Joanna Angel attended Rutgers University and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature with a minor in Film Studies before creating the website BurningAngel, catering to the "alt porn" genre. She wrote, produced, directed, and starred in films for BurningAngel, received recognition in various publications, and was nominated for AVN Awards. Additionally, she dated fellow porn star James Deen for six years, during which she described their relationship as "violent and scary" during an appearance on The Jason Ellis Show.