Filming of scenes for a controversial online show ‘Turned On: Dirty, Sexy Money’ at Brisbane’s Anglican Cathedral has drawn a shocked reaction after Collective Shout campaigner Melinda Tankard Reist posted about it.
Making the point that the series is “part of a PR blitz” for the sex industry, Tankard Reist’s critique of the Cathedral taking part in the show is scathing: “In episode 6, UK p*rn performer Lily Phillips, 24, claims to want to ‘reconnect with her faith’ and find a welcoming community. So the producers contact the Cathedral for her (all part of the pre-planned scripting, I’m sure- there was no indication she was moving to QLD from UK).
“Five minutes due diligence online would have revealed Phillips widely-reported history including a publicised ‘101 men in a day’ sex stunt, reports of attempting to recruit ‘barely legal’ male school leavers at Gold Coast schoolies week and what seems to be fake conversion scams like her recent ‘baptism’ followed by a p*rn-themed ‘prayer meeting’ with a group of men she was about to film a gang bang with.
“But the church became a prop in a mainstream series for clicks, sexual solicitation and more paid subscribers – most of them married men spending money that should have supported their wives and kids.
“Phillips and her collaborators are shown selecting their best lingerie for the ‘re-affirmation’ ceremony.”
Here is a Facebook response from the cathedral from today Monday 17th. There’s no text under the pic.
Was the ceremony genuine?
Here’s a description from the Collective Shout post. (The Other Cheek finds part of it a bit too frank in its description – but it is easy to find.)
“The Dean, Very Rev’d Dr Peter Catt (pictured in the Stan promo) invites the sexfluencers to the altar.
“’Do you turn to Christ?’ our man of God asks Phillips.
“’I do.’
“’Do you renounce evil?’
“’I do.’
“’Do you repent of your sins?’”’
“’I do.’
“After the ceremony, the young content creator duo known as ‘The Twins’, in a rare moment of truth, declare: ‘;She has a right to practice her religion. But we don’t believe her!’ Though slightly late to realise it, one of the identical twins says she doesn’t want to be ‘a pawn in someone’s publicity stunt.’”
The Other Cheek has not watched the show, and even if this writer had, he might not be the wiser as to whether there was any degree of repentance before the baptism. Collective Shout suggests that the content of the show indicates otherwise, with a following scene of Lily Phillips recruiting Gold Coast tradies into taking part in sexual activity that this site is too prudish to describe.
A News.com.au story covers how Phillips sees the baptism.
UPDATE: although the traditional baptism vows were used, the ceremony was in fact labelled as a ‘reaffirmation ‘”, Melinda Tankard Reist tells The Other Cheek.
“I think for me, I do believe that God’s rules have definitely evolved,” Phillips told the news site.
The report continues: “Phillips has been vocal in the past about her relationship with her faith, adhering to what she refers to as ‘bespoke religion’, adding that her faith has always been a huge part of who she is and is responsible for grounding her and reminding her what truly matters.
““There was a point when… all I cared about was monetary stuff. I think what faith has helped me to do was really ground me and make me so grateful for what I already have,” she explained.
“While her career choice might strike many as far from biblical, she doesn’t believe God would judge her.
“’Obviously, I think at the end of the day it’s something that is natural, sex,’ she explained.
“’I don’t think he’s against gay marriage anymore, I don’t think he’s necessarily against abortions, I think as the world evolves so has God.’”
It just may be that Phillips chose a progressive Cathedral to at least in part match her bespoke faith.