Friends, fans and fellow gay adult industry insiders of Alex Riley were stunned to learn this week about the young performer’s death at the age of 22.
Many who knew him (and we would imagine some who didn’t but knew his work) have kicked in to help Riley’s family with funeral costs after his boyfriend, fellow performer Tyler Brown (aka Jacob Hansen), set up a GoFundMe page.
By all accounts, Riley was beloved within the gay adult industry, winning awards at multiple events including GayVN’s Best Newcomer in 2020.
Hansen shared photos of the couple and expressed his love, writing, “To all of Alex’s friends and fans.. on Monday I got a phone call from Alex’s best friend that Alex passed away early Sunday Morning. Rest In peace babe you will always be part of me no matter where my life takes me.”
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To all of Alex’s friends and fans.. on Monday I got a phone call from Alex’s best friend that Alex passed away early Sunday Morning. Rest In peace babe you will always be part of me no matter where my life takes me. ❤️ pic.twitter.com/wFK7Imkk6v
— Jacob Hansen (@JacobHansenXXX) May 13, 2021
In a subsequent post, he wrote: “You are my dearest friend, my deepest love. You are the very best of me. I know you’ll always be right next to me until we see each other again.”
You are my dearest friend, my deepest love. You are the very best of me. I know you’ll always be right next to me until we see each other again. ?? pic.twitter.com/8J3cExQwO1
— Jacob Hansen (@JacobHansenXXX) May 13, 2021
And several other performers have since taken to social media to pay tribute and grieve, as reported by Str8Up:
It's hard to believe you're gone? saying that the past couple of days has been hard is an understatement. You had so much life left to live and so many more smiles to give people. I'm gonna miss your stupid humor, even your god awful British accent. Always loved, never forgotten pic.twitter.com/gssxMyfWot
— Calvin T. Banks? (@CalvinBanksxxx) May 13, 2021
? RIP to THE kindest soul. Alex always lit up whatever room he walked into. He was a concentrated ball of energy, love, excitement, care, & happiness. U respected everyone & effortlessly put smiles on the faces of all around U. May ur light show u the beauties beyond this world pic.twitter.com/CEhTJYPP6V
— Hayden Lee (@HaydenxLee) May 13, 2021
@alexrileyxxx I can’t believe you are gone sir this just isn’t right nor fair!! You where such a good kid and friend like why did the world do this to you?!?!???????? pic.twitter.com/v7hgs0SkU2
— Andy Taylor (@Andy_Taylorxxx) May 13, 2021
I will never believe this is real.. this boy is indescribable in the best way and was unlike anyone I had ever met. Thank you for the many unforgettable memories, Alex. I love you so much and fully expect you to have a margarita ready for me the next time I see you. Until then?? pic.twitter.com/3KAyx4b7GQ
— Trevor Harris (@TrevorHarrisXXX) May 13, 2021
Oct, 2019. ?? pic.twitter.com/9Ja2jWe3hs
— Ashton Summers (@AshtonSummers11) May 13, 2021
This is absolutely devastating. I definitely have a heavy heart today. I thought he had the kindest, sweetest, genuine soul. He truly was a beautiful person inside and out. I’m sending lots of love and light to his family. Rest in peace, Sweetie ???
— Cameron Basinger (@CameronBasinger) May 13, 2021
It’s a sad day. You were nothing but smiles and positivity with energy that would light up any room. Rest easy, my friend @alexrileyxxx ?? pic.twitter.com/xXO7jXVRoy
— Austin Wilde (@AustinWilde) May 13, 2021
We had some great moments together!! Gonna miss you boo ? RIP pic.twitter.com/xYxpzJWL5z
— Max Carter (@MaxCarterXXX) May 13, 2021
I’ll always remember your energy you always where the highlight of the night I know that wherever you are now that you are loved by many and will always be in my heart I am grateful I had the chance to meet you and never had a bad night around you pic.twitter.com/i0Xdb0VLIk
— R.Finch? (@rileyfinchxxx) May 13, 2021
I’ll be thinking of you for a while buddy. The only person I truly felt radiated the color yellow: joy, happiness, and light. ??? Thanks for your existence. pic.twitter.com/d9Yk9Hheyf
— garrett (@ariesking666) May 13, 2021
i have no words to describe the pain i feel inside. alex was not only my friend, i considered him my brother. he brought out a joy in me that no one else could. he was the most beautiful soul i knew. i had a bond with him i will cherish for the rest of my life. i love you, alex. pic.twitter.com/87cxgliqNK
— Kane Fox ? (@KaneFoxxx) May 13, 2021
you were the happiest person i have ever met. you lit up every room you were in and never failed to make everyone smile. you were my favorite person in the whole world. i promise to try to live the rest of my life being half the person you were, my friend. i love you, brother.
— Kane Fox ? (@KaneFoxxx) May 13, 2021
I first met Alex Riley back in October for the filming of return to helix academy…he was my first ever scene…he showed me the ropes, he helped celebrate my 19th birthday with me, he was so funny and giggly everywhere he went…I’m really gonna miss you Alex ? pic.twitter.com/1N9e8reCfO
— Jordan Lake (@JordanLakeXXX) May 13, 2021
I first met Alex Riley September 5th for the filming of WET. He was the first person to make me feel welcomed and since then he was like a brother to me. He had a way of lighting up a room whenever he would walk in and it hurts so much to know I can’t talk to pic.twitter.com/HpCtDZzFbf
— Eli Bennet (Austin 10th-18th) (@EliBennetXXX) May 13, 2021
@alexrileyxxx You were always selfless, kind, wild and free. You made sure everyone around you was happy. Your energy could be felt from across a room. The adventures we had together… the laughs… the smiles. Rest easy dear friend, god damnit you were one of the good ones ? pic.twitter.com/hnUoJlizCK
— Jacob And Harley (@JacobAndHarley1) May 13, 2021
So heartbreaking…. i only met him once but even that was enough to see what an absolute ray of sunshine he was. Love to his friends and family ??
— Colby Chambers (106K) ?18+? (@ColbyChambersXX) May 14, 2021
Ilysm imysm forever and ever baby. pic.twitter.com/CzE1W8n64j
— A??? (@bitchyboytbh) May 13, 2021
Chrisk
Sad that a go fund me has to be set up for the funeral. I take it he wasn’t close to his family.
jayceecook
From what I could tell he was close with his mother. She would accompany him to some of the adult film awards. But being close to family doesn’t mean they have the money to pay for a funeral. They are extremely expensive even when you go with cremation. I doubt he had any life insurance to cover all the costs.
Kangol2
There are millions of poor and working-class people who cannot afford funerals, you know. Sheesh!
rural queer socialist
Of course, any death is a loss.
But ‘untimely’? Why is this death ‘untimely’? Is the death of a 35yr old firefighter in a fire-rescue ‘timely’? Is the death of a 64yr old grandmother who is guardian and caretaker of her grandchildren because their parents are in prison ‘timely’? Is the death of a 82 yr old ‘timely’?
QUEERTY pretends to be SO ‘woekty’ inclusive and equitable but then uses an AGE-BIGOTED headline!
Hdtex
Your tears make great lube. Cry harder! FAP FAP FAP FAP FAP FAP FAP FAP FAP FAP FAP FAP
Gigi Gee
@rural queer socialist — Do you always have such difficulty with words, or this a recent thing? When someone dies unexpectedly, as Alex did, we say their death was untimely. There’s nothing “woekty” about using words properly, and in their correct context.
Cam
Awwww, the right wing troll account can never deal with the actual post, just uses any post as an excuse to troll and rant.
Get a life.
Goforit
rural queer socialist (more likely “urban straight republican”). Please stop using socialist in your name. You are giving the rest of us a bad name by association with your useless, tasteless, unintelligent, hateful comments.
RTG
Oh Honey- Queer Socialist Troll- we know it doesn’t matter WHAT Queerty posts, you’re going to say something bitchy about it. I guess being so “rural” -aka living under a rock – does that to a person. I can guarantee the big bad world doesn’t care what you think. Save your band width and battery life. I know both are hard to come by in North Korea!
Den
@rural queer socialist
It becomes very difficult to believe you are not aware of what a worthless excuse for a human you are. And it is clear you get hard from the distaste you inspire and the humiliation you so richly deserve. The apotheosis of perversion and emotional sickness!
[email protected]
What happened? Why did he die? I did not see any mention of that, especially when they say untimely. With this pandemic error, we are becoming used to “untimely deaths.” It would be good to know it was not COVID….or was it related? It is the porn industry, so what immediately comes to mind is AIDS-related, suicide, or homicide. There is no judgment here. More info would be appreciated by his fans. He seemed to be at peace at home with his boyfriend, so WTF?
Tombear
What did he die of? Drugs, excess alcohol, suicide?
TheAbsoluteTRUTH
You can’t ask that, the socially woke crowd will reply what difference does it make…a young beautiful soul taken way too early. Truth is that I wouldn’t be shocked if it was another death from this communities dirty little scourge meth aka Tina. Of course we don’t talk about that stuff here, we are more worried about ivanka or matt gaetz than something like that which really affects this community
Doug
I’m wondering the same thing. Was this yet another suicide or drug od from an adult film performer? Anyone who thinks that “doesn’t make a difference” needs their head examined.
Cam
@TheAbsoluteTRUTH
It’s adorable that the right wing troll account tries to pretend it is concerned, but it can’t do it because it has to cry about “Woke” or try to do an end run defense for Ivanka.
Sweetie, whatever screename you’re under, you’re just boring.
Catholicslutbox
It was more than likely that his death was the result of a drug overdose.
He worked for helix and we all know what’s been going on behind those doors..
But heavy drug use and presence amongst these lower-tier amateur studios is nothing new. Dallas reeve used to provide his models with cocaine..
Den
@the “absolute truth” (who actually seems confused about the difference between truth and his sad little fantasy world):
The issue of meth use in the Gay community has been well covered by ALL the LGBT press including Queerty. Guess you are simply too dull to either bother to read or understand or remember. And the regressive antics of Gaetz and Ivanka are important for LGBT people. Their actions affect us. Thankfully yours (as an insignificant pissant) do not, except for the small amount of pity and repulsion you cause in others who read your posts.
RyanMBecker
“these lower-tier amateur studios”
If Helix is lower tier and amateur, what is upper tier and what is non-amateur? I’ve watched a few of their videos (as part of my job!) and the production value is extremely high — almost TV and even independent cinema level. Even the acting is pretty good.
Ken A.
It is really pathetic when a blog post is one written/typed paragraph and the rest are just IG and tweets. I wouldn’t put my name on this laziness. On a side note poor guy who died from mysterious circumstances.
jayceecook
Usually I’d agree. Especially when it’s a GG article. However the point of this post is to specifically highlight people’s social media responses to this young man’s death. Not sure what else you expected.
Winsocki
How did he die. Never heard of him. Go Fund Me is ubiquitous even in every day newspaper. How did family do it before that Website was initiated? So porn stars do not have savings? O well.
BigThug
Another death? What can the porn community do to prevent these all too frequent deaths?
Donston
It’s an industry that preys on and exploits drug addicts, people with a lot of mental health issues, people who are deeply insecure, people with criminal pasts that keeps them from getting passable jobs, people who have been abandoned by their families or abused by their families, people dealing with stuff like confusions, hyper-sexuality, internalized phobias. The industry would have be completely uprooted in order to stop seeing so many deaths and so many other fvcked up things from it. They’d also need to make a decided effort to widely focus on sobriety and mental health. But that doesn’t really fit the industry’s interests.
jackscott
Once known, I hope the article is updated with cause of death. Seems unlikely that a young guy like this would just drop dead. As others mention… OD, suicide, etc. are the first things that come to mind. If it was accident (car, fire, etc.), I’m sure that would have already been posted. Therefore, the mind goes to some of the darker areas of life.
Chrisk
Not that long ago you could’ve added Aids to that list. Whenever they go silent like that it’s usually OD or suicide though. Natural causes they’ll just say it.
I too hope they list the cause because it might just save another young man from the same fate. That lifestyle comes with a cost.
Thad
But it happens. Braeden Smith, 25, who won 5 games on Jeopardy! last December, died from complications from shoulder surgery. WTF?! He’ll be acknowledged at next week’s Tournament of Champions, which he did qualify for.
MissTerri
Oh well!! NEEEEEEXT!!!!!!
Den
Ah, another soul-dead troll with nothing of value to say (who nonetheless puts out an incredibly infantile post)
We will quite possibly say he same about you when your hate-poisoned heart gives out (but we will know that childish spellings like “neeeeext” mark a person as an idiot). And given your “contributions” here, we’ll have good reason.
Regardless of the cause of death (and I am sure you take your imagination to be real in this instance), the death of young people is always sad. What a damned fool you are!
CaseyBlackCAUSA
Queerty, for the the love of all things good in the world, would you PLEASE embed Disqus, so we have the ability to BLOCK all of these dead-soul trolls & never have to read their toxic bullsh|t, again — ever.
Disqus is FREE & EASY to implement & push live on your platform.
Chrisk
Queerty has always been a home for the trolls. Yes. A modern platform like Disqus would eliminate that over night. Maybe Queerty is more interested in clicks and the trolls help facilitate that.
ryanss
A lot of horrible and nasty comments here. It’s unbelievable how people can be mean and disgusting. Go see a therapist. Dying at 22 is heartbreaking for anyone. Stop being nasty pseudo moralistic people. RIP young man.
Tombear
A warning to gay dads everywhere. Keep your daughters off the pole and don’t let your sons or daughters do porn. It will ruin their lives. Many gay and straight porn actors die early deaths.
RyanMBecker
That’s good advice, I guess, but not necessarily true. I have friends who did gay-for-pay to pay for college and grad school and they came out fine. In fact, I might have considered it had I not gotten my scholarships. But I was probably too ugly. My girlfriend claims that she sent my photo to Sean Cody and Corbin Fisher as a joke and received rejection letters from both. When I asked for proof, she claimed that they were deleted and smirked.
Regardless, given the right studio and financial need, I might have taken the plunge. A patient who works behind the scenes at one of the major studios tells me that they are extremely professional. Drugs and unsanctioned sex and fraternization are forbidden, and they even offer insurance to long-term performers. I probably wouldn’t bottom though because it looks painful as heck. Too bad since that’s where the money is.
[email protected]
We chew on each other and ourselves like a dog with fleas ,so sad we have so little regard for our selves and each other ,all we have is social media, a comment on where we are, think back to stonewall and unity,freedom isn’t free there is a cost for it, but too many young GAY people are DYING, sad to see what we take for granted now EVERYONE counts,GOD made us all to LOVE,stop the HATE.