Adult Film Actress Dead of Overdose Sparks Urgent Call for Mental Health Support

19 July 2025

Page was known as a “kind, loving, wonderful person.” Instagram/@therealkyliepagex

Hollywood mourns again as the body of 28‑year‑old adult film star Kylie Page was discovered in her apartment on June 25, succumbing to a suspected fentanyl overdose at the height of her career. Known for her roles in titles like Frisky Freshman and Naughty Bookworms, and recognized in Netflix’s Hot Girls Wanted: Turned On, Page’s untimely death marks the seventh fatality in just three years among female performers in the adult entertainment industry. It is a figure that casts a harsh spotlight on deep‑rooted issues of addiction, stigma, and emotional distress plaguing this often hidden community.

Authorities found drug paraphernalia and fentanyl in Page’s Hollywood apartment, painting a tragic echo of earlier cases involving performers who similarly battled substance abuse amid the pressures of their profession. Among those lost were Angelina Please, Sophie Anderson, Sophia Leone, Jesse Jane, and Kagney Linn Karter each driven by circumstances that highlight both the vulnerability and resilience of women navigating an exploitative and unforgiving industry.

Research and accounts from performers reveal that many do not enter the adult film industry with existing addictions; rather, some develop reliance on substances as a means to cope with emotional turmoil, societal judgment, and the stress of their work. Dr Corita Grudzen of Memorial Sloan Kettering notes that female performers in particular are more exposed to drug use than their male counterparts, using substances to manage shame, pressure, or the harsh realities they encounter both on and off set.

Kylie Page was remembered by Amy‑Marie Merrell, co‑executive director of the Cupcake Girls, as “a kind, loving, wonderful person.” The nonprofit organization connects adult entertainers to mental health resources, medication assistance, job training, and safe housing providing a rare lifeline in a world that often overlooks performers’ personal well‑being.

Though there has been growing awareness of performer welfare, challenges remain immense. For many, assistance starts only after tragedy strikes. Activists argue that health care, counselling, and peer support services must be embedded in the fabric of the adult entertainment industry to break the cycle of tragedy. The Cupcake Girls and other advocates are urging studios, agencies, and streaming platforms to invest in comprehensive mental health programs, de‑stigmatization campaigns, and ongoing support networks for performers at all stages of their careers.

Page’s death is part of a broader, devastating wave that has claimed the lives of acclaimed performers under often similar circumstances. Trans star Angelina Please died of a fentanyl‑tainted cocaine overdose in Las Vegas in 2022. Sophie Anderson succumbed to a GHB overdose in England late last year, following compounded personal trauma and public scrutiny. Sophia Leone and Jesse Jane both fell victim to overdoses in 2024, and Kagney Linn Karter tragically took her own life amidst long‑standing struggles with mental illness and addiction.

These losses have prompted frank discussions within the industry: whether performers receive adequate emotional and medical care, if studios bear responsibility, and how public perception affects the mental health of those in adult entertainment. Many endorse a shift from viewing performers as commodities to supporting them as individuals deserving of dignity, care, and timely intervention.

Experts underline the complexity of the problem. Substance abuse is deeply intertwined with mental health disorders such as depression, anxiety, PTSD, and low self‑esteem especially when acceptance and validation are scarce outside of work. For those living dual lives, the struggle is intensified by societal shame and inadequate privacy protections.

Moving forward means more than offering respect; it means establishing systemic support. That might include medical check‑ups before shoots, confidential counselling access, peer support groups, and simplified pathways to mental health care services that are currently inconsistent or absent.

Kylie Page’s death is a heart‑breaking reminder of what happens when an industry built on performance and illusion ignores the human soul behind the scenes. As we digest the shattering list of lives lost to addiction and stigma, her passing must trigger more than grief, it must incite action. The burden of change lies with studios, platforms, and audiences alike, to demand mental health care as a human right and industry standard.

Until then, the adult film community will continue to mourn, navigating a world that too often equates fame with fulfillment while neglecting the very real human cost behind the curtain.