2022 saw a number of celebrities join the adult entertainment platform OnlyFans. That included Sami Sheen — daughter of Charlie Sheen and Denise Richards – who opted to drop out of high school and opted to promote her career via the adult website. She was actually joined by her mom, who signed up just a week later.
Other celebrities who joined OnlyFans last year include Carmen Electra and Tommy Lee; while Bella Thorne, Chris Brown, and Cardi B also have accounts. These celebrities aren’t posting content that could be considered especially risqué, and in many cases is less than what celebrities used to show when posing for Playboy. And unlike stripping down for the magazine for men, which typically provided a one-time payment, those celebrities on OnlyFans can see this as a potentially lucrative revenue stream.
PageSix.com reported that former Disney star Bella Thorne, who “broke” the platform when she joined in August 2020, earned $1 million after just 24 hours on OnlyFans with “safe for work” content.
It is easy to see why others are signing up.
“OnlyFans is a natural platform for B-list celebrities,” suggested Monica Koyama, associate communications professor at USC’s Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism, and a former vice president of creative services at FX Networks.
“It’s just another way to reach a new demo of fans and cash in, so it feels like a win-win for these celebrities,” said Koyama. “Time will tell whether OnlyFans can shake its brand reputation. If Playboy is the model, it moved from a racy magazine to a lifestyle brand – and became a coveted cover opportunity for celebrities.”
Less Explicit Content
If there is a complaint among users of OnlyFans, it is that some expect to see a bit more of the celebrities. The question is whether those subscribers will actually stick around and pay for content that likely can be readily found on mainstream outlets such as PageSix.com.
Yet, in the short term it seems like OnlyFans could be the place for these lower-tier celebrities to cash in.
“We’re coming into new times in social media – as the market segments across platforms with those shifting from Facebook to Instagram and Pinterest – or those searching for a Twitter alternative,” explained Susan Schreiner, technology analyst at C4 Trends.
“Other types of performance platforms are on the rise,” added Schreiner. “Young bands and performers are actively seeking new ways to connect and reach their audiences – for enhanced loyalty and monetization.”
In many ways, the pandemic was a catalyst for change, particularly for those in the creative community that needed to continue to earn a living when the world stopped and people were under lockdown.
“Direct income for performers and artists disappeared as bars, performance venues, and the like were closed,” added Schreiner. “Enter OnlyFans, which has the potential for being a new type of social media entertainment platform. I say potential because its initial roots were as a site for sexually explicit content.”
However, just as some said they read Playboy for the articles, there are those who are turning to see what OnlyFans offers beyond explicit photos.
“It’s been spreading its wings enabling celebrities to showcase their content across creative genres –from chefs, fitness experts to musicians and artists such as Beyoncé,” Schreiner noted. “The allure of OnlyFans is multi-fold. For starters, it is operational, functional, scalable and now proven, with testimonials about income earned.”
There is still the risk that being on the adult-only platform could still hurt rather than help some careers. The platform is widely known for its graphic images, yet, as more celebrities turn to the platform for a steady stream of revenue, the perception could change. In fact, OnlyFans could become a lifestyle site thanks to the proliferation of the celebrities. That may not be good for those who did earn their income by stripping down, but more users will only be good for the brand.
“The way OnlyFans has crafted its ‘club-like’ monthly subscription model drives interest and enhances the value of the content because of its ‘exclusivity’ and/or first ones to see and/or hear,” said Schreiner. “This type of model is certainly designed to encourage usage, repeat business, and also viral spread among friends and associates.”