Asa Akira rose to fame in the early 2010s, a period when “extreme” or “gonzo” content was mainstreaming. Known for her endless energy, verbal fearlessness, and physical endurance, Akira quickly became the go-to performer for scenes that pushed limits—double penetrations, rough anal, intense gagging, and multi-partner marathon shoots.

She’s also used the phrase to critique the industry. On her podcast Porn Stars in Depth , she interviewed a younger performer who complained of feeling “destroyed” after a bad shoot. Akira’s advice: “If you feel destroyed, you weren’t directing the scene. You were a prop. Never be a prop. ‘Destroyed’ should be what you do to the scene, not what it does to you.”