Vicious Online Attacks Follow Death Of Gay Porn Star Erik Rhodes

Bigots have taken to Twitter and other websites to attack the legacy of gay porn star Erik Rhodes -- real name James Elliot -- who died at 30 years old in New York City on Wednesday night.

After years of living life in the fast lane, starring in adult films with Falcon Studios and taking pills, he succumbed to an apparent heart attack that may have been linked to steroids, according to Towleroad.

All teddy bear on the inside

The man was well-loved in the gay community, having starred in a wide range of porn films, and earning a reputation of being a man of steel on the outside but all teddy bear on the inside, as Falcon Studios CEO Adam Q. Robinson Tweeted on Thursday.

The condolences and messages of support filled the Twittersphere for much of Thursday and Friday as his friends and fans got light of the tragedy, but in the wake of the initial news spreading, the bigots began to spread their hate-speech online.

The messages of support flooded the Internet in the wake of his death, with condolences appearing penned by everyone from straight citizens upset to see such a young life ended so early to fellow gay porn stars of Rhodes.

Twitter user Jack Shamama offered a touching dispatch for all those out there on the web seeking to find solace in the wake of Rhodes' death.

I still can't believe @Erik_Rhodes is no longer with us, he tweeted. He was a gentle giant. Anyone who says otherwise didn't know him.

But apparently there were many people who didn't know him, as his death set off a firestorm of negative comments.

The wages of sin is death

Though Erik Rhodes had his share of troubles ranging from drug abuse to steroids use, he earned a reputation as one of the nicest -- and best-looking -- guys in the biz. But that didn't seem to mean much to the dozens of folks who took to the web to criticize his lifestyle and lecture others on their personal beliefs about what led to his early death.

Many such commenters were Christians hoping to convince members of the gay and adult film communities that their activities are sinful and that they contribute to tragedies such as Erik Rhodes' demise.

Take, for instance, Christian commenter Cynthia, who posted an extended critique of Erik Rhodes and the gay community on a Queerty.com article about Rhodes' death.

This story has brought me to tears and is a clear example that the wages of sin is death, Cynthia wrote. Here is a young man who could have lived a healthy lifestyle, had a real family and lived a long happy life in the joy of Christ, but instead he was destroyed by sins of the flesh. The fact that the gay community loves pornography and celebrates the pornographic industry is a tragedy.

But Christians are not the only folks who have taken to the web to attack Erik Rhodes. It seems the slurs have come from people representing all walks of life.

The problem with you gays is that you want everyone to support your disease-ridden lifestyle or shut up, non-Christian commenter Colin wrote in the Queerty.com comments section. Well, you live in a fantasy world, because people aren't going to do that. That is why gay rights has failed. Because you refuse to criticize the nastiness and perversion in our community.