The Grabby Awards Europe in Torremolinos was a whirlwind of glitter, celebration, and community spirit. But amidst the popping corks and acceptance speeches, we caught up with a man who has his eyes on a much bigger, and more worrying, picture: Dominic Ford, the founder of the creator platform JustFor.Fans (JFF).
While JFF was a proud sponsor of the night, Ford’s mood was a mix of pride for the European scene and stark warning about the political storms brewing back in the United States.
A Platform from the Community, for the Community
For Ford, supporting an event like the Grabbys isn’t just a marketing move; it’s a core part of the JFF identity. He sees the awards as a vital hub, especially for talent outside the US.
“The Grabbys are important in general because they bring out the best of our community,” Ford explained. “Especially, this is I think the only European award show… this really centralises all the European models.”
He emphasizes that JFF was born from within the industry, a stark contrast to mainstream platforms that often have a tense relationship with adult creators. Sponsoring the Grabbys is their way of putting their money where their mouth is.
“This is a big event for us to remind the community that we are from the community, we’re for the community, and we’re the only fan-site, frankly, that is.”
The Political Storm Clouds Gathering
While fan platforms have revolutionized how creators connect with their audience and control their careers, Ford warns that the entire ecosystem is under threat. The conversation quickly turned from the party in Spain to the politics in the States.
When asked about the evolution of the market, his focus wasn’t on new features or competitors, but on a much more existential threat.
“There’s definitely a lot of external issues right now politically around the world, certainly in the States,” he said. “I think we see that pressure right now hitting our industry and hitting access to websites.”
He’s talking about the wave of so-called “porn ban” laws sweeping across states like Utah, Louisiana, and Texas, which force sites to implement invasive age-verification systems. These moves, often pushed under the guise of protecting children, are seen by many in the industry as a direct assault on free expression and online privacy.
“Everything in the States Right Now Is Imploding”
Ford didn’t mince words about the gravity of the situation. His concern was palpable, painting a grim picture of an industry fighting for its survival.
“Everything in the States right now is imploding and I’ve never been more fearful for our industry, let alone my company,” he admitted.
He noted a chilling shift in political tactics. In the past, he explained, the adult industry was often used as a “wedge issue” to help right-wing politicians get elected, but they would typically move on to other matters once in office. Not anymore.
“It seems like right now all these wedge issues are the issues that politicians can win at easily and they’re going after us very, very vociferously.”
Despite the high stakes, Ford isn’t throwing in the towel. He ended on a note of gritty determination, a sentiment that echoes the resilience of the very community he was there to celebrate.
“I’m not feeling hopeless. I think we have a lot of work to do and I think we have a lot of people against us. So am I feeling hopeful? Not yet, but I’m not feeling hopeless yet.”
