Girls Gone Wild

The "Girls Gone Wild" franchise, created by Joseph R. Francis, is a series by the production company Mantra Films, Inc. Girls Gone Wild videos usually involve a camera crew patrolling a party-heavy area frequented by young adults in search of attractive young women who agree to expose their bodies for the camera, usually in exchange for a Girls Gone Wild t-shirt and sometimes short pants. This involves exposure of the breasts and/or buttocks and vagina, sometimes further removal of clothing, and sometimes the camera crew following a group of young females back to a hotel or other location and taping them engaging in additional sexual activities/intercourse.

Background

The videos have themes such as "Girls Gone Wild: Ultimate Spring Break" or "Girls Gone Wild: Sexy Sorority Sweethearts." They are chiefly sold via television mail order and are frequently advertised on late-night television infomercials.

In some states in the U.S., exposing oneself in a public area is a criminal offense defined by state law as indecent exposure, "public lewdness," or "sexual misconduct," etc. One notable exception is New York, where the Court of Appeals held in 1992 that the state constitution's equal protection provision allows women to go topless in any public area where men also have that right. [ [http://www.naturisteducation.org/Toni_Egbert_Library/State_Supreme_Courts/NY_v_Santorelli/ny_v_santorelli.html NY v Santorelli ] ] However, whereas toplessness in itself may not be grounds for arrest, many of the women featured in Girls Gone Wild commit other acts in public that may be considered lewd and therefore culpable to criminal prosecution.

Women who expose themselves in this manner have no expectation of privacy; moreover, GGW staff members claim they get a release from every flasher . [ [http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/5934268/wild_thing Wild Thing: Inside the "Girls Gone Wild" empire] ] The legal effect of these factors has resulted in a waiver of some women and girls' rights to bring a lawsuit against GGW.

Legal action

The franchise has become so successful in recent years that several knockoff videos emerged bearing the "Girls Gone Wild" name. These videos lack any other apparent connection to the franchise; for instance, they lack the typical stylized intro and on-camera narration from the show's producers, and contain no end credits of any kind—thus, they also do not contain the Mantra Entertainment logo. These particular videos have crews that will patrol the festivals in locations such as Mardi Gras or Las Vegas claiming to be affiliated with Girls Gone Wild, even distributing convincing Girls Gone Wild t-shirts. Videos compiled from the use of this technique have been released, at least via the Internet. Also "Wild Party Girls" and several other knockoffs have used the Girls Gone Wild formula with only minor aesthetic changes.Fact|date=February 2007

On December 16, 2003, the U.S. Department of Justice filed a complaint on behalf of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) against Mantra Films, Inc., and its sole officer and director Joseph R. Francis, seeking civil penalties for violations of previous Commission determinations concerning unfair and deceptive acts or practices and consumer redress. Violations of previous Commission determinations that an act or practice is unfair or deceptive and unlawful carry a civil penalty of up to $11,000 per violation. The Commission’s complaint alleges that since December 2000, Mantra and Francis deceptively marketed Girls Gone Wild videos and DVDs to consumers, automatically shipped these unordered videos and DVDs to consumers, and charged consumers for them without consumers’ consent. [ [http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2003/12/girlsgonewild.htm Sellers of ‘Girls Gone Wild’ Videos Charged with Deceptive Practices] ]

On July 30, 2004, the FTC announced a stipulated court order under which the sellers of "Girls Gone Wild" DVDs and videos would pay nearly $1.1 million as combined consumer redress and a civil penalty and will be barred from a wide range of activities detailed in a complaint the U.S. Department of Justice filed on behalf of the FTC in late 2003. According to the FTC, the defendants marketed "Girls Gone Wild" DVDs and videos as part of continuity programs that resulted in monthly shipments of DVDs or videos to consumers who did not agree to receive them. [ [http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2004/07/girlsgonewild.htm Sellers of ‘Girls Gone Wild’ Videos to Pay $1.1 Million to Settle Charges of Unauthorized Shipping and Billing] .]

On September 12, 2006, Francis [http://news.findlaw.com/hdocs/docs/pornlaw/dfrprosmra91206p16.html pleaded guilty] to federal charges of failing to document the ages of young women engaging in sexual acts in the videos, as [http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/casecode/uscodes/18/parts/i/chapters/110/sections/section_2257.html federal law requires] . There was a [http://news.findlaw.com/hdocs/docs/pornlaw/dfrprosmra91206.html plea agreement] , part of which required Francis to pay $2.1 million: a $500,000 fine and $1.6 million in restitution. [ [http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/LegalCenter/wireStory?id=2723150&CMP=OTC-RSSFeeds0312 http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/LegalCenter/wireStory?id=2723150&CMP=OTC-RSSFeeds0312] ] A 2006 episode of "Law & Order" explored some of the controversy with Girls Gone Wild, using a fictional organization with similar practices.

On December 13, 2006, the U.S. Department of Justice announced that Mantra Films had been sentenced to pay $1.6 million in criminal fines for failing to create and maintain age and identity records for films it produced, and that the “package agreement” between the government and Mantra Films, MRA Holdings, LLC, and Joe Francis required a public acknowledgment of criminal wrongdoing, a pledge of cooperation with the government in future investigations, full compliance with the record keeping laws, and payment of a total of $2.1 million in fines and restitution. [ [http://www.usdoj.gov/opa/pr/2006/December/06_crt_831.html ‘Girls Gone Wild’ Company Sentenced to Pay $1.6 Million in Fines in Sexual Exploitation Case] ] [ [http://news.findlaw.com/ap/o/51/12-13-2006/e676000892be0171.html "Girls Gone Wild" producer given community service] ]

On January 22, 2007, Francis was scheduled to be sentenced on similar offenses in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles. [ [http://www.breakinglegalnews.com/entry/%E2%80%98Girls-Gone-Wild%E2%80%99-Sentenced-to-Pay-16-Million?TSSESSION=71198323756dc24a46f9d9596383bdf6 ‘Girls Gone Wild’ Sentenced to Pay $1.6 Million] ] Under a three-year deferred prosecution agreement, MRA Holdings, LLC, is to employ an independent outside monitor to ensure that the company complies with federal laws. [ [http://news.findlaw.com/hdocs/docs/pornlaw/dfrprosmra91206.html Deferred Prosecution Agreement, Stipulation of Fact, Public Statement of Joseph Francis, and Films Subject to the Agreement] ] In January 2007, Circuit Judge Dedee Costello in Pensacola, Florida dropped most of the charges against Francis [ [http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,241910,00.html Associated Press, January 5, 2007] " Judge Drops Most Charges Against 'Girls Gone Wild' Producer Joe Francis"] claiming that "the evidence did not support the allegations..." However, the remaining felony counts charge that Francis and the company used and conspired to use minors in sexual performances, charges which carry a combined maximum penalty of 40 years in prison. Two misdemeanor counts which also remain charge Francis and the company with prostitution. [http://news.findlaw.com/ap/o/51/01-05-2007/d4a3000f070c0a8e.html]

On April 28, 2008, Ashley Dupré filed a $10 million civil lawsuit [ [http://news.findlaw.com/hdocs/docs/spitzer/dupreggw42808cmp.html Spitzer Call Girl Ashley Alexandra Dupre sues Girls Gone Wild] ] against Girls Gone Wild founder Joe Francis and 3 other defendants accusing them of unjust enrichment, federal trademark violations under the Lanham Act, false advertising and unjust enrichment under Florida state law. She decided to drop the suit in July of 2008. [http://uk.reuters.com/article/autoNews/idUKN0327672620080703 Call girl in Spitzer case drops Gone Wild suit | Reuters ] ]

Use of footage of Ashley Dupré from 2003

On March 19, 2008, Girls Gone Wild offered video of Ashley Dupré, the call girl connected with the Eliot Spitzer prostitution scandal, on its website, which the company had discovered in its archives. [cite news | url=http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/03/18/dupree.girls.gone.wild.ap/index.html | title=Spitzer escort's 'Girls Gone Wild' videos surface | author=Associated Press | publisher=CNN.com | accessdate=2008-03-18] Dupré's lawyer said that Dupré was only 17 at the time the footage was taken.cite web |url=http://www.tmz.com/2008/03/19/ashley-dupre-gone-wild-legal-or-jailbait/ |title=Ashley Dupre Gone "Wild" -- Legal or Jailbait? |author=TMZ |date=2008-03-19 |accessdate=2008-03-19 ] "All nude images of Ms. Dupré were taken in public places and contain no sexual contact. In Florida, where Ms. Dupré was filmed, the law allows even women under the age of 18 to be filmed nude with their consent", company founder Francis said. [ [http://www.orlandosentinel.com/orl-ashley-dupre-photos-pictures-spitzer,0,2003460.story?track=rss Photos show woman identified as Ashley Dupre at 'Girls Gone Wild' party - - OrlandoSentinel.com ] ]

On April 28, 2008, Ashley Dupré filed a $10 million lawsuit against "Girls Gone Wild" founder Joe Francis, Cyrus Koewing, Mantra Films, MRA Holdings, LLC, alleging violations of the Lanham Act and Florida state law. [cite web | url=http://news.findlaw.com/hdocs/docs/spitzer/dupreggw42808cmp.html | title=Spitzer Call Girl Ashley Alexandra Dupre sues Girls Gone Wild | author=FindLaw | publisher=FindLaw | accessdate=2008-04-29] The lawsuit charges, in part, that Dupré was a victim of cybersquatting when the defendants registered and used internet domain names (containing her name) to sell DVDs and videos. The suit also charges that defendants purportedly engaged in false advertising by claiming Dupré could be seen in lascivious and sexually-oriented materials when, in fact, she was not in them. She decided to drop the suit in July of 2008.

Allusions and derivations

A parody of Girls Gone Wild was featured in the show "Arrested Development", titled "Girls with Low Self Esteem". This was a recurring reference for Spring Break episodes.

On a Chappelle's Show skit, they had a take-off called "3rd World Girls Gone Wild" which also spotlights the criticism of the videos not having any minority (esp. Black) girls on them.

List of "Girls Gone Wild" videos

#"Girls Gone Wild" (1998)
#"Best of Girls Gone Wild"
#"Girls Gone Wild: All New College Girls Exposed" (six volumes) (2007)
#"Girls Gone Wild: All New Dormroom Fantasies" (two volumes) (2005, 2007)
#"Girls Gone Wild: America Uncovered with Doug Stanhope" (2005)
#"Girls Gone Wild: Baby Bash Live and Uncensored Tour" (2007)
#"Girls Gone Wild: Bad Girls" (two volumes) (2005, 2008)
#"Girls Gone Wild: Beach Babes" (three volumes) (2002–2005)
#"Girls Gone Wild: Before They Were Stars" (2008)
#"Girls Gone Wild: Behind Closed Doors" (2006)
#"Girls Gone Wild: Best Breasts Ever" (two volumes)
#"Girls Gone Wild: Best of Blondes" (two volumes) (2006, 2007)
#"Girls Gone Wild: Best of Endless Spring Break" (four volumes) (2005–2006)
#"Girls Gone Wild: Best of Girl Power" (four volumes) (2005–2006)
#"Girls Gone Wild: Best of Mardi Gras" (2000)
#"Girls Gone Wild: Best of On Tour" (four volumes)
#"Girls Gone Wild: Best of Spring Break" (2000)
#"Girls Gone Wild: Best of Ultimate Spring Break"
#"Girls Gone Wild Presents Bubba Sparxxx Charmed Life Tour" (2006)
#"Girls Gone Wild: Bubba Sparxxx XXX Tour" (2006)
#"Girls Gone Wild: Canada" (2005)
#"Girls Gone Wild: Celebrity Look-A-Likes" (2007)
#"Girls Gone Wild: Coed Sex Tryouts" (three volumes) (2005)
#"Girls Gone Wild: College Co-Eds"
#"Girls Gone Wild: College Girls Exposed" (two volumes) (2000)
#"Girls Gone Wild: College Spring Break"
#"Girls Gone Wild: Craziest Frat Parties" (2002)
#"Girls Gone Wild: Daddy's Little Girls"
#"Girls Gone Wild: Divas of Daytona" (2002)
#"Girls Gone Wild: Doggy Style" (hosted by Snoop Dogg) (2002)
#"Girls Gone Wild: Dormroom Fantasies" (nine volumes) (2002)
#"Girls Gone Wild: Endless Spring Break" (fourteen volumes)
#"Girls Gone Wild: Extreme" (four volumes)
#"Girls Gone Wild: Extreme Orgy" (three volumes)
#"Girls Gone Wild: Extreme Sex" (2006)
#"Girls Gone Wild: Finally 18!" (2008)
#"Girls Gone Wild: Finger Me" (2008)
#"Girls Gone Wild: First Timers" (three volumes) (2006)
#"Girls Gone Wild: Forbidden Spring Break" (2002)
#"Girls Gone Wild: Freshman Class"
#"Girls Gone Wild: Freshman Orientation" (four volumes) (2006)
#"Girls Gone Wild: Funkin' at Freaknik" (2002)
#"Girls Gone Wild: Games" (2005)
#"Girls Gone Wild: Girl Power" (twelve volumes)
#"Girls Gone Wild: Girls On Girls" (2007)
#"Girls Gone Wild: Girls Who Crave Sex"
#"Girls Gone Wild: Girls Who Like Girls" (2005)
#"Girls Gone Wild: Halftime Games"
#"Girls Gone Wild: Horny School Girls" (seven volumes) (2006)
#"Girls Gone Wild: Hottest Moments Ever"
#"Girls Gone Wild: Island Orgy"
#"Girls Gone Wild: Mardi Gras 2k#" (four volumes) (2001–2004)
#"Girls Gone Wild: Mardi Gras Invasion"
#"Girls Gone Wild: On Campus" (three volumes)
#"Girls Gone Wild: On Tour" (eight volumes)
#"Girls Gone Wild: Road Trip" (2003)
#"Girls Gone Wild: Rocks America"
#"Girls Gone Wild: The Seized Video" (2003)
#"Girls Gone Wild: Sex Race"
#"Girls Gone Wild: Sex Starved College Girls" (ten volumes)
#"Girls Gone Wild: Sexes Up Las Vegas" (two volumes)
#"Girls Gone Wild: Sexiest Moments Ever" (two volumes)
#"Girls Gone Wild: Sexy Sorority Sweethearts" (two volumes)
#"Girls Gone Wild: Spring Break" (five volumes) (2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2007)
#"Girls Gone Wild: Totally Exposed, Uncensored and Beyond" (twelve volumes) (2000)
#"Girls Gone Wild: Ultimate Spring Break" (eight volumes) (2002–2003)
#"Girls Gone Wild: Use of footage of Ashley Dupré from 2003"
#"Girls Gone Wild: Wet T-Shirt Strip Off" (2002)
#"Girls Gone Wild: My 18th Birthday" (2006)
#"Girls Gone Wild: Rocks America" (2006)
#"Girls Gone Wild: Wildest Sex" (2006)
#"Girls Gone Wild: Ultimate Rush" (2006)
#"Girls Gone Wild: Ultimate Sex Rush" (2006)
#"Girls Gone Wild: Spring Break Sex Riot" (2006)
#"Girls Gone Wild: Sweet Young Sex Maniacs" (2006)
#"Girls Gone Wild: Wild World" (2007)
#"Girls Gone Wild: Wildest Bar in America" (2007)

ee also

* Exhibitionism

References

External links

* [http://www.girlsgonewild.com/ GGW Official Website]
* [http://www.latimes.com/features/magazine/west/la-tm-gonewild32aug06,0,2664370.story "'Baby, Give Me a Kiss' from the LA Times]
* [http://www.slate.com/id/2097485/entry/2097496/ "Dispatches from Girls Gone Wild"] at "Slate Magazine"
* [http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/1124313259148_5/?hub=Canada CTV.ca Groups protest 'Girls Gone Wild Canada' tour]
* [http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/_/id/5934268/ Rolling Stone story on Joe Francis and his empire]
* [http://www.businessethics.ca/blog/2006/09/exploitative-videos-bumfights-girls.html Exploitative Videos: Bumfights & Girls Gone Wild] from the Business Ethics Blog
* [http://imdb.com/title/tt0338066/ IMDB entry]