Eagles WR A.J. Brown on Porn: "It desensitizes your brain."

Key Points

• Philadelphia Eagles star wide receiver A.J. Brown shared his views on the impacts of pornography that he’s seen in fellow NFL players

• Brown said he’s seen first-hand that porn “desensitizes your brain” and affects the ways in which some view women: “you're looking at her as an object, not as a human being.”

• Scientific research backs up Brown’s desensitization statement, as higher pornography consumption is associated with greater activation in specific brain regions when exposed to sexual cues, indicating heightened sensitivity. 

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A.J. Brown has warned against the dangers of porn, cautioning teens about the impacts he’s seen in teammates and others. Brown was talking in front of a room full of teenagers at the Delaware County Juvenile Probation Offices in Pennsylvania and discussed how the lifestyles professional athletes live can lead them down dangerous paths.

"There's guys that’s in the league getting in trouble with women. They've got a fetish with women. Because when you got all that type of money, bro that stuff shows up, because now it's at your leisure. Now you can get any woman you want, you can pick and choose.”

“I truly feel like we need to sit down and talk more about, like, on some real time: Porn. And that's going to a whole other level because of what porn does to your brain. It desensitizes your brain.”

“You may think she looks good or whatever. No, you're looking at her as an object, not as a human being. But I see that shit all the time from my teammates – my teammates talk about stuff, from other players and all this other stuff – that's real.”

The Eagles star describes how the glamorous lifestyles of professional athletes and their new-found riches can at times bring out the worst in them. Brown used porn as one example of how problems deep down and the vices connected to them tend to come to the surface when individuals suddenly have money to spend, such as when they sign an NFL contract. 

Brown’s insights reflect what research around compulsive porn consumption has also shown. Studies have indicated that frequent or problematic pornography use is associated with measurable changes in brain structure, function, and connectivity, particularly in areas related to reward, self-control, and decision-making. Higher pornography consumption is associated with greater activation in specific brain regions (such as the right BA 45 part of the prefrontal cortex) when exposed to sexual cues, indicating heightened sensitivity to such stimuli. 

Brown’s conversation with the teens was part of his foundation’s work. In 2023, he launched the A.J. Brown Foundation, which has a mission to create youth-focused pathways for success that foster resilience, confidence and brighter futures. Last year, the foundation announced a scholarship program that is dedicated to empowering deserving students in their pursuit of post-secondary educational opportunities. 

Porn addiction treatment in the U.S.

Compulsive porn usage can have significant negative consequences in an individual's life, so there are specialized treatment options available for those who may need help. Birches Health offers virtual care conducted by specially certified therapists trained in treating porn addiction. Birches also helps remove the traditional barriers to treatment for porn addiction, offering support anytime, anywhere. To get started with Birches or get more information on porn addiction treatment, you can:

• Book an appointment 

• Call 833-483-3838

• Email help@bircheshealth.com