A former adult film actress, once celebrated as a leading figure in the industry, is now facing permanent disability following a cardiac arrest and subsequent medical complications. The case of Emily Willis highlights the potential health risks associated with the adult entertainment industry and raises questions about standards of care in rehabilitation facilities.
Born Litzy Lara Banuelos in Argentina in 1999, Willis spent her childhood in St. George, Utah, after her mother remarried to a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She later moved to San Diego, California, where she worked in sales before entering the adult film industry in 2018 after connecting with Rubén André García on the dating app Tinder.
From Rising Star to Industry Recognition
Under the stage name Willis, she quickly became a prominent performer, appearing in numerous productions and even gracing the cover of Penthouse magazine. Over six years, she starred in more than 700 films. Her work earned her accolades, including the 2021 AVN Award for Female Performer of the Year, considered the “Oscar of pornographic cinema.”
Willis’s career extended beyond adult films. In 2022, she appeared alongside Stephen Dorff and Bella Thorne in the film Divinity, and in 2023, she featured in the music video for Slipknot’s “Hive Mind,” which received a Grammy nomination.
Early Career Controversy
The company where Willis filmed her initial scenes, GirlsDoPorn, was shut down in 2020 following a federal investigation that uncovered fraud, coercion, and sex trafficking.
Rubén André García, her early collaborator, was sentenced to 20 years in prison and ordered to pay substantial restitution. Willis stated that despite knowing she had been misled regarding the distribution of the videos, she chose to continue working in the industry.
Health Struggles and Ketamine Use
As her career progressed, Willis reportedly developed an addiction to ketamine, a medical anesthetic with potential for abuse and adverse effects, including hallucinations and loss of consciousness. Actor Matthew Perry’s death was linked to the drug’s effects.
According to her family, Willis was consuming between 5 and 6 grams of ketamine daily, leading to symptoms such as bladder inflammation, tremors, and night terrors. On January 27, 2024, she entered rehabilitation at Malibu Lighthouse Treatment Centers, weighing approximately 99 pounds at the time of admission.
Medical Emergency During Treatment
During her stay at the rehabilitation center, her family reported a continued decline in her physical condition. Court documents indicate she was disoriented, weak, and had difficulty walking. On February 4, 2024, she was found unresponsive and required 30 to 40 minutes of CPR to restore her heartbeat.
Still, the prolonged lack of oxygen resulted in significant brain damage and permanent disability. Her mother, Yesenia Lara Cooper, subsequently filed a lawsuit against the center, alleging negligence, abuse of a dependent adult, and fraudulent practices.
The clinic has denied the allegations, stating that the patient refused to follow medical recommendations.
Current Condition
According to her legal representation, Emily Willis remains bedridden under her mother’s care. She is unable to speak, though she can make sounds, has limited movement, and communicates through eye movements.
Her attorney argued that the rehabilitation center failed to recognize her need for immediate hospitalization upon admission in January 2024, when she weighed 99 pounds and was seeking treatment for anorexia. He clarified that she was not seeking treatment for ketamine use, as she had already stopped consuming the drug before entering the facility.
The trial for the lawsuit is scheduled for May 2026 in Santa Monica.
