The popular adult film star August Ames passed away this Tuesday in Camarillo, California. The 23-year old, who has appeared in over 270 films and won twice at the Adult Video News Awards, had stirred up an online firestorm just a day before her death. 

Ames' husband, adult film director Kevin Moore, said in a statement: “She was the kindest person I ever knew and she meant the world to me. Please leave this as a private family matter in this difficult time.”

A post shared by August Ames (@msmaplefever) on Dec 1, 2017 at 5:22pm PST

According to IB Times, the Ventura County, Ca. Health Care Agency confirmed Grabowski's death yesterday evening, saying, “Mercedes Grabowski died of asphyxia due to hanging. Manner is suicide.”

Hollywood Life reported that Ames' close friends claimed that she had been battling depression, and that online bullying may have played a part in her death.

Last weekend, Ames received a lot of backlash after posting a series of tweets about how she refuses to complete a scene with a man who has previously starred in gay porn, calling it “homework for her body.”

whichever (lady) performer is replacing me tomorrow for @EroticaXNews , you're shooting with a guy who has shot gay porn, just to let cha know.  BS is all I can sayð¤·ð½âï¸ Do agents really not care about who they're representing? #ladirect I do my homework for my bodyð¤âï¸ð

— August Ames (@AugustAmesxxx) December 3, 2017

This initial tweet caused a lot of controversy, with everyone calling her a homophobe. 

NOT homophobic. Most girls don't shoot with guys who have shot gay porn, for safety. That's just how it is with me. I'm not putting my body at risk, i don't know what they do in their private lives. https://t.co/MRKt2GrAU4

— August Ames (@AugustAmesxxx) December 3, 2017

She went on to explain further. 

How am I homophobic if I myself am attracted to women? Not wanting to have *** with gay men is not homophobic; they don't want to have *** with me eitherð so byeeeee

— August Ames (@AugustAmesxxx) December 3, 2017

She continued to fight off the trolls saying she was just stating her opinion. 

Sorry, it was just my opinion. My body, my rules. Honestly I'm sorry if I offended anyone.

— August Ames (@AugustAmesxxx) December 4, 2017

I'll keep my opinion in my head next time and be fakeðð½ https://t.co/wRRB33DneD

— August Ames (@AugustAmesxxx) December 4, 2017

As the harassment kept going on, other people also jumped to her rescue. 

Honestly anyone who got butthurt over this was just trying to look cool in front of peers. MOST performers don't work with crossovers, it's not new, & it's not rude OR offensive to protect yourself & others NOR is it bad to choose who you want to ****. Your body your choiceð¤ð¼

— ðð®NoelleEastonðð® (@NoelleEaston) December 4, 2017

That one initial tweet blew up so much, and she knew how much damage it had caused. 

My night: pic.twitter.com/GiGbWcVXun

— August Ames (@AugustAmesxxx) December 4, 2017

She kept explaining. 

“Choose who YOU want to work with”
“Don't do anything that makes you feel uncomfortable”
“Share your thoughts”

Hmm. Well, I did all three, and twitter took a dump on með¤·ð½âï¸

— August Ames (@AugustAmesxxx) December 4, 2017

And she knew she was just feeding the trolls by giving them attention. 

I fed them

— August Ames (@AugustAmesxxx) December 4, 2017

The whole Twitter drama had reached another level, and she was also regretting voicing her opinions. 

Everything has been blown out of proportion. That is very offensive to say “aids infected dick” not cool. I'm not homophobic. I should have just stayed in beeeddddd todaaayyyyyyyy and not tweeted at all.

— August Ames (@AugustAmesxxx) December 4, 2017

And, her last and final tweet after the whole drama was: 

**** y'all

— August Ames (@AugustAmesxxx) December 5, 2017

A lot of figures in the porn industry were deeply shocked by the news of Ames' death, and a lot of them tweeted their condolences. 

Her fellow porn star Abella Danger tweeted: “She was the most kind-hearted person ever.” Producer/director Jules Jordan added: “Rest In Peace to August Ames, one of the best, nicest people I ever knew in the business.”

A post shared by August Ames (@msmaplefever) on Nov 22, 2017 at 11:51pm PST

Even though nothing is clear, a lot of people are implying that this recent Twitter controversy may have played a big role in her suicide. Fellow porn star and a friend of Ames, Annika Albrite tweeted, “Omg, I can't believe she's dead. You people should have known better than to berate her over her personal thoughts! Shame on all you for beating it into the ground. Online harassment is a real thing & it claimed another life. Someone who I liked & would have even called a friend!”

A post shared by August Ames (@msmaplefever) on Nov 18, 2017 at 6:37pm PST

Brazzers, a porn production based in Montreal in Canada, also paid tribute to her and chose to postpone a previously planned Ames scene.

“In light of today's tragic news Brazzers has decided to postpone the release of tonight's scheduled August Ames scene,” it said. "The scene will be posted at a more appropriate time, as we come to terms with this devastating loss. Thank you for your understanding.”