Attack Near Aylo Headquarters Leaves Three Dead, Including Gunman Who Targeted Adult Industry in Manifesto
MONTREAL — The adult industry was thrust into the crosshairs of violent extremism this week when a gunman opened fire near the Montreal headquarters of Aylo, parent company of Pornhub, leaving three people dead and the community grappling with the reality that anti-porn rhetoric has escalated into deadly action.
Seth Scott Hatfield, a 25-year-old from Alberta, was shot and killed by police Monday after carrying out an attack in the Côte-des-Neiges borough, just outside the offices of Aylo. The shooting claimed the lives of Constable Mohamed Lamine Benredouane of the Service de police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM) — the first on-duty officer death for the department in roughly 24 years — and civilian bystander Michael Moshe Mizrahi, a Jewish Canadian-Israeli man confirmed dead by the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs and the Israeli consulate. A second officer was wounded but remains in a stable condition.
While investigators have not confirmed whether Aylo was Hatfield’s intended target, a 104-page manifesto left by the shooter makes clear that the adult industry was very much on his radar — and on his hit list.
The Manifesto: A Call for “Bloodletting”
Hatfield’s manifesto, published by the far-right outlet Rebel News and reviewed by industry publications, reveals a disturbing fusion of incel ideology, antisemitic conspiracy theories, and explicit calls for violence against the adult entertainment business. While Hatfield never uses the term “incel” directly, his writings echo the aggrieved misogyny that has characterized the involuntary celibate movement since its origins in Canada in the 1990s.
The document references pornography approximately 32 times, with Hatfield explicitly calling for the “liquidation” of what he termed “valid potential Class A targets.” These targets, he wrote, should include “large pornographic industry conferences, the headquarters of international pornography companies, and prominent individuals who are pornographic actors or actresses themselves, and who are very wealthy, and actively promote pornography to the public.”
“I call on all of you now, and I ask you to join me,” Hatfield wrote. “Let us be the initiators of a new bloodletting, one in which the blood will flood out from the lacerated bodies of our opponents… Be unflinching, go forth, and KILL THEM ALL!”
The manifesto also traffics in antisemitic conspiracy theories alleging Jewish control of the pornography industry — a trope that has gained traction in far-right online spaces and was notably amplified when attorney and rabbi Solomon Friedman joined Aylo’s ownership group, Ethical Capital Partners, as vice president of compliance.
Industry Response
Aylo confirmed that while no employees were physically harmed, the psychological toll of having violence erupt at their doorstep is immeasurable.
“We want to express our deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of Const. Mohamed Lamine Benredouane and Michael Moshe Mizrahi, as well as the Montreal Police Service (SPVM) and everyone affected by this horrific tragedy,” an Aylo spokesperson said in a statement. “The safety of our community is our highest priority, whether that be our dedicated employees, our online community, or the city of Montreal, which a large part of our team proudly calls home.”
The Free Speech Coalition (FSC), the adult industry’s primary trade association, was quick to condemn both the attack and the ideology behind it.
“We’re shocked and outraged by the attack, and mourn those killed, even as we are grateful that members of our community are safe,” said FSC executive director Alison Boden. “Unfortunately, calls for violence against our community are not new. They have been fueled by rhetoric that treats sex work and sexual expression as a societal threat. We call on the media to call this what it is and condemn the twisted arguments behind it.”
A Pattern of Threats
For those working in adult entertainment, Hatfield’s manifesto represents not an isolated incident but a chilling escalation of threats that have become increasingly common. The document’s specific targeting of industry conferences, corporate headquarters, and individual performers mirrors rhetoric seen across social media platforms and extremist forums.
The Montreal attack comes as the industry continues to face legislative challenges, banking discrimination, and social stigma — all of which, advocates argue, create an environment where dehumanization can flourish. When lawmakers and pundits frame adult content as a public health crisis or societal threat, they inadvertently validate the grievances of those who would do workers in the industry harm.
Security Considerations
While Aylo has not disclosed any changes to its security protocols in the wake of the attack, the incident serves as a stark reminder that industry professionals — from performers to executives to support staff — may need to take personal security seriously.
The shooter’s call for targeting “prominent individuals who are pornographic actors or actresses themselves” is particularly concerning for performers who maintain public profiles and social media presences. The manifesto’s publication and dissemination through far-right channels means its contents are already circulating in spaces where radicalization occurs.
Moving Forward
As the SPVM continues its investigation, the industry finds itself at a crossroads. The Free Speech Coalition’s statement struck a defiant tone: “In the face of fear, we reaffirm our commitment to fighting censorship and repression.”
For workers in adult entertainment, the Montreal shooting is a grim confirmation that the stigma and hatred directed at their industry can, and does, translate into real-world violence. The challenge now is balancing openness and accessibility — hallmarks of the industry’s community-oriented culture — with the security concerns that come with being explicitly named as targets in extremist manifestos.
The victims of Monday’s violence — a police officer doing his job and a civilian caught in the wrong place at the wrong time — remind us that the consequences of anti-porn extremism extend far beyond the industry itself. But for those who work in adult entertainment, the message from Hatfield’s manifesto is unmistakable: there are people who want them dead simply for doing their jobs.
As the community processes this attack, the hope is that law enforcement and media outlets will treat the threat with the seriousness it deserves — and that the rhetoric fueling such violence will finally be recognized as the danger it has become.
If you or someone you know works in the adult industry and needs support, the Free Speech Coalition offers resources for performers and industry professionals dealing with harassment, discrimination, or threats.
