Joe Francis and his hot blonde GF can't thank Steve Hirsch enough for snatching their sex tape off the market -- in fact, Joe's GF has even sent the Vivid honcho a thank-you letter, gushing about how Steve kept her private parts ... private.

TMZ has obtained a copy of the letter Abbey Wilson sent to Hirsch. Here's the transcript:


As we reported, a sex tape featuring Wilson and the "Girls Gone Wild" honcho was being shopped to various media outlets. Francis had threatened to sue everyone and their mother over the tape, claiming it was stolen from Wilson's iPad.

When the person selling the tape went to Vivid, Hirsch did Francis a solid and purchased it (for an unknown sum). He then returned the footage to Francis and promised never to release it.

It was an especially big deal for Abbey and Francis ... because neither has ever appeared naked on the Internet (shocking, we know).

Now that's what (porn) friends are for.

The Joe Francis sex tape has been PURCHASED by a major porn company ... but the footage will never, ever, ever, ever see the light of day, TMZ has learned. 

We broke the story ... a sex tape featuring the "Girls Gone Wild" honcho and his smoking hot girlfriend was being shopped to various media outlets. Francis had threatened to sue everyone and their mother over the tape, claiming it was stolen from his GF's iPad. 

But Francis can call off his legal pit bulls (for a change) ... thanks to a HUUUUGE favor from Vivid Entertainment honcho Steve Hirsch. 

Turns out, the two porn moguls are friends (same porny circles) ... and when the person selling the tape went to Vivid, Steve decided to do Francis a solid and snatched it off the market (price: unknown). 

Hirsch then turned around and gave all of the footage to Joe, along with the promise he'd never release the tape.  

As for why the porn kings didn't involve police ... Hirsch told us, "Because of the time-sensitive nature of the situation I made a decision to expedite the process and return the movie to its original owner."

TMZ reached out to Francis ... he had no comment.

"Girls Gone Wild" founder Joe Francis is the star of a brand new hardcore sex tape ... problem is, he claims it was STOLEN from his longtime GF ... and now he's threatening legal action, TMZ has learned. 

The footage -- shot several weeks ago -- features Francis getting down and dirty with his girlfriend Abbey Wilson -- who (deservedly) won the GGW "Search for the Hottest Girl in America" contest back in 2012.  

We know ... the footage contains material from several sexual liaisons ... and it's currently being shopped to various media outlets. 

Francis tells TMZ ... he has NOTHING to do with the tape's release -- and, ironically, he's trying desperately to stop it from going public by THREATENING the person who has it. 

Joe claims the footage was ripped off of Abbey's iPad -- which was recently stolen from her bag at LAX. 

Francis' lawyer, David Houston, tells TMZ, "It is not only unfortunate, but it is a crime. As such, this office will take all necessary steps to determine who in fact has done this and who is attempting to distribute the video."

Joe's attorney says they have already contacted the authorities -- and want to deliver a strong warning to whoever has the footage: 

"When we catch you, we will see that you are prosecuted to the fullest extent of both the criminal and civil laws."

Ironic, right?

It's the closest thing to a Kardashian family sex tape you'll ever get ... a K-fam porn spoof -- and everyone from Kim to Kris ... and even Khloe are getting the XXX treatment.

TMZ has learned ... porn star Kiara Mia -- star of "Bra Busters 4" and "Shrimp Fried P****" -- is taking on the Kardashian fam in her directorial debut ... a parody of "Keeping Up with the Kardashians."

We're told there are no plans to mock Kim's infamous sex tape with Ray J in the film -- but a Ray-J-alike will make an appearance during a sex scene between not-Kim and not-Kanye.

A porn star playing a porn star -- doesn't get more meta than that.

The sale of the bikini Farrah Abraham wore for the cover of her sex tape has hit a snag ... eBay has pulled the listing down because it hasn't been washed since she wore it.

As TMZ first reported, Vivid Entertainment -- the porn studio behind the release of "Farrah Superstar: Backdoor Teen Mom" -- listed Farrah's pink crystal-encrusted two-piece with a starting bid of $500.

We're told eBay removed the listing and sent Vivid an email, saying, "Due to health and hygiene concerns our policy does not allow used clothing to be listed on the site unless the item has been washed first."

When the listing was pulled, bidding had reached a whopping $14,700!!!!!

We're told Vivid will wash the bikini and re-post the listing in a couple of days.

Breathe easy, James Deen ... Farrah Abraham is NOT PREGNANT ... not even a little bit, as far as she knows.

The "Teen Mom"-slash-porn-star pre-taped an episode of upcoming conflict resolution talk show "The Test," where producers convinced her to take one -- and it was NEGATIVE. (Trust us, that's a POSITIVE).

TMZ broke the story ... Abraham said she missed her period after making her porno with Deen. She was photographed while plunking down cash for an EPT at the drug store.

But Farrah told "The Test" host Kirk Fox that she never took that test (her explanation was WAY too convoluted to make any sense ... so we're going with "not enough cameras around").

We're told Farrah reacted indifferently. We can relate.

Justin Bieber could have a brand new porn-star neighbor in his ultra-exclusive L.A. community -- 'cause TMZ has learned Farrah Abraham has her eye on a $3 million pad right around the corner from the singer.

We've learned ... the star of "Back Door Teen Mom" was on the mansion hunt this weekend in The Oaks in Calabasas -- an expensive gated community home to stars like Kourtney Kardashian, Travis Barker, Romeo, Keyshawn Johnson, Shanna Moakler and others.

One of the homes that tickled Farrah's fancy was a 4,851 square feet pad with 5 bedrooms, 6 baths ... and a $3,299,900 price tag.

It's unclear if Farrah has already put down an offer ... but with the 6-figures she made from the tape, she could definitely afford the down payment.

The monthly mortgage payments, on the other hand ... let's just say she might need to re-open the back door if she plans on staying here a while.

Rocky's boxing gloves ... Dorothy's ruby slippers ... Indiana Jones' bullwhip ... the bikini Farrah Abraham wore on the cover of her sex tape -- one of these pieces of cinema history CAN BE YOURS!!! --- take a guess which.

Vivid Entertainment -- the porn studio behind the release of "Farrah Superstar: Backdoor Teen Mom" -- listed Farrah's pink crystal-encrusted two-piece on eBay at midnight ... and bids started at $500.

It's pretty hilarious ... the listing advertises the Poolside Collection bikini as "used" -- we're told that means exactly what you think it means: the bikini wasn't washed since Farrah wore it.  Think Monica Lewinsky and The Gap.

In fact, we're told the bikini shows overt signs of wear, including fake tan stains and glitter from Farrah's body lotion.

As the listing goes ... "Farrah's bikini ... straight off Farrah's body and into your hands."

As if your hands won't already be busy enough.

Newly minted porn star Farrah Abraham is so worried James Deen knocked her up while filming their infamous sex tape ... she peed on a stick.

Sources close to Farrah tell TMZ ... the former "Teen Mom" star hadn't had sex in more than a year before James got her ... and the duo didn't wear condoms while filming ... and Farrah wasn't on birth control. Basically all the makings for an after school special.

We're told Farrah recently missed her period and started freaking out, thinking she was growing a little porn spawn.  So she went shopping for a pregnancy test at her local pharmacy.

We're going to go to out on a limb that she's NOT pregnant ... for 2 reasons.

1.  We've seen the tape, and you don't get pregnant THAT way.

2. It's not that James' parting gift went IN her as much as ON her.

"Sex in the Lounge" singer Bobby V doesn't limit himself to lounges ... he does the nasty in all kinds of rooms ... as evidenced by a new sex tape claiming to feature the R&B singer being shopped to the highest bidder.

The XXX vid -- which we've seen -- is several glorious minutes of Bobby doing his best impersonation of Ray J ... i.e. getting it on inside a hotel room while filming himself at the same time.

Specifically, Bobby and the naked chick -- who we're told is a video vixen -- kick things off with some very specific touching ... before diving in to the full on sex-having.

The seller is clearly looking to make a buck off the sale and it's unclear if Bobby is aware the steamy vid is being shopped. We reached out to him, but no word back.

Now here he is with his clothes on.

Bad news: Tanning Mom Patricia Krentcil is going to be in porn.
Good news: She won't be having sex with anyone.

Sources close to the SPF -5 mom tell TMZ ... Krentcil first offered up her services to Vivid Entertainment, but they wisely passed. But Lucas Entertainment, a company that produces a series of gay porn called "Kings of New York," became interested ... and cast Krentcil in their latest episode. 

According to our sources, the role is just a cameo and Krentcil will be paid $1,000 for just a few hours work. Most importantly, we're told Krentcil will be fully clothed for the shoot and there is NO sex involved.

Whew, that was close.