When you read yesterday Michael Lucas’ complaint about losing out on a New York Times puff piece, what you didn’t know is that the fashion reporter who opted not to interview the porn star-producer was also hitting up Lucas Entertainment for free porn DVDs. For “review,” of course.
In an amusing series of emails obtained by Queerty, Times writer Guy Trebay can be seen, ahem, casually mentioning that his latest “smut care package had not arrived.” Mr. Trebay usually reports on fashion trends and the shows in Milan and Paris.
Just yesterday we learned Lucas was furious with Trebay over his refusal to reschedule an interview — to look inside Lucas’ closet for a fashion piece — after Lucas canceled the first one because his mother died just hours before. But now we learn Lucas has more reason to be upset: The same reporter who refused to put him in the Times kept expecting free adult goodies.
And as the email trail shows, he was making some of those requests from his work account. You know, because the Times regularly reviews gay porn DVD releases. (Disclosure: Queerty has received Lucas’ DVDs in the past. They are stacked neatly … in a box somewhere.)
But Trebay had a point about asking for “review copies” on DVDs: “I’m unable, for obvious reasons, to download this material at my office.”
We’ve contacted Trebay for comment; we’ll let you know if we hear back.
The full set of emails on the next page.
(NOTE: Patrick is Lucas Entertainment’s publicity director.)
From: Guy Trebay [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Date: 09/02/08 10:08
Subject: Re: LUCAS ENTERTAINMENT UNVEILS NEW RELEASE THIRSTY!,
MICHAEL LUCAS ON COVER OF KVIR MAGAZINE, AND MORE!!
Hey Patrick, Just returned from a month in Bay Area, waded through
mountain of mail and was sad to find that the smut care package had
not arrived. Still curious to know what the company has going right
now. Many thanks. Cheers, Guy
From: guy trebay [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Date: 08/27/08 19:36
Subject: Re: Lucas Fashion Blog from Guy Trebay
Thanks, Patrick. What’s ML doing movie-wise. I’m in the dark.
Haven’t seen a Lucas video since Heather R. left the company.
Cheers, GT
From: Guy Trebay [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Date: 07/28/08 13:06
Subject: Re: LUCAS ENTERTAINMENT’S NEWEST RELEASES, LATEST NEWS,
AND MORE!!
Dear Patrick,
Is it possible to return to DVD format for review copies? I’m
unable, for obvious reasons, to download this material at my
office. I haven’t seen an ML film since the fashion one, I think.
Please convey my regards to Michael and also my apologies for
having been out of touch. I have been traveling and will be back in
NYC Labor Day, in time for Fashion Week.
Thanks.
Cheers,
Guy
Qjersey
I guess Mr. Trebay doesn’t know about xtube or how to torrent download porn
Robert
If Trebay could not do the article, he should be embarrassed to ask for free gay porn…ON HIS WORK EMAIL! The Times should really look into this. Beyond ick and unprofessional.
No Homophobama
Boy oh boy. One douche disses another douche. Two self-important stains on our community having a public hissy fit. Silly and sad.
prissysissy
Apparently Mr. Trebay has terrible taste .. Michael Lucas videos are terrible (not to mention Mr. Lucas’ horsy face).
Kid A
@prissysissy: So I’m a young’un and growing up with ubiquitous internet pr0n, have never bought a legit porn dvd, and was thinking about Michael Lucas, for the cock as much as anything else.. Sounds like a bad investment? Ya just gotta splurge once in a while, no pun intended.
Loic
haha love it! fashion reporter caught with his pants down…you have some explaining to do…
anthony
Hi Kid, Michael Lucas’ movies are among the best – highly recommended for a “splurge”. Or maybe you should become a fashion reporter for the NYT; then you could sleaze them for free!
tagada
so what? The guy wants free porn? good for him! where are we? inside a fucking catholic preaching shiteous idealogies convention? no? then let him enjoy all he will…
i’m so sick of self-proclaimed gays like perez willing to rule the world with their narrowminded shitious opinions…
porn is good, yes indeed…
Kid A
@anthony: good idea, I hadn’t thought of that! Sounds like I’m getting into the wrong career.
Marco74
At least Trebay has good taste in porn!
Daniel S
I think it’s pretty uncool for Trebay to pretend like he’s going to do a story on someone, just so he can get free porn DVD’s. If I was Michael, I’d also be offended.
Stephan Bertpoli
Ilove ML movies. He is king of porn.
JARED P
GUY TREBAY NEWLY INDUCTED INTO THE HALL OF SHAME! YOU CANCEL A INTERVIEW BC SOMEONE’S MOTHER PASSED THEN BEG FOR FREE PORN. SAD.
TANK
What is lucas’s staff commenting now in support of their boss? I hope you’re getting paid to promote this faux porno controversey and his name.
This is retarded…
anthony
hey Tank,
are you working for NYT?
TANK
@anthony:
Yup. Frank Rich and I are tight.
anthony
@ tank
Do you think that there are many people who are attacking michael on queerty? Its you and two other losers posting under different names. And its all the same bs about how ugly lucas is. Got nothing better to do? go look in the mirror.
TANK
@anthony:
Shut your fuckin’ face, unclefucker. I never attacked michael lucas. This is fucking retarded, retard. All of it, including the fashion reporter’s involvement.
rick
join the newsgroups and download your lucas at home.
homofied
These postings are as lame as the story itself.
INCognito
OMG! I was right yesterday, when I commented that he probably wanted some free Lukas products!!!
http://www.queerty.com/michael-lucas-is-hella-pissed-the-new-york-times-canceled-on-him-20090710/#comment-191767
Rudy
I’ve always wondered why Michael Musto can’t go two weeks in the Voice without mentioning the dismal Lucas.
This explains it.
KyleR
@rick: Newsgroups? The only way I know what your talking about is because I read it in a book somewhere. No one uses Newsgroups. They died out in the 90s when P2P started to take off. And that’s slowly dying too. It’s all Torrent now.
jasPER flat
@TANK:
What self-respecting gay says “This is fucking retarded, retard.”? Who wants to bet that Tank is either Guy Trebay himself, or (less likely) one of his flacks?
Oh, and incase the topic of this post were lost by the b.s. commenters above, Trebay, er, Tank, is guilty of unethical behavior by virtue of attempting to profit from his position, and contacts made via his position, for personal profit. The evidence is clear, he used his work email to perform his bidding. That is unethical. It unfavorably casts sunlight upon both Trebay, er, Tank, and the NYT: a breach if NYT’s code of ethics.
What’s truly worse, however, is the attitude that reads “They’re not professional contacts of the NYT, they r just gay pornographers, what r they gonna do, complain about a shakedown by another gay?”
Gays need not be taken advantage of by anyone for any means – least via a shakedown for free porn by the (unsuccessful)gay-porn-capitalizing Trebay, er, Tank.
Trebay, er, Tank: teh gays can has no free porn 4 u.
TANK
@jasPER flat:
Yes, I’m Guy Trebay. I’ve been exposed! I feel so awkward and vulnerable. lol! First, I’d change my name if it were “Guy,” to Buddy.
TANK
You totally woodward and bernsteined me, bro!
GSH
This is beyond shame. If someone working in an office asks for dvd freebies that’s their business and nobody else’s. Noboady cares about this except a certain vindictive porn producer that nurses a grudge and Queerty that does the dirty job for him.
Shame on you!
Rain
“No. 3 · No Homophobama
Boy oh boy. One douche disses another douche. Two self-important stains on our community having a public hissy fit. Silly and sad.”
You just made it three stains.
Rain
“No. 20 · homofied
These postings are as lame as the story itself.”
Agree. Can we get some real knewz?
Marius
@Rain:
The comments section is what Queerty is all about.
I haven’t been here very long, so take my post for what it’s worth and the comments for what they say about the readership.
I’m not very deep.
Michael Lucas
I would like to comment on this story. My Mother’s death aside, I find it very strange that the New York Times would cancel a story as some have suggested. I am well known within NYC and abroad and I have contributed to many social issues and promoted many causes through my many stories and blogs.
Secondly, prissysissy, I do not have a horsy face, nor do I spend hours in the mirror practicing my pout. I have in the past had reconstructive surgery to correct a minor issue and had cosmetic surgery recently to help with my nasal passage.
Third, my movies are artisticly made, I don’t give a crap what people say about me or my films or the actors who work for me! I the end Im laughing all the way to the bank – and you prissysissy? where are you in the social ladder of New York society???
Fitz
@Michael Lucas: OK, it’s not nice.. but your face is a tad horsey (thankfully so are other parts, and the pout is a bit trout. But your right about the other things, for sure. we should be glad that some of your time & $$ goes into the community- (this is ANOTHER reason I am glad I don’t do that kind of work: having strangers feel ok about making hurtful remarks. )
will
I have had many e-mails with Michael over the last few years.
Michael is a class act and a very nice man.
He is well known here in NY and frequently makes the local papers.
There is nothing sleazy about Michael and he is usually photographed at events such as charity events.
I don’t believe there was going to be an article about Michael.
Michael’s DVDs are a notch above the competition.
I highly recommend them to Mr. Trebay. Buy them like everyone else.
Michael runs a first rate business. I think it is about time the media recognized Michael as a successful businessman and well dressed, intelligent man and do some articles about him.
Michael has had s very interesting life and is a true success story.
NY Times, GQ, Details, Men’s Vogue….it’s about time you did articles on Michael Lucas!
Matthew
@Michael Lucas:
What a ridiculously moronic thing to say. If you are bragging about your money and being a part of the social ladder of New York, then you aren’t classy enough to be a part of the social ladder of NY. And I’m willing to bet that the real social ladder of New York doesn’t know or care to know who you are, Michael. You’re a porn star for christsakes.
INCocknito
OMG I have not life, but a comment I made yesterday might have had something to do with a dumb story today. OMG I am an internet celebrity now.
Helga von ornstein
I’ll come right out with it. If I had a product that I wanted to get out there to the public and all that was required were a few free DVD’s I think I would have looked at it as a mere “courtesy” call to another memeber of the “family” whether I liked that member or not.
I was always taught to expect to bite the bullet sometimes in life in order to make the curves in the road of success that much easier to navigate. Imagine the reaction of the next gay editor or writer of whatever cyber rag or hard copy who was thinking of doing an article after reading the reaction to this “request”.
I know there are two sides to every story but the going back and forth is not worth a couple of free dvd’s in the long run. You are a gay producer indeed, but remember the entire world has not heard of you. There are plenty of people who would have seen that article to have made those dvd’s well worth the publicity alone to those who never would have heard of Michael Lucas.
As I said there are two side to every story but whose side do you think the other editors and writers out there are going to believe? It wasn’t worth it honey.
Leesa
Mr. Lucas, I cannot believe the size of your…ego. Do you honestly think that the mass media world revolves around you? I agree with a couple of posters on here. You should have professional PR counsel, who never would have let you send that response to the New York Times writer – and to the rest of the world. You have fukked yourself, figuratively. Probably literally too. I care not to watch your “artistic” films to find out.
Anonymous
My Name Is Lucas, I Live on the Bottom Floor
By Michael Musto and Michael Lucas
Thursday, Jan. 24 2008 @ 11:13AM
Porn tycoon Michael Lucas lives for water sports, I mean controversy. He’s the one who, a day after rocker Dean Johnson was found dead, had his p.r. people tastefully send a photo of HIMSELF found dead to try to stir up some horrified attention. (It did—especially when people found out he WASN’T dead, it was just a still from a film.) Now Lucas’s people—sounding strangely like Lucas himself—have sent out a publicity-craving letter lashing out at the gay site queerty.com for not showing him enough love. To give him the notice he so desires, I’ll run some of the fuming highlights:
To the “editor,” Andrew Belonsky: First, you are saying that Michael Lucas is irrelevant, yet your search engine will show that, you, sir, made over 80 postings about Michael Lucas in just 2 years!!!… You, sir, are a hypocrite…And let’s not even start talking about your writing; it’s poor at best. Michael came to this country with nothing and built the biggest adult company on the east coast…Now, what did you achieve? To be the editor of a tacky online blog?… You should be truly embarrassed of yourself, your blog, and your “career.” In comparison to Michael, you are nothing but a loser. Let’s not mention the anti-Semites that you’ve attracted to this site. You are a magnet for the worst.
—Lucas Entertainment Staff
Blogger’s note: I adore Andrew Belonsky, who recently invited me over for a large gay turkey. I simply will not stand by and watch him be disrespected by a lowdown. . . but wait! Michael Lucas just sent over an Alexander McQueen tie! Love ya, hottie!
Helga von ornstein
@Anonymous: The last paragraph in your post is the only part that I do not believe.
Anonymous
@Helga von ornstein:
That wasnt written by me. I copied and pasted the entire article.
Charles
Hahaha horsey face lucas
how does this guy get anyone to screw him??? i wouldnt go close to his herpes ridden ass if my life dependent on it. what a sorry excuse for a human being. time to throw in the cumstain towel and go be a waiter at a restaraunt.
Timmeeeyyy
The free stuff is SOOOOOOO NY fashion media. They’re always expecting free crap.
galefan2004
@Anonymous: Yes and all he had to do to be successful was sell his soul and his body. Good for him. Its amazing that the ugliest man in gay porn thinks he is so successful that he has the largest porn production company ON THE EAST COAST (doesn’t he have one of the only porn production companies on the east coast?). Also, they should really realize that the only reason QT even posts Fishface here at all is because it likes to give its readers something to ridicule.
Helga von ornstein
@Timmeeeyyy: True and welcome to NYC and Hollywood. If you expect to get ANYWHERE in the fashion/entertainment world saying goes “you better expect to grease a few palms” somewhere.
Helga von ornstein
@galefan2004: OUCH, regardless of how true of your last sentence no doubt HAS to be. It reminds me of that one kid from grammar school we ALL have run across that had to be right no matter how obviously wrong he/she was.
Jared
What’s the scandal?
A reporter had an idea for a story, set up an interview, requested product samples of the subject’s work, the subject cancelled the interview, and the reporter, or his editors, moved on . Big deal.
Did Mr. Lucas or his staff ask for the DVDs to be returned when they sent them to Trebay? After The Times dinged the story, did Mr. Lucas or his staff ask for the DVDs return?
What kind of exchange between Trebay and Lucas lead up to this?
Had Lucas sent DVDs to Trebay before this? If so, and if Lucas had not demanded that samples be returned, why is Lucas now suggesting that Trebay was trying to scam free porn? This would establish precedent and influence the reporter’s expectations.
The NY Times website has a 9/13/07 Trebay article that mentions Michael Lucas. This means that their ‘relationship’ goes back at least 10 months. Did Lucas send Trebay DVS after the 9/13/07 story? Did he ask for their return?
Times reporters must be inundated with PR stuff every day. Do Times movie critics return DVDs?
Where is the email from ‘Patrick’ to Trebay? Trebay’s 2nd email to Patrick Collins – name found on Google – was obviously a reply to an email from Collins to Trebay.
What about emails from ‘Heather’ to Trebay? (Heather Renzor, Publicity Director, Lucas Entertainment – again on Google)
Too much history, or context, is missing – which seems suspicious.
As the Trebay emails were sent to different people at Lucas, Queerty must have received the email string from Mr. Lucas. This seems petulant and foolishly vindictive.
Seems to me Mr. Lucas has shot himself in the foot, and is mad that he missed his moment.
Seriously unflattering things have been written about Mr. Lucas in a variety of publications; a 2nd crack at The New York Times was a golden opportunity.
Lucas had the interest of a reporter at the largest newspaper in the world . Any mention in The Times would burnish Mr. Lucas’s reputation – perhaps helping him segue from pornographer to filmmaker.
If Trebay (or the paper) dropped the story why not try to interest the reporter in something else? Why not maintain and build upon the relationship. Why humiliate the reporter and assure that no other journalist from ‘the paper of record’ will EVER deal with, let alone write about, you?
Lucas is ultimately the looser in this kerfuffle. Trebay will undoubtedly return the DVDs to Lucas and move on to more worthy topics.
Go Fish
Does any1 even respect this white russian trash? who is he anyway and why should we care?
filmmaker? how about lonely porn star. whats so special about blowing and farking someone? that doesnt show talent or skill. it shows lack of class and luck. ive heard lucas doesnt have much money anyway and that he wears handmedowns most of the time but passes them off as luxury products..
i think hes lying about the new york times and i doubt they weregoing to go anything on him. the reporter prob just wanted free porn..who can blame him. but lucas porn? yuck
the sooner he goes compleetly out of business, the faster we can all breathe a sigh of relief of no more trout smell.
Mark
Lucas makes generally pretty terrific porn. I couldn’t care less about the fashion shit, but he lives near me, and I have seen him with shopping bags from the top designer stores, so I doubt he’s wearing hand-me-downs. Also, he has a husband and a business, so he’s not lonely. I get why some people don’t like him because he’s opinionated and self-promoting, but, as I say, the porn is good. Trebay’s the one who sounds like a douche here.