Adult Community Mourning Loss of Carlos Batts

LOS ANGELES—Members of the adult industry were expressing their shock and disbelief today upon hearing of the death of Carlos Batts. The 40-year-old unexpectedly passed away Tuesday night. An official cause of death was not immediately known. Batts, who was also known as C. Batts Fly, was an artist, photographer and director. His artwork appeared on book covers and album covers, as well as in music videos and movies. He also had several internationally distributed hardbound coffee table books that showcase his artistic approach to photography: Wild Skin (Edition Ruess, 2001), Crazy Sexy Hollywood (Edition Ruess, 2003), American Gothic (Scapegoat Publishing, 2005) and Fat Girl (Rare Bird Publishing, 2013). Batts has directed the independent feature film Voluptuous Biker Babes as well underground art films American Gothic and April Flores World. Much of his work centered on and around the love of his life, wife April Flores. Batts was born in Baltimore, but lived most recently in Hollywood. Performer Sinnamon Love told AVN she and her boyfriend, musician Jarobi White, became friends with Batts and Flores while attending The Feminist Porn Mini-Conference in Santa Barbara. Love said Batts was a fan of White’s band A Tribe Called Quest and they, in turn, were fans of his art and his muse, Flores. “I am having an incredibly difficult time putting into words how I feel right now, and have been fighting back tears all day,” Love wrote in a tribute post. “I adored Carlos, not only because he was a brilliant gift to this world, artistically and humanely, but because when I saw the way he looked at his wonderful wife April, I recognized that look ... as that is the way my partner looks at me. “He & Jarobi hit it off immediately, taking off for the beach while April & I were having lunch with our peers at our conference at UCSB. Listening to him speak about his work recently, he said he would rather shoot school yearbook pictures or weddings than to film something that he hated. He was that type of Man,” she continued. “Speaking to April this afternoon, I was at a loss for words. I still don't know what to say to comfort her loss. I can only hope all our friends and her family near by can wrap her in Love in this unimaginable time of need. I will never understand why so many of the good guys must die, while so many complete assholes still walk this earth. “Carlos, we all love you & will miss you ... and we will take care of your lover, your friend & your muse in your absence. Girl Scout promise.” White echoed Love’s thoughts, and posted on Instagram about the news. “I hate that I'm making this post right now. R.I.P Carlos Batts a.k.a C. Batts Fly,” he wrote. “I usually don't take to new people. We met, hit it off immediately. Super talented, super cool guy. You will be missed homie.” Other friends and acquaintances of Batts took to social media sites Tuesday to express their love and adoration for the man. “Mourning the tremendous and unexpected loss of one of my best friends, Carlos Batts, who passed away last night,” photographer Steve Goedde posted on Facebook. “Carlos and I moved to LA roughly at the same time about 15 years ago and stayed close ever since. He was an exceptionally nice guy, great artist, and lovingly devoted husband to the love of his life [April]. We're all in shock and disbelief. Please keep his family and [April] in your thoughts. Remember that any of us can leave at any moment and thus shouldn't take life for granted. Let the people that are close to you know how much you love and cherish them. Carlos, you will remain in our hearts forever. Thanks for the many years of friendship and support.” Wright Williams, adult industry SEO consultant, also posted on Facebook about the artist: “RIP Carlos Batts. While I only spoke with you in regards to business dealings, you were always very friendly, and your art speaks for itself. I wish your wife and family, your friends and industry colleagues good blessings and peace.” From phtographer Rae Threat: “Just found out the news that my friend and extremely talented artist/photographer/inspiration, Carlos Batts, passed away last night. My thoughts are with his wife, family, and all our extended friends. This is a tremendous loss. He was a true inspiration to me—one of the very few, and … I'm just in total shock right now. You were one of a kind, Carlos. Thank you for everything—your advice, your kindness, your art, everything. R.I.P.” “I am in utter shock,” director Ramzi Abed posted. “I do not understand anything. I never have. I never will. Life is way too short. Life is way too precious. I just now heard that my friend, Carlos Batts, passed away. I am devastated. Please keep his wife … in your heart and thoughts. My love goes out to both of them. I can not express anything much more right now, as I am truly in shock.” An August article on TheRumpus.com profiled Batts and Flores and their journey making “big, sexy art together.” “Art is the strongest form of activism,” Batts said in the interview. “Art encompasses everything. It encompasses the queer movement, fat activism, racism, all the ‘isms’—that’s our job. We’re not supposed to be total consumers … even though I want to be rich and have a million dollar boat, but my motivation is to cross boundaries and create a dialogue, and that’s what I’ve done it for since I was a kid.” AVN.com will post more details and remembrances as they become available. Update: Erica McLean, who co-directed the 2010 Cal Vista release Alice with Batts, issued the following statement to AVN: "I'm shocked and saddened by the news of Carlos' death and I send my deepest prayers and sympathies to his partner April Flores and to his family. He's now resting in the arms of the angels." Photo of Carlos Batts from the 2011 AVN Awards red carpet by Glenn/EMMReport.com.