aka Kyle Bradford

Kyle Bradford, also known as Chad Slater or Phil Notaro, was a luminary in the gay adult film industry during the mid-1990s to mid-2000s. 

During his brief but noteworthy career he stood out from the rest by combining his angelic good looks, his skill as a wrestler, cocky demeanor, and his natural flair for sadistic domination and appeared in a number of erotic BDSM and gay submission wrestling videos. His controversial career was overshadowed by a high-profile legal battle with actor Tom Cruise. Below is a detailed exploration of his life and career, based on available information, with the caveat that much of what is known comes from tabloid sources, legal documents, and limited online records, as Slater largely vanished from public view after 2001.

Early Life and Background

• Limited Information: Very little is documented about Chad Slater’s early life. His real name is believed to be Phil Notaro, with "Chad Slater" and "Kyle Bradford" serving as stage names in the adult industry. No verifiable details exist about his birthplace, family, or education.
• Entry into Adult Industry: Slater entered the gay adult film industry in the mid-1990s, a period when the industry was transitioning from VHS to digital formats and gaining broader visibility. He adopted the persona of Kyle Bradford, a name used in his film credits and promotional materials.

Career in Adult Film and Wrestling

• Adult Film Work: As Kyle Bradford, Slater appeared in several gay adult films during the late 1990s. His roles typically capitalized on his athletic build and boy-next-door appeal, common archetypes in the genre. Specific titles are sparsely documented, but he worked with studios typical of the era, such as Falcon or Catalina, though exact credits are hard to confirm due to the industry’s lack of centralized records and Slater’s later obscurity.
• Erotic Wrestling Persona: Slater also performed as an erotic wrestler, a niche within the gay adult industry that combined athletic performance with sexualized content. He appeared in wrestling-themed adult videos and live events, often under the Kyle Bradford moniker. His wrestling persona was promoted on websites like kylebradford.com (now defunct), which featured photos, videos, and booking information for private events.
• Public Persona: Slater cultivated a modest following in the gay adult entertainment scene, leveraging his physicality and charisma. However, he was not a top-tier star like some contemporaries, and his career remained relatively low-profile until the Tom Cruise controversy.

The Tom Cruise Controversy (2001)

• Allegations: In May 2001, Slater gave an interview to the French tabloid magazine Actustar, claiming he had a romantic and sexual relationship with Tom Cruise. He alleged that this affair began during the filming of Eyes Wide Shut (1999) and contributed to Cruise’s divorce from Nicole Kidman, finalized in February 2001. Slater claimed to have been Cruise’s personal trainer and that their relationship was an open secret in Hollywood.
• Media Frenzy: The story exploded in tabloid media, fueling speculation about Cruise’s sexuality, a recurring topic in gossip columns. The allegations were particularly sensational given Cruise’s status as a global superstar and his carefully curated public image as a heterosexual leading man.
• Cruise’s Response: Tom Cruise swiftly denied the claims and filed a $100 million defamation lawsuit against Slater in June 2001. Cruise’s legal team argued that the allegations were fabricated and damaging to his reputation, career, and personal life. The lawsuit also targeted Actustar and its distributors.
• Slater’s Retraction: Under legal pressure, Slater admitted the claims were false. In a statement, he conceded he had never met Cruise, had no evidence of an affair, and fabricated the story for publicity and financial gain. The court ruled in Cruise’s favor, ordering Slater to pay $10 million in damages. However, reports suggest Slater lacked the resources to pay, as he was not a wealthy individual, and it’s unclear if Cruise pursued collection.
• Impact on Cruise: The lawsuit reinforced Cruise’s reputation for aggressively countering rumors about his personal life. It also highlighted the legal risks faced by individuals making unverified claims against high-profile figures.

Aftermath and Disappearance

• Career Collapse: The lawsuit effectively ended Slater’s career in adult entertainment. His websites, including kylebradford.com, were taken offline, and he ceased appearing in films or public events. The stigma of the lawsuit, combined with the adult industry’s competitive nature, likely made it untenable for him to continue.
• Name Change and Obscurity: Reports indicate Slater changed his name (possibly reverting to Phil Notaro or adopting a new identity) and left the public eye. By the mid-2000s, he had vanished from the adult industry and media altogether. No credible updates on his whereabouts or activities have surfaced since, leading to speculation that he sought a private life to escape the fallout.
• Industry Context: Slater’s exit coincided with broader changes in the adult industry, including the rise of internet piracy and the decline of traditional studio-driven content. His absence was not widely noted, as he was not a major star, but the Cruise scandal remains a footnote in discussions of celebrity gossip and defamation law.

Personal Life

• Relationships: Little is known about Slater’s personal relationships. Some sources mention a partner or manager who may have encouraged the Actustar interview, but these claims are unverified. His sexual orientation, as portrayed in his adult work, was gay, but no details exist about his private life.
• Motivations: The decision to fabricate the Cruise story is often attributed to a desire for fame and financial gain. Tabloids and adult industry insiders suggested Slater was struggling to break through as a star and saw the scandal as a way to gain attention. However, this backfired spectacularly.

Legacy and Cultural Impact

• Tabloid Culture: Slater’s story is a case study in early 2000s tabloid sensationalism, where unverified claims could spark global headlines. It also underscores the power dynamics between celebrities and lesser-known figures, with Cruise’s legal victory highlighting the resources available to high-profile stars.
• LGBTQ+ Context: The scandal occurred during a period when rumors about celebrities’ sexuality were often weaponized in media. Slater’s claims, while false, fed into broader cultural debates about outing, privacy, and homophobia in Hollywood. Some viewed Cruise’s aggressive response as an attempt to suppress speculation about his orientation, though this remains speculative.
• Legal Precedent: The lawsuit set a precedent for defamation cases involving public figures, demonstrating that false claims, even in tabloid media, could lead to significant legal consequences.

Challenges in Researching Slater

• Sparse Records: The adult industry’s lack of formal documentation makes it difficult to verify Slater’s filmography or career milestones. Many of his films are out of circulation, and his online presence was erased post-2001.
• Tabloid Bias: Much of the information about Slater comes from sensationalist sources, which may exaggerate or distort details. His retraction of the Cruise claims further complicates efforts to separate fact from fiction.
• Current Status: As of 2025, no credible information confirms whether Slater is alive, deceased, or living under a new identity. His disappearance suggests a deliberate effort to avoid further scrutiny.

Conclusion

Chad Slater’s career as Kyle Bradford was a brief and modestly successful stint in the gay adult film and wrestling scene, defined more by controversy than by his contributions to the industry. The 2001 Tom Cruise scandal, driven by false claims, derailed his career and left him as a cautionary tale about the risks of seeking fame through defamation. His subsequent disappearance reflects the personal toll of the incident and the challenges of navigating life after such a public misstep.