Michael Lucas: “The Lion of Chelsea”

Despite our best efforts, it's almost impossible to avoid the long reach of the Michael Lucas media whoredom publicity juggernaut—so why bother? The latest sighting of New York's Prince of Porn is a fabulous article by William Van Meter in New York magazine that falls somewhere between a breathless Hollywood fan mag puff piece and Derrida-style deconstruction: "He crosses the street to seek refuge in the shade—though thoroughly bronzed, he has a vampiric aversion to the sun to match his Count Chocula voice". Later, there's the obligatory walk-through of the Cheslea duplex that the Lucas empire (allegedly) paid for: "He gives a tour while nibbling on fresh dates from a silver chalice. In the kitchen, he motions to a Richard Avedon photograph of a nude Nureyev, his penis almost touching his knee. 'A lot of people think I look like him.'" But it's not all expensive housewares and tropical delicacies: says arch-nemesis (and Fleshbot crush object) Owen Hawk, who's been fighting Lucas in court of late, "A great analogy for Michael is Ann Coulter ... He's a person who doesn't really have anything to contribute artistically, so they compensate with outlandish claims." Outlandish or not, Lucas has at least proven one of the oldest adages of show business: If they're talking about you, they're thinking about you. -RM

· "The Lion of Chelsea" (profile and interview @ newyorkmetro.com, via Queerty)

Previously:"Big Dicks, Big Egos", Michael Lucas and Chad Hunt ... Together Again! (For Now), DVD: Michael Lucas' "Encounters", "Dangerous Liaisons"