April 2, 2014 | Sex & Society

Battle of the (not really) virgin artists

Last October, art school student Clayton Pettet (pictured, left) announced that he was going to lose his virginity to another man, in front of an audience, as a piece of performance art. His work, called Art School Stole My Virginity, is planned for this week.

Then last month, a second young artist came out of the woodwork and claimed to have inspired Pettet's project. John Bingham said he met Pettet a few years earlier and had suggested doing a similar piece. He then announced that he would actually follow through on the idea in a piece called Art School Stole My Sexuality. In it, he would be penetrated by both a male and female partner, in front of an audience. (He planned to have his parents in the audience. Ick!)

Bingham has now pulled out of his project, claiming the “outrageous, pornographic and self-abusive performance” would not benefit his career as an artist. 

He also took a shot as his rival, Pettet. "It's porn, it's not art, he's abusing himself and making a fool of himself at the same time," Bingham said. "I won’t be attending or buying any of his paintings."

It gets better. Bingham then claimed that Pettet's performance would be a lie because the two had sex a few weeks ago, alleging that Pettet is no longer a virgin. Meow!

Pettet has not responded to Bingham's comments. He's probably too busy anal douching.