Joe Francis Reacts to Girls Gone Wild Backlash

Peacock's new documentary series, Girls Gone Wild: The Untold Story, explores how the notorious exploitation empire helped shape the culture we live in today. While the series examines the lasting impact of Girls Gone Wild, it also reveals how little its founder, Joe Francis, has changed since his empire fell apart.

Francis sat down for his first in-person interview in a decade with journalist Scaachi Koul, though he only agreed to be recorded audibly. When asked if he felt any guilt over the underage girls who were intoxicated and coerced into filming explicit scenes, Francis denied feeling remorse, stating, “No, because I don’t believe they were victimized. They victimized me.”

His response specifically refers to a 2008 case tied to a 2003 incident, when Girls Gone Wild filmed underage women engaging in sexual acts during spring break in Panama City, Florida. After the women reported the incident to the authorities, local officials launched a broad RICO investigation against Francis, which eventually led to charges of child abuse and prostitution.

Francis pled no contest to the charges, although he had already pled guilty to similar offenses in the past. These legal issues were only the beginning, as he would face many more charges in the years to come.

When Koul reminded Francis that the women involved were too young to legally be held accountable for their actions, Francis argued that they were “just shy of 18” and suggested the entire situation was a setup by the Panama City police. He claimed it was an orchestrated operation and that he had walked into a “snake pit.”

Now living in exile in Mexico due to an active arrest warrant issued in 2014, Francis remains unapologetic. While several former Girls Gone Wild crew members express regret for their involvement in the exploitation, Francis continues to defend his actions.

When asked about the cultural impact of Girls Gone Wild, Francis proudly claimed that the series “loosened everything up,” helping to create a more carefree generation. He believes it paved the way for reality shows like The Kardashians and contributed to a culture of excess, which transformed society and life as a whole.