Friends of former adult film star Stormy Daniels describe her newfound political prominence and media fame as a “nightmare” and “exhausting.”
The 39-year-old former porn star, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, became a household name overnight when the Wall Street Journal reported in January that she was paid $130,000 for her silence about her affair with President Trump in 2006. She has since claimed the agreement has been violated and has entered a legal battle against the president.
Despite putting herself through a media circus, friends and colleagues close to Daniels say that she is exhausted.
“A whole big fucking nightmare” is how Daniels describes the ordeal to Jack Vegas, a close colleague and friend who spoke to CNN.
“Her life outside of the industry is normal,” Vegas continued. “Well, it was until this shitshow, and now, she can’t leave her house without the news trucks outside her house.”
Marcus London, a colleague of Daniels from the adult film industry, said she seemed “stressed” about the situation when he asked her about it in January at the Adult Video News Awards.
“I don’t think she wanted it out there,” London explained. “She wasn’t happy about the whole situation.”
London also commented on how Trump isn’t the “type” Daniels typically gets involved with, which Daniels also has acknowledged herself in previous interviews.
“She gravitates to more rock-star, tattooed guys in bands,” London clarified, dismissing the idea that her affair with the president was one of passion.
“She’s just making the most of it now,” London said of his friend’s newfound legal battle.
Daniels is expected to divulge more details of her affair and experience with the president during an interview on “60 Minutes” Sunday.
