Dakota Skye, an adult film star who appeared in more than 300 pornographic videos from 2013 to 2019, was found dead inside a Los Angeles motorhome last week, according to reports.
Skye, whose real name was Lauren Kaye Scott, was 27.
Skye’s husband discovered her body June 9, several reports said. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office has not yet determined a cause of death.
There was no immediate indication of foul play, although the coroner who performed the autopsy deferred reaching a conclusion pending “further investigation.”
It was unclear whether Skye had been living with her husband, who was not identified in reports. Authorities listed the woman as “homeless,” and relatives maintained the couple was estranged.
Scott was born April 17, 1994, in Tampa, Florida. By all accounts she grew up in an abusive family environment and struggled throughout adulthood with alcoholism and an addiction to fentanyl, reports said.
“Lauren was a product of a highly dysfunctional family involving drugs, alcohol, physical, emotional, verbal and sexual abuse,” said her aunt, Linda Arden, in an interview with The Sun.
More recently she was tormented by the loss of several close relatives, including two grandparents who reportedly died of COVID-19 within the last year, and her mother who died nearly two years ago, Arden said.
“She was stalked by demons like no one will ever understand unless you’ve lived it,” Arden said.
The blond sex worker stirred controversy last month after photographing herself topless in front of a George Floyd memorial in Santa Barbara, California, and then posting the racy snapshot on social media. After a backlash from her followers, she defended the stunt, saying “No human being should die getting arrested;” but at some point after the fallout she deleted her Instagram page.
She also performed under the name “Kota Sky” and was nominated for Best New Starlet in 2015 at the AVN Awards. She remained semi-active until last year, according to the Internet Adult Film Database.
She remains one of the most popular names searched on the adult entertainment website Pornhub.
R.I.P. Lauren Kaye SCOTT (17 Apr. 1994 – 9 Jun. 2021), known professionally as Dakota Skye, American adult movie actress. 🇺🇸
— In__Memoriam (@In___Memoriam) June 11, 2021
She appeared in almost 300 films. She was nominated for AVN's Best New Starlet award in 2015.@dakota_skyexxx pic.twitter.com/LWamI7BLnC
Thousands of tributes to the late actor poured in on social media.
One of the very few non-adult videos of Dakota Skye @dakota_skyexxx before she passed. I was so intrigued by her and wish I had more time with her. She was a sweet person and very shy. She will be missed. #RIP @galaxypub pic.twitter.com/ct8T9bpl5i
— Kittens Magazine (@wildsidekittens) June 12, 2021
We didn't know Dakota Skye, but from everything we've heard, she was a sweet soul.
— Hollywood Horror Museum (@horrormuseum) June 11, 2021
She was the victim of online abuse and bullying.
How many more people have to die before people realize that "Online Bullying" can lead to someone's death?https://t.co/pHEcdSNCFu
Those who knew her in the industry expressed shock and sadness.
“Dakota was a dear friend and part of our industry family, and we are saddened by her loss,” said porn industry insider James Bartholet in an interview with AVN Magazine. “She still had so much more to give to the world and to the industry, and I’m just very saddened and at a loss for words ... We wish all the best to her family, and we hope people respect their privacy and please remember her in a good way.”
Skye’s death comes more than three years after the December 2017 death of August Ames, another pornographic actor who died by suicide after friends said she was cyberbullied.
A GoFundMe page has raised more than $10,000 so far to cover funeral arrangements.
