She’d met him only twice, in passing.

Just a few quick conversations that didn’t last more than a minute.

Still, when a downtrodden Kira Noir tweeted that she “needed some cuddles” on a lonely night at the 2024 AVN convention, it wasn’t long before Apollo Moon was knocking on her hotel room door.

“He came inside and just held me,” Noir said. “He talked to me and made me feel so much better. Apollo had such a beautiful, open heart.”

The rest of the adult community knew it, too, which explains why so many performers, directors and industry types were devastated Monday after news of Moon’s death circulated throughout Porn Valley.

According to multiple social media posts from family members and friends, Moon was rushed to the hospital the day before Thanksgiving, admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), and placed on life support. He was declared brain-dead on Sunday.

“This feels like a bad dream,” performer Zariah Aura said. “I’m completely heartbroken for my family and my community. This is a huge loss for us all.”

Moon, who made his adult debut in 2022, was widely regarded as one of the industry’s top trans masculine talents. Just two months ago, he became the first FTM performer to appear on Brazzers, as he dazzled in a group scene alongside Noir, Xander Corvus, and Queenie Sateen in Noir’s AVN-nominated showcase “Kira on Display.”

“We are devastated to learn of Apollo’s passing,” a Brazzers rep said in an email to PornCrush. “Apollo’s passion touched so many in this industry and beyond. Our thoughts are with Apollo’s family and loved ones during this difficult time.”

As renowned as he was as a performer, Moon made his biggest impact on the industry through acts of kindness and by fearlessly advocating for trans rights and inclusivity.

“He didn’t ask for respect—he demanded it for all of us,” Aura said. “He made sure to talk about it any chance he could. In public, on TikTok, on his Twitter … he didn’t hold back. He didn’t care if it angered anyone or caused controversy. His advocacy was his body, his energy, his love. He wanted to make sure that every trans person got the love they deserved.

“Apollo wanted a trans revolution—and he’s going to get it.”

Kristel Penn, the executive producer of the Trans Erotica Awards, said Moon’s passion for his community was glaring.

“The things he thought that weren’t OK in our industry, whether it was inequality or prejudice or mistreatment … he was very outspoken about it,” Penn said. "He didn’t dilute his message. He didn’t kowtow. He said things that needed to be said. It was hard not to respect that.

“In the trans masc community there’s a feeling of ‘We’re in this together and we rise up together. No one is left behind.’ That’s something that’s unique to that community, and he was at the forefront.”

When he wasn’t shooting content, one of Moon’s biggest passions was going to the gym. He transformed his appearance in recent years and took pride in his chiseled frame.

“He worked so much on his body,” Aura said. “He wanted to set an example to the boys who looked up to him. He was changing his body and molding it into the way he wanted it to look. It was a beautiful thing to see. He used the gym for his meditation. It was spiritual for him, it was his zen.”

Moon also cherished his time outdoors, often going on hikes and other outings with industry friends. Performer Ember Fiera said one of her favorite moments with Moon occurred during a trip to the beach earlier this year.

“We smoked some weed and built a big sandcastle as the sun set,” she said. “We talked about the world and about running away from everything and living in the mountains. He had the best laugh.”

Aura said Moon was one of the first people to congratulate her three years ago after she and fellow performer Nicky Zeal officially became boyfriend/girlfriend.

“We were at the Piranha Nightclub in Vegas,” she said. “He walked up to us, and in this very loud voice, he said, ‘Sup trannies!’ He had this charming accent. I can’t do it justice trying to imitate it. He didn’t care what anyone thought. He was passionately trans and visible for his community.

“He loved hard and made you feel safe. He was like a big brother to all of us. He was there when you needed him to help with anything you were struggling with.”

Aura felt that more than ever following the death of a loved one in early November. She said Moon was the first to text her to ensure she was OK. The gesture was particularly moving to Aura, because she knew the message came during a time when Moon was struggling, too.

“We all noticed he wasn’t doing well,” she said. “That’s the hardest part for a lot of us. We all kinda knew something was going on, but he wouldn’t really talk about it. I had just worked with him at the end of September, and I could see in his eyes that there was a difference in him. He needed something more and he didn’t get it. I’ll forever have to live with that.”

Fiera echoed that sentiment, noting that she sensed Moon may be experiencing personal issues because of some of his recent posts on TikTok.

“It’s so much easier to see now in retrospect,” Fiera, who recently moved to Germany, said. “I feel bad. I wish I would’ve reached out.”

Noir saw Moon for the final time last week when he visited her home. The two friends talked late into the night about Moon’s plans to step away from mainstream shoots so he could turn his attention to self-produced content. They also chatted about working out—he recommended a new gym—and Noir tried to convince him to get a dog.

Eventually, the conversation shifted to the personal battles that Moon was fighting, and Noir told him about some of her struggles, too.

“He was a true friend,” she said. “He was the kind of person who was just fine with being a shoulder to cry on. We talked about hanging out more and the plans that we had for the rest of the year.”

Moon slept in Noir’s guest room that night and left the following morning.

“I’ll always remember the last time we hugged,” she said. “We told each other to take care of ourselves.”

Noir paused.

“I’m trying not to fall into a pit of despair,” she said softly. “I’m trying not to shut down because I know that’s not what he would want. But it’s so hard. He was such a good person. This doesn’t seem real.

“I can’t believe he’s gone.”