Did porn star August Ames really commit suicide because of cyber bullying, or was it her last shoot?

A new podcast chronicles the weeks leading up to last year’s mysterious death of adult film star August Ames, raising questions about what actually led her to take her own life.

The death of 23-year-old Ames, whose legal name was Mercedes Grabowski, was previously attributed to cyber bullying after she tweeted her displeasure over being cast to shoot a scene with a man who had done gay or ‘crossover’ porn.

But journalist Jon Ronson raises the possibility that it was her final shoot that pushed her to her sexual limits, and ultimately over the edge, in a new ‘Serial’-style podcast called ‘The Last Days of August’ which will be released on Audible on January 3.

After reviewing the footage of a scene shot six weeks before her death on December 5, 2017, Ronson told the New York Post: 

‘When you think about it, what we were watching in that moment was the moment that she decided to die. That’s what we were watching and it’s awful.’

A new podcast called ‘The Last Days of August’ by journalist Jon Ronson and producer Lena Misitzis chronicles the weeks leading up to last year’s mysterious death of adult film star August Ames (pictured), raising questions about what actually led her to take her own life

Ronson said he was confident in making that statement after he and producer Lena Misitzis gained access to text messages sent by Ames following the shoot with 30-year-old Russian Markus Dupree, a porn star known for ‘domineering’ productions, according to the Post.

Ronson and Misitzis said the texts from Ames to a friend said Dupree had gone ‘full on War Machine,’  which was a reference to Jon ‘War Machine’ Koppenhaver, a professional fighter-turned-porn star who is currently serving a life sentence for brutally beating his ex-girlfriend, porn star Christy Mack, to near death. 

Both Ronson and Misitzis described viewing of the footage of Ames’ scene with Dupree as the most difficult part of the podcast project.

‘On more than one occasion in the footage, Markus forcefully repositions August, which visibly startles her,’ Misitzis says in the final episode of the podcast.

‘She says “Whoa sh*t!” and at one point Markus picks up her pink thong, stretches it around her head, jerks her around by it, and then shoves it in her mouth.

‘At the end of her scene, August is interviewed by a crew member to establish consent for legal purposes. She’s staring straight into the camera, holding up her check for the day’s work, her makeup’s gone and her hair is pulled back, she looks resigned and emotional and hollow all at once. “Were you treated OK?” she’s asked. And flatly, and quietly she says, “Yes.” For the first time in this footage, all the camera is focused on is August’s face and she seems like she’s verging on tears.’

The podcasts notes Ames’ usual style was upbeat and energetic, and nothing like the dark video the journalist and producer watched, shot with Dupree. 

Ronson said, ‘That was the moment when she reached the point of no return.’ 

The podcasts notes Ames’ (pictured) usual style was upbeat and energetic, and nothing like the dark video the journalist and producer watched, shot with Dupree. Ames is shown at the 2016 Xbiz awards at Hotel J.W. Marriot at LA Live in Los Angeles on January 15, 2016

He added: ‘The Twitter bullying may have been the icing on the cake, as some people described it.’

Ronson noted the backlash over a tweet sent by Ames on December 3, which read:

‘whichever (lady) performer is replacing me tomorrow for @EroticaXNews , you’re shooting with a guy who has shot gay porn, just to let cha know. BS is all I can say [woman shrugging emoji] Do agents really not care about who they’re representing? #ladirect I do my homework for my body.’

Ames followed that up just four minutes later with a disclaimer that she was ‘not homophobic.’ 

‘NOT homophobic. Most girls don’t shoot with guys who have shot gay porn, for safety. That’s just how it is with me. I’m not putting my body at risk, i don’t know what they do in their private lives,’ she wrote.

Ronson noted backlash over a tweet by Ames on December 3, which read: ‘whichever (lady) performer is replacing me tomorrow for @EroticaXNews , you’re shooting with a guy who has shot gay porn, just to let cha know. BS is all I can say [woman shrugging emoji] Do agents really not care about who they’re representing? #ladirect I do my homework for my body’

Ames followed that up just four minutes later with a disclaimer that she was ‘not homophobic’

But in the series, he explains it away, noting that one high-profile tweet posted by porn star Jaxton Wheeler that may have rallied voices against Ames was posted seemingly after her death, on December 5.

Wheeler wrote: 

‘@AugustAmesxxx the world is awaiting your apology or for you to swallow a cyanide pill. Either or we’ll take it.’ 

Fellow female porn star Jessica Drake also tweeted on December 4:

‘Performers, by all means, f**k who you want to f**k…but if you’re eliminating folks based on the fact they they (sic) may have done gay or crossover work, your logic is seriously flawed. reality is, WE DON’T KNOW who does what with whom when there are no cameras.’

But in the series, Ronson explains cyber bullying away, noting that one high-profile tweet posted by porn star Jaxton Wheeler that may have rallied voices against Ames (pictured at left and right) was posted seemingly after her death, on December 5

Drake apologized for her tweet, three days after Ames body was found, and Ames husband, porn producer Kevin Moore, used the stage at last year’s Adult Video News Awards to stand up for his deceased bride one more time.

‘Who you work with is up to you. It’s your body, it’s your choice. No agent, no producer, no company, and certainly not social media, decides what you do with your body,’ Moore said from the stage on January 27.

Ironically, Dupree won the award for Male Entertainer of the Year at that same event. 

In the series, Ronson and Misitzis cross-examine Moore, who seemed to push the cyber bullying theory, and dived into Ames declining mental health in the days leading up to her death.

A survivor of childhood sexual trauma, Ames conquered the adult entertainment industry after moving to Los Angeles on her own, shooting nearly 300 scenes in her five-year career. 

She was nominated for Female Performer of the Year three times at the Adult Video News Awards, which are the equivalent of the Oscars for the adult film industry.

For confidential support in the US, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 or click here.

For confidential support on suicide matters in the UK, call the Samaritans on 08457 90 90 90, visit a local Samaritans branch or click here.

For confidential support in Australia, please call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or click here. 

Moore (pictured) used the stage at last year’s AVN Awards to stand up for his deceased bride one more time, saying, ‘Who you work with is up to you. It’s your body, it’s your choice. No agent, no producer, no company, and certainly not social media, decides what you do with your body’

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk