcohol to decrease their inhibitions.

“I do not imagine they have been victimized. They victimized me,” he reiterated.

Because it at present stands, Joe Francis is dealing with costs associated to 2 separate assault incidents, which additionally provides to his resistance to return to the nation.

The primary was made in 2013 after a 2011 incident the place Francis invited three ladies to his Hollywood mansion by way of his limo, then refused to allow them to go away.

As soon as they arrived at his residence, Francis allegedly “[grabbed] one of many ladies by the throat and hair, and [slammed] her head into the tile ground 4 occasions.”

He then demanded that the ladies chorus from calling the police. He was sentenced to serve 270 days in jail and ordered to finish an anger administration course, together with a 12 months of psychological well being counseling.

In 2014, he was arrested once more following an altercation on the “Ladies Gone Wild” headquarters in Los Angeles.

With the latter incident being a probation violation of the 2011 incident, Francis was set to be given stronger costs – however because the Los Angeles Times notes, he quickly flew off to Mexico and by no means returned.

A $500,000 warrant was quickly positioned for his arrest.

Those that are curious to be taught extra about Joe Francis and the historical past of his model can stream all three episodes of “Ladies Gone Wild: The Untold Story” now on Peacock.