Laila Mickelwait

But we found out that they actually snuck back two weeks later to the advertising arm behind the scenes to continue monetizing this content with Pornhub, and it was another two-year battle to finally get them to cut off Pornhub once and for all. And that's kind of how it happened. Thanks to lawsuits, thanks to public pressure. And Bill Ackman actually was a huge help.

I mean, he knew the CEO of MasterCard and he, you know, was moved by that article in the New York Times. And he actually contacted Ajay Banga and said, you need to do the right thing here. And he helped, you know, at that point all the way for the next two years. You know, he actually got him and I onto Squawk Box on CNBC to call out Al Kelly by name.

I mean, he knew the CEO of MasterCard and he, you know, was moved by that article in the New York Times. And he actually contacted Ajay Banga and said, you need to do the right thing here. And he helped, you know, at that point all the way for the next two years. You know, he actually got him and I onto Squawk Box on CNBC to call out Al Kelly by name.

I mean, he knew the CEO of MasterCard and he, you know, was moved by that article in the New York Times. And he actually contacted Ajay Banga and said, you need to do the right thing here. And he helped, you know, at that point all the way for the next two years. You know, he actually got him and I onto Squawk Box on CNBC to call out Al Kelly by name.

And, you know, say, why are you—you have to stop and actually— What was the rationale from Visa and the credit card companies for participating in this? Well, they kind of had this attitude of, we're very, very concerned. Yeah. You know, we're—we hate trafficking as much as you do. Blah, blah, blah.

And, you know, say, why are you—you have to stop and actually— What was the rationale from Visa and the credit card companies for participating in this? Well, they kind of had this attitude of, we're very, very concerned. Yeah. You know, we're—we hate trafficking as much as you do. Blah, blah, blah.

And, you know, say, why are you—you have to stop and actually— What was the rationale from Visa and the credit card companies for participating in this? Well, they kind of had this attitude of, we're very, very concerned. Yeah. You know, we're—we hate trafficking as much as you do. Blah, blah, blah.

But, you know, it was just always kind of an excuse. Well, you know, we'll— we'll just keep sending us more information, keep sending us more information. We're very concerned, keep sending us more information. And Visa actually sent a letter that said they weren't gonna do anything because they're not in the business of policing legal and consensual material.

But, you know, it was just always kind of an excuse. Well, you know, we'll— we'll just keep sending us more information, keep sending us more information. We're very concerned, keep sending us more information. And Visa actually sent a letter that said they weren't gonna do anything because they're not in the business of policing legal and consensual material.

But, you know, it was just always kind of an excuse. Well, you know, we'll— we'll just keep sending us more information, keep sending us more information. We're very concerned, keep sending us more information. And Visa actually sent a letter that said they weren't gonna do anything because they're not in the business of policing legal and consensual material.

When they had evidence that this was not legal and consensual material, that so much of it, the site was actually infested with videos of real sexual crime and they were earning a cut of each of those videos and they're currently being sued by dozens of child victims. in lawsuits in California, and they lost their motion to dismiss. They said, we're gonna dismiss this case.

When they had evidence that this was not legal and consensual material, that so much of it, the site was actually infested with videos of real sexual crime and they were earning a cut of each of those videos and they're currently being sued by dozens of child victims. in lawsuits in California, and they lost their motion to dismiss. They said, we're gonna dismiss this case.

When they had evidence that this was not legal and consensual material, that so much of it, the site was actually infested with videos of real sexual crime and they were earning a cut of each of those videos and they're currently being sued by dozens of child victims. in lawsuits in California, and they lost their motion to dismiss. They said, we're gonna dismiss this case.

We are not responsible here. They lost their motion to dismiss. And that was in 2022. That was the moment that really helped tip the scale. So it was a combination of Visa losing their motion to dismiss,

We are not responsible here. They lost their motion to dismiss. And that was in 2022. That was the moment that really helped tip the scale. So it was a combination of Visa losing their motion to dismiss,

We are not responsible here. They lost their motion to dismiss. And that was in 2022. That was the moment that really helped tip the scale. So it was a combination of Visa losing their motion to dismiss,

You know, Bill Ackman coming in and helping us put on the pressure, you know, from a public pressure perspective, calling out the CEO like that, combined with the litigation, I think was the combination that finally forced Visa to announce that they were going to cut off Pornhub once and for all and then MasterCard and Discover.

You know, Bill Ackman coming in and helping us put on the pressure, you know, from a public pressure perspective, calling out the CEO like that, combined with the litigation, I think was the combination that finally forced Visa to announce that they were going to cut off Pornhub once and for all and then MasterCard and Discover.

You know, Bill Ackman coming in and helping us put on the pressure, you know, from a public pressure perspective, calling out the CEO like that, combined with the litigation, I think was the combination that finally forced Visa to announce that they were going to cut off Pornhub once and for all and then MasterCard and Discover.

Cryptocurrency and bank wires is kind of how they're currently monetizing that content, but holding them accountable. That's one way. Victims are suing. So courageous victims are suing almost 300 victims in 25 lawsuits across the US, Canada, and the UK. Multiple are class action lawsuits on behalf of tens of thousands of child victims. So they're holding them accountable that way. But