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Adult Performer Matthew Camp's Home Torched In Suspected Hate Attack

Matthew Camp's home set ablaze

The model and brand owner had just bought the home in October.

MikelleStreet

Model, actor, and adult performer Matthew Camp has been a victim of arson. His Poughkeepsie home, which he reportedly purchased in October, was set ablaze earlier this month. Camp was inside at the time of the attack, as was his roommate Six Carter. The two, who hosted the Happie Campers podcast together, were able to escape uninjured. Out has reached out to Camp for comment.

Having starred in the film Getting Go: The Doc Project, appeared in the recent reality competition series Slag Wars, launched a career in studio porn in 2019, and fashioned himself into a popular LGBTQ+ figure, Camp opened up to his audience on social media on Monday.

"January 14, 2021. An arsonist poured gasoline on the front porch of my home and set it on fire in an apparent hate crime," he wrote to Instagram. "I was asleep inside. I am alive to face this person one day but everything I have ever owned is gone."

Camp, who also co-owns the brand Daddy Couture, posted photos of the two-story home burning, a photo of the arsonist, as well as a photo of the wreckage. Camp has told media that he didn't speak out sooner because he knew how much of a news item it would become and needed some time to recover.

The home was on South Clinton Street in Poughkeepsie and surveillance footage shows a person carrying two containers of gasoline onto the porch of the home shortly after 5 a.m. The figure then splashes the gasoline on the porch, lights it, and runs away. According to some reports, gasoline was also put at the back door as well. Local police have ruled it arson. By 5:12 a.m. police had received calls about the fire.

The home was a part of history and dubbed the "Halloween House." Prior to Camp purchasing the home Joe "Netherworld" Mendillo, a high-ranking member of the Church of Satan, owned it according to the Poughkeepsie Journal. He had turned the building into a space for that community to gather for Halloween. Camp tells Out that Mendillo was a "longtime friend and mentor of mine" and that he purchased the home to "restore it in his memory."

"It went by many names to many people," Camp, who's bedroom was above the front porch, tells Out in an emailed interview. "To the outside world, maybe they reduced it to the 'Halloween House' but to my chosen family and myself it was much more than that."

Camp alleged on social media that this was a hate crime as a result of his sexuality as well as his status as a sex worker.

"Share this story because queer people are still under attack all over the world," he wrote. "Our voices will not be silenced." Others, including members of the Church of Satan, believe the space was targeted due to its historic nature. The surrounding neighborhood is known as the "Haunted Hudson Valley," with other members of the church living nearby. Police do not believe others in the neighborhood are in danger.

The house was destroyed in the fire and is not likely to be restored.

"It feels hate-driven because of how visible I was in the community," Camp tells Out. "It's a small town where I felt comfortable being honest about my job as an OnlyFans creator and my work on the show Slag Wars -- two things I am very proud of because all I want is to empower and destigmatize sex work."

Camp and his roommate Carter have both started GoFundMe accounts. At the time of publishing Camp had raised almost $17,000 on his GoFundMe -- he also encouraged followers to subscribe to his OnlyFans for $10 to help out. When we contacted Camp for comment, he indicated that he would soon be speaking to the insurance company.

"To everyone reaching out, sending love, or even donating: I have never felt so blessed," Camp wrote in an Instagram Story post Monday morning. "I lost everything but feel like the luckiest guy on earth. I'm sorry if I miss a message or comment but know I'm going try to respond as best I can. I love you."

Camp tells Out that he is stably-housed and has "full confidence" in those working on the investigation.

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Mikelle Street

Mikelle is the former editorial director of digital for PrideMedia, guiding digital editorial and social across Out, The Advocate, Pride.com, Out Traveler, and Plus. After starting as a freelancer for Out in 2013, he joined the staff as Senior Editor working across print and digital in 2018. In early 2021 he became Out's digital director, marking a pivot to content that centered queer and trans stories and figures, exclusively. In September 2021, he was promoted to editorial director of PrideMedia. He has written cover stories on Ricky Martin, Miss Fame, Nyle DiMarco, Jeremy O. Harris, Law Roach, and Symone.

Mikelle is the former editorial director of digital for PrideMedia, guiding digital editorial and social across Out, The Advocate, Pride.com, Out Traveler, and Plus. After starting as a freelancer for Out in 2013, he joined the staff as Senior Editor working across print and digital in 2018. In early 2021 he became Out's digital director, marking a pivot to content that centered queer and trans stories and figures, exclusively. In September 2021, he was promoted to editorial director of PrideMedia. He has written cover stories on Ricky Martin, Miss Fame, Nyle DiMarco, Jeremy O. Harris, Law Roach, and Symone.