'Retired' porn star reads to elementary school children

Many parents were shocked and angered after one of the celebrities who read to a group of elementary school children in Compton, California as part of the "Read Across America" program was a former porn star. Retired porn star Sasha Grey tweeted about her experience with what she called the "sweetest" first- and third-grade pupils at Emerson Elementary. "Spent the am with Read Across America Compton, reading to the sweetest 1st & 3rd grade students @ Emerson Elementary!" she said in posts on her Twitter account . Grey, 23, maintained she was proud to have participated in the "Read Across America" program at Emerson Elementary School. She said she read “Dog Breath" by Dav Pilkey to the "sweetest 1st and 3rd grade children." In past years, Grey has been making a switch to mainstream acting. She played herself in a guest appearance on "Entourage." She also had a role in the movie "The Girlfriend Experience," TMZ reported. But TMZ.com reported some angry parents scored the school decision and complained to the parent-teacher association, which then contacted the principal. TMZ.com reported a representative for the school district denied Grey had even read at the school. "We have several celebrities who read to our students each year," TMZ quoted a school representative as saying. "The actress you indicated was not present." But Grey pointed out "Read Across America" is a program designed to promote literacy and instill a lifelong love of reading in elementary school students, she said promoting education is an effort "that is close to my heart." "I committed to this program with the understanding that people would have their own opinions about what I have done, who I am and what I represent. I am an actor. I am an artist. I am a daughter. I am a sister. I am a partner. I have a past that some people may not agree with, but it does not define who I am. I will not live in fear of it," she said on her Facebook and Twitter accounts. Besides, she said to challenge non-profit education programs is an exercise in futility, counter-productive and anti-educational. She thanked her fans and “Read Across America" enough for supporting her decision. "Your support and kind words continue to inspire me. I believe in the future of our children, and I will remain an active supporter and participant in education-focused initiatives," she said. -- GMA News