The Olympic games are just around the corner and the competition is heating up, with many companies clambering to get their brands promoted in front of a huge global audience. Of massive concern during the games is the Zika virus, a dangerous bug that’s been running rampant throughout Rio, the home of games. Of further concern is how easily it can be transmitted, commonly happening through either mosquito bites or sex. But never fear, porn is here!

That’s right, one popular porn site is using the virus to promote their brand and offer free porn access in the name of a health initiative. Yep, the online world that exploits men and women, demonstrates degrading/inhumane acts, shows borderline illegal videos and distributes revenge porn is hailing itself as a hero of Zika. Anyone who’s in the Rio area can jump on the company’s website and get a complementary premium membership for the duration of the games. Not only that, the same company is handing out free tissues and lube to tourists, visitors and athletes. Right…

On the porn site’s dedicated Olympics home page there’s a video stating that health organisations are advising abstinence in Rio to ensure everyone’s protection. “A tough ask for a city where hormones flow through the air,” they claim. “We know that when it comes to sport, the best way to avoid injury is by watching from your seat. That’s why we’ll be giving away free premium memberships to help you avert temptation, as hard as that can be because if you have to play an individual sport, at least you can do it with the best material possible.”

As you scroll down the page, the “health awareness” of “the best material” continues. Premium porn membership is sold under the guise of Premium Protection, pictures are shared of people laughing and smiling as they are handed the porn website’s products and a global ranking is populated as those who signup vow to watch porn to represent their country. All in the name of keeping people safe and free from Zika. Not cool!

At the end of the day a lot of people just don’t realise the consequences and harms of pornography, so stunts like this are often just seen as innocent fun. Meanwhile, throughout the world, governments, researchers and other charity organisations are scrambling to find out more about the dangers of porn. Earlier this year Utah declared it a public health crisis, the UK already have mandatory filtering that you have to opt out of, Australia ran a symposium looking at the harms it’s doing to our kids, McDonalds & Starbucks banned it by filtering it in their stores and the list goes on.

Here on our website we have data for men and for women showing some of the things that porn does to people’s lives and it’s not as innocent and harmless as the porn website we are talking about would have us believe. From our point of view it’s certainly not “premium protection” from the Zika. We say, enjoy the Olympics. If you’re in Rio heed the advice of the health organisations, not the advice and gifts from a money hungry porn site, trying to encourage people to visit their website under the premise of combating Zika with “healthy, harmless fun.” Give porn the flick and enjoy the games.

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If you are struggling with porn viewing and want to quit, Guilty Pleasure is here to help. Check out our help page for steps you can take to quit porn.