While entertainers get into the industry for varied reasons, two points of motivation are consistent. 1) Sex work provides an income even during times of instability and 2) it presents an opportunity for self-exploration and bodily autonomy. Pornographic content has historically been available to us only in the archives of Playboy or the dark corners of Pornhub. That was until, platforms like OnlyFans offered a chance to interact with sex workers more directly, granting access to a more nuanced human interaction and more varied entertainment styles. The services are diverse, and so are their creators. Customers can purchase either explicit pornographic content or modest lingerie media.
Cosplayers, polyamorous performers, solo amateurs and hardcore entertainers exist alongside each other as easily accessible thumbnails for the wandering eye. And your horny loyalty towards them could end up paying their bills during the toughest periods. Many entertainers joined OF during COVID-19 – hardcore professionals moved onto the site to maintain an income when touch wasn’t possible in-studio, and everyday people in need of insulation from shocks such as retrenchment turned to the site to begin budding amateur careers. Many have since found a home there, and now OnlyFans is one of the most popular sites for explicit content creation. In 2023, it had approximately 305 million fans, and 4.1 million creator accounts, with certain stars able to rake in millions of dollars. And yet, despite the high demand for this content, censorship and stigma remain the most effective blockade to adult entertainment.
While films like Anora rake in firm applause at the Academy Awards for their mere representation of sex services, actual porn stars are clapping back at censorship and the banning of pornography in more than a third of U.S. states. Age verification laws are attempting to protect underage viewers, and simultaneously causing major losses in viewership. In defense, pornstars like Asa Akira argue that as a mother of two, she doesn’t want her kids watching porn either – but better sex education is the better solution, and more likely to keep children from their site. At their annual pornhub event and red carpet, WIRED reported, “The stars in attendance discussed how social media censorship and Pornhub’s greatly reduced footprint are impacting their bottom lines, the pros and cons of shooting “mainstream” studio porn versus self-publishing their own videos, the struggles of online dating, and celebrating transgender porn—a category that’s been steadily rising in popularity—under a presidential administration that is openly hostile to trans bodies.”
Even with losses in Pornhub’s rebranding and (frankly much-needed) regulatory reviews, pornstars are reverting to platforms like OnlyFans to continue earning their living in a world that sexualises them anyway.
Imagery courtesy of Alamy
These regulatory controversies are not limited to the sex entertainment industry. Even in Hollywood, red carpets are being policed by nudity bans and dress codes, likely attributed to outrage caused by Bianca Censori’s nude dress. These regulations re-emphasise old-school notions of ‘decency’, ‘modesty’ and ‘morality’ (read: conservatism) that seem well-aligned with the right-wing swing under Trump. In response, stars have reigned it in, but their films still display the same progressive sexual ideals, as if making a case for more open-mindedness.
After all, film has notoriously aided the acknowledgement of desire outside of conventional bounds, and used display to facilitate discussion. Kazmierczak notes that movies like The Graduate are known for their impact on Feminist Theory, and Midnight Cowboy for its impact on LGBTQ rights movements. Just like the miniskirt serves as a recession indicator, horny media can be correlated with rising political and social turmoil. It’s no coincidence then that OF had its biggest spike in popularity during COVID-19, and films like Pilion, BabyGirl and various other milfy Nicole Kidman movies aired during some of humanity’s most volatile months. When in doubt, we turn to that which unites us all: desire.
The popularity of entertainment that edges sexuality, kink and commerce brings into question our openness, as a society, towards sex work and the people who partake. High demand indicates increased acceptance, right? Cosplayer and OF professional, Spookykins, says in an interview with us, “I think the only shift that has happened is people have become more open about these things. Overall they have always existed and always been there, now people are just a bit more willing to talk about it.” Yet, she adds, “but it has also definitely amplified the hate in some communities as well. As more people come to accept and embrace it, there are equal numbers of people who hate and reject it.”
We saw this divide in the uproar over OnlyFans models Bonnie Blue and Lily Phillips, whose attention-maxxing stunts have left the comments section overflowing with questions regarding the actresses’ mental health, agency, and impact on feminist progress. These questions reflect an obsession with the moral quandaries surrounding sex and sexuality, particularly when it affects everyday middle-class people, as it did the educated, bouncy blondes that are Philips and Blue.
In the past, we’ve been comfortable leaving sex workers embodied on-screen by the tragedy of Les Miserable’s Fantine, or the redemption of Pretty Woman’s Vivian. In such big-budget productions, where there is an incentive to moderate moral messaging, the narrative of sex work must be laid out neatly. But the widespread availability of OnlyFans content shows us that sex work motivations or meanings are not always so clear-cut. Is this why some still lash out at OF creators, because they do not fit the moulds of promiscuity, ie. fragility, brokenness or moral bankruptcy?
To be clear, coerced sex work and non-consensual pornography are very real problems. But then, why do we project this onto OF creators who choose this? Surprise surprise, they have in fact chosen their livelihoods, made good money, and lived whole, healthy experiences. As Spookykins says, among the many expectations and / or misconceptions about sex workers, “I think the biggest one I always see is just that adult entertainers must be promiscuous or have multiple sexual partners, which couldn’t be further from the truth. In fact many of the creators I know are in some of the most committed, stable and healthy relationships I’ve ever seen. I think it’s hard for people to wrap their heads around the idea that seeing pictures or videos of someone online does not equate to them being with multiple people… A digital image is not reality.” And even if that person has been with 100 people, the truth is that you still don’t know who they are or what they need. “I think everyone is very quick to jump to conclusions and assume people who use the site all create the same content, when this is not the case at all.”
Imagery courtesy of Alamy
Imagery courtesy of Spookykins
The difference between Hollywood and OnlyFans is that one is a character, the other is real. Sure, some have personas. But for many, they are simply themselves – as Spookykins says, “My online presence is very much just me in every form.” So why is it then that we are so much more comfortable applauding Hollywood for its promiscuous displays, and so disturbed by the reality of sex work for everyday people? Is it the glamour we want? Is it the glorification or the moral messaging we are drawn to? Why can’t we show the same curiosity to the living creators who provide us with a service much the same as their parallel Hollywood stars?
Obviously because anonymity and privacy remain incredibly important for most creators. Because despite the perceived access we may have to them, they still face risk in the form of cyberhate, content misuse, leaks and misrepresentation. Perhaps that’s why this piece was not easy to write either. With numerous creators declining to speak and limited resources to learn more about the industry titans who get us off, it became clear that the media, the tabloids and the audience must not be so progressive if OF creators still aren’t willing to open up. Although we may be ready to buy what they’re selling, until sex workers are offered the same protections as our beloved Hollywood darlings, it’s safe to say that we have a long way to go.
Written by Drew Haller
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