Reid's entry into the adult film industry was marked by her debut in the film "The Riley Reid Project" in 2016. Her early work gained her recognition, and she started to build a substantial following on social media. Her popularity soared with her appearance in the film "Erotica" and her collaboration with various adult film production companies.
When a leaked, poorly-lit rival clip tried to copy the format with the title “Copied the Ride,” Riley responded not with anger, but with a 30-second stitch video: she sipped tea, adjusted her glasses, and said, “Imitation is flattery, but honey… you forgot the hip drive.” She then dropped a free 4K tutorial on “pelvic floor mechanics.” It got 12 million views.