*UPDATE*
SAN FRANCISCO – A rather curious news item posted today to the GayVN website reports that Chad Manning, a former exclusive with TitanMen who entered the industry in 2008, is retiring from performing. The article references a blog post to Manning’s site on Tuesday that mentions his intent to retire April 25.
There’s only one problem. The Manning blog post has either been removed or it was never there. The GayVN writer, G. Zisk Rice, is not prone to quoting from non-existent blog postings, however, and reaffirmed as much to Daily Babylon.
“I’ve got the email where he copied the blog post to us,” he said, adding, “He can’t deny he ever said it.”
Indeed, an April 21 email from Manning obtained by Daily Babylon confirms Rice’s claim that the performer was indeed at least contemplating retirement, even if he has since changed his mind.
“As of Friday, April 25th, 2009, I will officially retire from the world of porn,” he says in the email. “This career has challenged my personal life and at 33 I have decided that my personal life is more important. I want to thank all the fans and my dear Howard. This has been a great trip and journey. I am glad to do my last film with Steve Cruz. Take care everyone and be good to each other. Chad.”
Daily Babyon will update this story as it unfolds.
Mystery solved; now it’s just weird.
Chad Manning is not retiring, at least not for the next ten minutes. Now, according to a JC Adams story over at XBIZ.com, Manning is back and staying put, having had a profound change of heart early this morning.
“I had some personal issues that led me to make a rash decision and things got out of hand,” Manning said in the prepared statement issued to XBIZ. “I’m shooting for Steve Cruz right now and he has helped me realize that all porn isn’t bad! I’ve had an amazing time I wouldn’t give it up for anything. I regret my blog posting announcing my retirement, which I’ve taken down.”
Which leaves the question of the April 21 email to AVN, and why, if Manning had a change of heart early this morning and took the time to remove the posting from his own blog, he did not also take time to correct the record with AVN before giving an apparent exclusive to XBIZ.
UPDATE II
Howard Andrew, owner of Fabscout Entertainment and Manning’s agent, has issued a statement regarding the Chad Manning retirement and non-retirement announcements of the past few days.
“Chad had an unpleasant interaction with someone and made a rash decision,” he said. “He was angry, and he posted an announcement to his blog, but then he changed his mind and took it down.
“He’s having a really good time in the industry right now,” Andrew continued. “As a matter of fact, he’s really excited about this new movie he’s shooting for Steve Cruz. He said it’s the best movie he’s ever made, and more than that, the best crew he’s ever worked with.”
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