Subscription service OnlyFans' decision to ban sexually explicit content effective October 1 — and its abrupt reversal last week — elicited strong reactions in the LGBTQ and sex work communities.
OnlyFans, based in the United Kingdom and launched five years ago, allows content creators to earn money from subscribers. It became a beacon for the sex worker community, particularly during the era of physical distancing brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.
At the end of 2020, OnlyFans boasted 85 million registered users and paid out over $2 billion, according to The Guardian. That is, until August 19, when the company announced a ban on sexually explicit content.