The Brazzers Way: ZZ Contract Stars Toast 20 Years

This is the cover story of the December issue of AVN magazine. Click here for the digital edition. LOS ANGELES—Keiran Lee calls it “one big family.” “I think that’s the Brazzers mentality,” Lee says. “We’re all in it together.” The veteran performer felt that kinship during what turned into a family reunion of sorts in November, when almost all of the U.S.-based, Brazzers contract stars gathered at Lea Lexis’ studio in Burbank, Calif., to shoot for the December cover of AVN magazine. “It was great to see all the faces,” Lee says. “To be honest we don’t always work with each other—all the contract talent—so when we do get together we have such great rapport that it’s just fireworks.” The British super stud, who started his career 22 years ago in Europe and has been a Brazzers exclusive for the past 16, knows The Brazzers Way as well as anyone who’s ever stepped onto a porn set. A 2022 inductee into the AVN Hall of Fame, the former railway project manager has performed in more than 1500 scenes just for ZZ alone as the notorious studio enters 2024, when it will celebrate its 20th anniversary. “I think the caliber of talent Brazzers has always brought to the table has always been A1,” Lee says. “Brazzers made many names. Look at myself, Johnny Sins, Danny D, Jordi. Without Brazzers, we’d just be regular guys. And the same with the girls who have been in the industry. One of the biggest examples would be Abella Danger. “They gave her such a platform that she went global to the point everybody knows who she is. And that goes for a lot of the girls who always work for Brazzers. They’ve gone from being a top performer to a superstar.” It’s why there was nothing ordinary about the Brazzers Team picture on a custom-built set that was such an elaborate undertaking it took two days to complete it. Among the Brazzers talent photographed were Angela White, Luna Star, Kira Noir, Cherie DeVille, Alexis Fawx, Abigaiil Morris, Lily Lou, Mick Blue, JMac, Alex Jones, Van Wylde, Ricky Johnson, Scott Nails, Danger and Lee. Three of the Europe-based contract stars—Danny D, Jordi El Niño Polla and Xander Corvus—also met for a photo to commemorate the occasion. The London-based deal-closer, Danny D, a contract guy for the past 11-plus years with more than 750 scenes for the studio, says being a Brazzers exclusive is “a huge privilege.” “I can honestly say Brazzers changed my life,” Danny tells AVN. “They have been the most amazing company to work for. I remember my first scene with ZZ as male talent and since then have been fortunate enough to grow throughout my career with them. “It sounds cheesy but they really are like a big family.” The two-time AVN Male Foreign Performer of the Year from Kent left his construction job in 2007 for porn. “I think ZZ has always recognized how important performers are to the industry,” says Danny, who now also is an established director for Brazzers. Both Danny and Jordi El Niño Polla received nominations for AVN International Male Performer of the Year in January. Jordi started his career in his native Spain in 2013 when he was 18, getting his first shot with Brazzers two years later. After proving himself in three outings in the U.K., Jordi signed a ZZ contract and flew to the States, where he tangled with some of the top girls on the roster. “I remember my beginnings at Brazzers with great affection,” Jordi tells AVN. “For me it is a true honor to be contracted by the best porn company in the world. I feel really lucky and grateful to the entire team that makes up the Brazzers family. They are all very friendly and willing to help you with anything and make you feel special on set. I only have good words for each and every one of them.” The Miami-based JMac agrees. JMac built his reputation with Reality Kings in series such as Money Talks and In the VIP before the studio became part of the Brazzers universe—to date he has more than 1100 credits just for RK after beginning his porn career in 2005. In 2020, he signed with ZZ and “as they say, the rest is history,” JMac jokes. “ZZ and RK really stand out I think due to the fact that not only do they listen to their fans, but they also listen to the performers,” JMac, who received a nomination for 2024 AVN Male Performer of the Year, says. “I get a lot of messages and requests on Twitter and I am lucky that both ZZ and RK allow me to add my own touch to the scenes I produce and perform in with the feedback I get from fans.” The reliable beefcake has performed in more than 100 scenes for Brazzers. “I have been contracted by a few other companies but by far ZZ has been the best to me, looking out for my career and me personally,” JMac continues. “I am lucky to call a lot of my co-workers friends and I love showing up to set. Most days it doesn’t even feel like work.” Indeed while Brazzers has become notorious for placing beautiful girls in lighthearted, outrageous porn scenarios, the studio is also known as a place where fans can see many of the top male porn stars in the industry. Van Wylde, a former bartender and club promoter who has a degree in textile/chemical engineering, calls ZZ “the elite-elite of companies.” He started shooting for Brazzers in 2012, a year after he graduated from college, and signed two years ago. “I kind of always felt like I was contracted with them,” Wylde, who was born in California and raised in the south, tells AVN. “The company cares and truly looks out for the performers. Every crew is amazing. Good people. It’s like family. “They have the most challenging scenes in the industry, which keeps me sharp as a performer. And they allow me to just be me and have fun in the scenes.” Former track standout Ricky Johnson started his porn career in late 2015, amassing close to 900 credits at press time—more than 200 of which have come for either Brazzers or Reality Kings. The native of Inglewood, Calif.—who made sandwiches at Subway for two months when he was in high school—became exclusive with Brazzers in February 2019. “I’m honored to be contracted with Aylo brands,” Johnson says. “They feel like a family. They are a talent-first company and they really make you feel safe and comfortable at all times.” Lea Lexis knows the kind of star power that has become synonymous with the double Z’s well. It’s why she didn’t take the assignment of directing the 20th anniversary photoshoot lightly. The seasoned director and stylist, who moved behind the camera full time about six years ago after more than a decade as a primetime performer, tells AVN she was inspired by Hollywood glamour going into the shoot. “Because all of our contract stars have such a unique look and their own style and their own energy and vibe, we wanted to give them their own stage setup, but with a modern and colorful twist because Brazzers is a poppy brand,” says Lexis, who worked closely with top industry photographer JT on the images. “I wanted them to bring their own red-carpet style and they did in fact do just that. You can see their personalities in the outfits they chose.” Reigning AVN Female Performer of the Year Kira Noir, who inked her Brazzers contract in June, sparkled in a silver-sequined gown. “It was really fun,” Noir says. “Everyone got to dress up in their version of formal wear and we all tried to come up with different toasts to Brazzers’ 20th.” On the heels of Noir’s historic win in January she landed her first lead role in a feature in Machine Gunner, an action movie produced by ZZ sister company Digital Playground that has been nominated for 13 AVN Awards in January, including Grand Reel and Best Leading Actress for Noir. “I’m really grateful,” says Kira, who plays black-ops leader Nikki Ransom in Machine Gunner. “I’ve never been a lead in a feature movie before and I’ve never been in something that action packed.” Noir made her boy/girl porn debut in February 2015 and now has six AVN Awards on her resume—including three consecutive wins for Best Supporting Actress. “I really like the Brazzers crew,” Kira says. “I like being able to make campy porn and I like being able to make more serious porn like we do for Digital Playground.” Speaking of Machine Gunner, new ZZ exclusive Alex Jones earned two nominations for it—Best Supporting Actor and Best Tag-Team Sex Scene—as he enjoys a breakout year. “This year has been absolutely amazing for me and it wouldn’t have been this great if it weren’t for me getting a contract with Brazzers,” says Jones, the former mainstream model from Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., who signed his deal in August. “I had so much fun playing Colonel Joe Riggs in Machine Gunner, which was my first time having that many lines and my first opportunity at playing the bad guy. “I was a little nervous to see what everyone thought of my acting, but the work speaks for itself and it’s been nominated for an award this year, so I’m pretty happy about that.” Jones, who worked at Home Depot, Party City and Ez Take Out Burger before adult, made his industry debut in 2012 but took a couple extended breaks. Since his full return in 2022, he has become a force to be reckoned with—leading to his first nomination for Male Performer of the Year for the 41st annual AVN Awards ceremony on January 27 in Las Vegas. “For me being contracted to Brazzers honestly feels like the pinnacle of success,” Jones tells AVN. “There’s no other company I’d rather represent or have represent me. “The fact that Brazzers takes such great care of their talent, throws amazing parties/events, and always puts me in incredible scenes with phenomenal talent, makes them in my opinion the best in the business and because of that, I truly feel like I’ve made it!” Those are some of the reasons why ZZ also has become the only place fans can see the newest studio work featuring three-time AVN Female Performer of the Year Angela White. The Australian superstar agreed to an exclusive pact in October 2021 and has continued to deliver for her fans, earning nominations this year for Best Star Showcase and Best Gangbang Scene for Angela White: Unbound. In addition, White will head to Vegas as a finalist for Best Anal Sex Scene, Best Double-Penetration Sex Scene, Best Foursome/Orgy Scene and Female Performer of the Year. “I think one of the keys to Brazzers’ success over the past two decades has been their ability to consistently develop and deliver content that performers are excited to be a part of and that is exciting and accessible for fans,” White tells AVN, adding that the studio never gets complacent. “One aspect of being a ZZ exclusive that is really important to me is working with and representing a company that is constantly looking to improve their already high standards when it comes to transparent, inclusive and ethical practices on set—be it testing, consent or paperwork. “Brazzers is performer-focused and over the past two years of ZZ exclusivity I’ve been impressed by how [Product Director] Ryan [Hogan] and the ZZ leadership have looked to continually find ways to improve the performer experience.” Two-time AVN MILF Performer of the Year Alexis Fawx, an Air Force vet from Pennsylvania, shares a similar sentiment. Fawx recently reached the three-year milestone as a ZZ exclusive. “The best part of being a Brazzers contract performer is knowing your voice, imagination and input matters,” Fawx tells AVN. “They really feel like they are performer first.” Cherie DeVille says being a Brazzers contract girl is “a dream come true.” The former physical therapist—who was born in Durham, N.C. and raised in Washington D.C. and Cape Cod, Mass.—is the four-time AVN MILF Performer of the Year who has been a ZZ contract girl for the past two-and-a-half years. “Becoming a contract star for Brazzers is an accolade as fantastic as all of my AVN awards, a symbol that I have reached the pinnacle of what being an adult performer can be,” DeVille says. “I feel like I’m finally part of the cool kids club!” Speaking of pinnacles, Luna Star will co-host the AVN Awards in January on the heels of perhaps the finest year of her career in 2023. The Cuban heart-breaker this year performed in her first showcase, Luna Star: Seduce & Destroy, which is nominated for three trophies, including Best Star Showcase and Best All-Girl Group Sex Scene. A contract girl since 2019, Luna has more than 100 credits for Brazzers in her 12-plus year career. “In 2023, my years-long contract with Brazzers has been an incredibly exciting and transformative experience,” Star tells AVN. “I can personally attest to the fact that they are the best porn company and production in the industry. “The sheer number of people who have had the opportunity to be a part of this company is astonishing, and it has had a significant positive impact on the lives of many families, thanks to Brazzers’ support and [parent company Aylo]." Abigaiil Morris is one of the two newest contract girls on the roster, earning her deal by winning the Brazzers House 4 competition along with Lily Lou. Born in Ohio, Morris spent most of her adolescent life between New Jersey and North Carolina. She started exploring adult content in 2018 “on a very low-key, private basis,” joined OnlyFans in 2019 and now four years later is operating in porn’s major leagues. “I am honored to be contracted with Brazzers,” Morris says. “I know of women who have spent their entire career aiming for a contract with Brazzers, and I am very grateful that my fans and ZZ chose me. “From the beginning I knew Brazzers was the only company I wanted to work with. Being contracted with them is something I never expected when I came into the industry. I joined because I am so passionate about what I do and being an exhibitionist on set, and then I fell in love with doing mainstream porn. I don’t want to stop. Each set has its own vibe, and I can’t get enough of the thrill!” A native of Front Royal, Va., Lily Lou started doing adult work the day she turned 18, when she made a Reddit account and began selling her panties and custom videos. She dove into mainstream porn in 2021—at age 23—when she felt more confident in her social skills. Lou grew up exploring the woods with her dog and riding horses, working at an equestrian summer camp for kids in exchange for lessons. She says says ZZ has become renowned because “they cater to the majority while having enough of a ‘style’ that it is still eye-catching to those who don’t immediately know what ‘Brazzers’ looks like.” “They’ve stayed ahead in creating content that’s entertaining and has the capability of going viral,” Lily adds. Meanwhile Demi Sutra, who was unable to make the photoshoot because she was healing from lacerations on her corneas, will celebrate four years as a ZZ girl in January. She says being with Brazzers “means that the work that I’ve done is truly paying off.” “Because it was such a goal for me," Demi says. "It’s been a goal for me to be a Brazzers girl and to actually do it is an honor.” Sutra, who was born in Washington D.C. and raised in New Mexico, started out making fetish videos about a decade ago before taking a long break. She lived in Miami for most of her 20s, working as an exotic dancer before going full force into porn in 2018. Sutra says ZZ marketing is second to none. “Honestly, I think they promote the shit out of our scenes,” Demi says. “And we’re always doing something where we’re really happy. For me, I’m a goofball… I want to make people laugh and cum. I feel Brazzers is like that and I also feel they kind of set the standard. “They move through change really well. And whenever there’s issues, instead of running and hiding, they accept the issues. They acknowledge the issues and changes that need to be made and they act on it. They don’t just talk about it.” The significance of Brazzers cannot be understated for veteran gunslinger Scott Nails, who has been a contract guy for most of his career that started in the early 2000s, not long after he turned 18. “Honestly, I don’t think I would be in the business without them,” Nails, who returned to adult full time in 2019 after a decade-plus hiatus, tells AVN. A franchise player since the early 2000s who had agreements with Anabolic, Digital Playground and Brazzers before he stepped away to pursue other business ventures, Nails to date has almost 600 scenes with ZZ. “I’ve always controlled my environment,” says Nails, who is nominated for Male Performer of the Year. “I think it has a huge impact on your success rate. I’m big on controlling your environment and being comfortable with the people you work with. Everybody there—every crew, whether it’s in Vegas or LA—everybody does their job, which makes it nice.” The enterprising Nails opened one of the first weed dispensaries in California in 2006 and also built and later sold a plumbing company in his native Arizona before returning to adult. “Brazzers takes care of me—it’s simple,” Nails continues. “It’s always been business and at the same time it’s very structured. If it were not for them I don’t think I would’ve ever came back.” Three-time AVN Male Performer of the Year Mick Blue tells AVN the anniversary photoshoot was a blast. The prolific Austrian star has more than 350 scenes for Brazzers and more than 5500 in his career that started in 2000 in Europe. “It’s really nice to get a bunch of our co-workers together and create something like this,” Blue tells AVN. “It’s quite unique and then obviously the team with Lea Lexis and JT did a fantastic job. It’s always such a great environment to work with all of them.” Blue, who signed with Brazzers in February, says they are “one of the biggest, if not the biggest” porn brand on Earth. “And the reason I think why they got there is because 20 years ago they just kind of saw earlier than anybody else where the industry will go with the internet becoming much stronger, especially in Europe first and then in the United States,” the AVN Hall of Fame performer continues. “The respect the talent gets, the safety nets and all that kind of stuff is very much because our industry became corporate. It came from the Wild West and it became Wall Street—and coming back to Brazzers, they just mastered it the best out of all of them.” Blue adds, “They care a lot about the talent that creates the content for them. It’s a very appreciative work environment.” It’s an environment in which guys like Keiran Lee have thrived. He has made all kinds of history with Brazzers, becoming the first male porn star with a billboard on the Sunset Strip in August 2011 for starters. The billboard near the entrance of the iconic Whisky A Go Go in West Hollywood —which showed Lee in a tank-top and shades with the headline “They Call Me Mr. Big”—had “See Keiran Lee @Brazzers.com” across the bottom. “That for me was one of the biggest things in my career,” Keiran recalls. “Brazzers put that on the map for me.” Less than a year later in 2012, Brazzers took out a $1 million insurance policy on Lee’s penis with Lloyd’s of London. “And that has stuck throughout my whole career,” Lee adds. “You don’t know how many times a girl would tell me before a scene, ‘I can’t wait to work with this million-dollar penis.’ “If it wasn’t for Brazzers, I would just be a regular guy in the business trying to succeed. They gave me all the tools to succeed.” Lee gave a “big shoutout” to the team behind the scenes at Brazzers. “Especially Ryan Hogan and [Talent Relations Manager] Frank [Petosa],” Keiran says. “They always keep it fun, safe and secure and have always had the talent’s back.” Top row, from left: JMac, Van Wylde, Alexis Fawx, Ricky Johnson, Cherie DeVille, Abigaiil Morris & Alex JonesMiddle row: Abella Danger, Keiran Lee, Luna Star, Mick Blue, Scott Nails & Kira NoirFront row: Angela White & Lily Lou  Photography by @iamjtphoto