In 2021. Riley Reid, whose real name is Ashley Matthews, tied the knot with professional freerunner Pasha Petkuns. The couple has since embraced married life and became parents in 2022. Despite the joy in their lives, their relationship has drawn attention from people who struggle to understand Petkuns’ acceptance of Reid’s former career in adult entertainment.
Petkuns recently shared his perspective on his wife’s past in an interview with Adam22 on the
No Jumper podcast. Adam22, himself a porn star who has worked with Reid, asked Petkuns how he reconciled her career with their marriage. Reflecting on the early days of their relationship, Petkuns admitted, “At first it was like, ‘Oh, like is it normal? Not normal?’”
A conversation with a friend helped Petkuns find clarity. “He said the best thing ever,” Petkuns recalled. “He’s like, ‘No matter what you’re gonna do, people [are] gonna tell you you’re stupid.’” This advice resonated deeply, and Petkuns realized the importance of focusing on his own happiness rather than external judgments.
Petkuns also shared that his family’s laid-back attitude played a significant role in his acceptance of Reid’s career. When speaking to his mother about their relationship, her only concern was whether he was happy. To prepare her for potential comments from others, Petkuns even showed her some of Reid’s work, but she was unfazed and ready to support him wholeheartedly.
Not everyone in Petkuns’ life was as understanding, however. He revealed that two of his friends expressed their disapproval and even unfollowed him on social media. Despite this, Petkuns remains unbothered. “That’s about it,” he said, indicating that the negativity hasn’t had a significant impact on his life.
Petkuns highlighted that Reid’s career wasn’t a dealbreaker for him, emphasizing, “It’s not like she’s killed anyone.” By the time they got together, Reid had already stepped away from the adult industry and was focusing on creating content for OnlyFans, exclusively featuring women.
Reid herself has been candid about the challenges of separating her work and personal life. In another
No Jumper episode, she explained the importance of using her real name, Ashley Matthews, in her personal relationships. “It’s definitely a real fact that my career will affect my kid at some point in some degree,” she said. “It is up to me as a parent to try and coach it in the most appropriate manner possible.”
