Boxer Yusaf Mack Comes Out As Bisexual, Apologizes To Black Gay Porn Studio Over Claims He Was Drugged Before Filming

A Pennsylvania boxer who claimed last week that he was drugged before he performed in a gay porn film said Monday he had fabricated the story to cover up that he is bisexual. Yusaf Mack, a 35-year-old boxer from Philadelphia who had a promising professional career before quitting during a losing streak several years ago, said he was completely aware of his surroundings during the filming of an explicit video for DawgPound USA, a porn studio that has produced videos featuring men-of-color since 2002.

The Mack video shows the boxer having sex with two men. After he was identified by fans, Mack claimed he had been given “a pill and vodka” and blacked out before filming, according to multiple media reports. He said he had received an offer via Facebook to do porn with female performers and didn’t remember filming with the men.

In an extensive statement, Mack apologized to DawgPound USA for lying and came out as bisexual. But the apology seemed to have been prompted by threats of legal action against the boxer made by the gay porn studio, which reportedly paid him $4,500 for his appearance in the video.

In its own statement, DawgPound USA claimed Mack knew what he was doing in the film. “At no time have we ever coerced or drugged any of our models,” the statement read, according to a Daily Mail report. “The claims made by Mr. Mack are false, slanderous, and vehemently denied on our part,” a DawgPound USA spokesman said. “We intend to take all legal steps necessary to protect our good name and reputation against these patently false and preposterous claims.”

Mack, who reportedly fathered 10 children and was previously engaged to be married to a woman, said the revelations about his sexuality have changed his life. Sharing his story, amid the apology, was meant to inspire other closeted men and women “to just be you,” he said.

Here is an excerpt of Mack's apology statement, according to Black Sports Online:

“This is an issued public apology from my heart. I want to address a few situations with the first being the false claims I made about being drugged during the Dog Pound adult film. I have never spoke negatively about the company that produced the film although the claim to have been given a drug by someone during set was a lie. I was completely aware and fully conscious during the film.

“The second situation, which further explains the first, concerns my lifestyle. I did participate in the adult film because at the time I needed money but also because I am a bisexual man. Meaning I enjoy safely being intimate with whomever I choose.

“Lastly I would like to address the reason I lied. My life was completely destroyed once it had been outed that I participated in a gay film. I selfishly tried to cover the truth and remain in denial, rather than accept the fact that I was leading a double life secretly.

“After reflecting on the mess I had made I realized that I hurt a lot of my loved ones and the people, my famCherry.d fans, I cared about the most were left disappointed and confused. It was unfair and time to come clean. I want to say sorry to my children and my ex fiancé, I am so sorry that I was a coward and hid a huge part of my life from you all. To the ones that were once my friends and now feel disgust, I’m sorry, but this is my life. I’m not looking for sympathy or even understanding[.] I’ve kept this secret for a long time. It is time to move forward and this is me walking in my truth.”