A sex tape featuring the late transgender rights activist Alexis Arquette has been sold to a porn company for $25,000.

The tape, part of which has been seen by DailyMail.com and which shows the actress in a compromising position, has now been destroyed.

Arquette, who was 47, died from AIDS-related complications in the early hours of Sunday morning in a Los Angeles hospital.

But less than 24 hours later, a former lover began hawking the tape – which is thought to have been made around two years ago – in a bid to cash in on her death.

Online porn site xHamster.com paid the five-figure sum for the video late on Monday but told DailyMail.com on Tuesday that every copy of the tape has now been obliterated.

Speaking exclusively to DailyMail.com, xHamster spokesman Alex Hawkins said the company acted to stop the man from 'smearing her memory'.

Arquette, who was 47, died from AIDS-related complications in the early hours of Sunday morning in a Los Angeles hospital. A sex tape hawked by an ex-lover less than 24 hours later has been bought by a porn site which subsequently destroyed it

Arquette had reportedly been living as a man in the final months, a former boyfriend earlier revealed

'Ms. Arquette was an icon and activist in the trans community and we could not see someone smear her memory the way the selling party was trying to do,' he said.

'We acquired the tape and subsequently destroyed all copies of it.

'We hope people will remember Ms. Arquette for the activist that she was and that her memory will continue to live on.'

Few details can be released about the seller, apart from the fact he is male, due to a legal agreement signed by the porn company.

Arquette, who died surrounded by her loved ones on Sunday morning, was born Robert in July 1969 but transitioned in 2006 – becoming one of the world's most famous transgender women.

After transitioning, she became a high profile campaigner for LGBTQ rights but remains best known for her acting career, which included roles in Pulp Fiction and The Wedding Singer.

Arquette, who died surrounded by her loved ones on Sunday morning, was born Robert in July 1969. But she transitioned in 2006 – becoming one of the world's most famous transgender women

The 47-year-old is thought to have been in a coma in the four days leading up to her death and passed away to the sound of David Bowie's Starman.

News of her death was broken by her brother Richmond on social media, who took to Facebook to pay tribute to the late actress.

He wrote: 'I am feeling immense gratitude to have been afforded the luxury of sharing life with him/her, for learning from Alexis, for being given the gift of being able to love him/her.

'Thank you, Alexis, I love you and will love you always.'

The following day, a former boyfriend, Robert Dupont, 47, revealed that the actress had died of complications related to AIDS – and claimed she had begun living as a man again just before her death.

'Alexis was living with AIDS and he had an inoperable tumor and he had developed an infection. I was told that went to his liver and throughout his body,' Dupont told Radar Online.

'My twin brother Richard and I had lunch with him in Santa Monica less than a month ago,' Arquette's former boyfriend continued.

'Ms. Arquette was an icon and activist in the trans community and we could not see someone smear her memory the way the selling party was trying to do,' a spokesman for xHamster said

'Alexis had changed over and was living as a man again and he asked me if I had any clothes I didn't want that he could wear. I had only a few things I had with me as I was visiting from Palm Springs.'

He also revealed that Arquette had spent his final months living in an Actor's Fund home for people with HIV but 'hated it'.

'He was working as an artist and living in an Actors Fund home in West Hollywood for people with HIV and AIDS. He hated it,' said Dupont.

'People kept breaking into his apartment and they did alcohol and drugs. Alexis hated that. He never did drugs and he didn't drink.'

Meanwhile, tributes to the late star have flooded in – including from Arquette's former sister-in-law Courtney Cox, 52.

The ex-Friends actress, who was married to Arquette's brother David between 1999 and 2003, wrote on social media that she would 'love and miss you forever'.

David Arquette was spotted attending a funeral home on Monday following the death of his sibling

Speaking on Sunday, she continued: 'My heart goes out to anyone who was lucky enough to know Alexis. We will love and miss you forever.'

Other stars to pay tribute to the late actress included Roseanne Barr and Boy George, both of whom said she would be missed.

'Alexis was a one-of-a-kind genius, who appeared on my sitcom and on the Roseanne talk show,' Barr told People magazine.

'Alexis was a brilliant and hilarious talent and will be deeply missed. My sincerest sympathy to the Arquette family and to all the fans who loved and admired Alexis.'

Boy George added on Twitter: 'R.I.P my sister Alexis Arquette. Another bright light gone out far too soon. Love to the family and all that loved Alexis.'