Susanna Gibson, a Democrat and former amateur adult film star, was arrested last week on charges related to domestic violence. This incident marks another twist in the tumultuous chapter of her recent political aspirations.
In 2023, Gibson’s bid for a seat in the Virginia House of Delegates ended narrowly in defeat against Republican David Owen, a race marred by scandal stemming from her online activities.
Gibson generated significant controversy during her campaign, particularly due to her candidacy coinciding with the exposure of her online sex acts with her husband, packaged under the moniker “HotWifeExperience,” where she was known to solicit monetary tips from viewers.
The 40-something nurse practitioner actively encouraged audience participation, reportedly allowing her followers to pay “tokens” to view intimate moments, including urination. Such explicit content certainly didn’t help her public relations strategy, resulting in a dismal approval rating: Gibson’s favorability was reported at a striking -18.
It’s worth noting that Virginia Democrat Susanna Gibson had previously boasted about coercing unsuspecting hotel staff into her videos, and even permitting drug use off her body, while proactively requesting financial contributions for her more risqué displays.
One can hardly be surprised at the results:
Gibson fav/unfav: -18… https://t.co/Wt0inaSQAM
— Steve Guest (@SteveGuest) September 27, 2023
Following her electoral loss, Gibson vocally criticized the Republican establishment, claiming her personal life was derailed after a damaging article emerged on September 11. She alleged that her past videos, obtained by Republican operatives and disseminated to various media outlets, had significantly influenced her campaign’s outcome.
In the backdrop, Gibson’s personal life has unraveled, as she filed for divorce from her husband, John Gibson, last year. On September 22, she was arrested for “assault and battery – family member,” but claims her estranged spouse has been the aggressor.
John Gibson counters that he has never physically harmed her, creating a conflicting narrative surrounding the encounter that led to her arrest.
The New York Post reported on the situation, noting:
An ex-candidate for the Virginia state legislature, whose scandalous online videos ignited a media frenzy, was taken into custody on domestic violence charges. Yet, Susanna Gibson Payne insists the situation is more nuanced than reported.
Payne was arrested in Henrico County on September 22 for “assault and battery – family member,” subsequently released after surrendering to authorities. She maintains that her lawyer husband has tormented her since she initiated divorce proceedings and asserts he was the one who exhibited aggression during a dispute back in June.
“After my estranged husband, arrested three times since I filed for divorce, assaulted me during a June 2025 custody exchange while I protected our son, he filed a retaliatory criminal complaint against me,” Payne elaborated, adding, “More than three months later, police issued a misdemeanor warrant for my arrest, which I addressed immediately.”
Her husband rejected her claims, reiterating that he has never physically assaulted her.
Ex Virginia candidate Susanna Gibson, who made online sex vids, arrested for domestic violence https://t.co/sCGb1PvSpO pic.twitter.com/AnAZVfGeWp
— New York Post (@nypost) October 1, 2025
