OnlyFans DROPS its porn ban after intense backlash from creators: U-turn comes one day after founder blamed banks for forcing their hand
OnlyFans today dropped plans to ban sexually explicit photographs and videos on its platform later this year in a major U-turn after an intense backlash from creators who said the move had already cost them £5,000.
The online subscription service had said last Thursday that new rules coming into effect in October would prohibit 'any content containing sexually explicit conduct', although non-sexual nudity would still be permitted.
But in a surprise move today, the London-based company reversed the decision hours after chief executive Tim Stokely claimed the change was prompted by 'unfair' banks who were concerned about 'reputational risk'. He named three banks - Metro Bank, JPMorgan Chase and Bank of New York Mellon - but none would comment today.
Some Twitter users speculated that the whole thing had been a huge publicity stunt, but OnlyFans insisted that it had 'suspended' the change having 'secured assurances necessary to support our diverse creator community'.
The platform is predominantly used by sex workers - many of whom joined during the pandemic when in-person adult venues shut - but a number of celebrities, musicians and comedians also use it for non-sexual content.
Creators receive 80 per cent commission on their earnings, while the remaining 20 per cent goes to the company, covering 'referral payments, payment processing, hosting, support, and all other services'.
University student Camilla Elle, 21, from Florida, is among those using OnlyFans and claims to make £109,000 a month from it
OnlyFans star Renee Gracie claims to have made almost $10million since joining the OnlyFans early last year
Colorado-based user Nita Marie, 45, is a Christian model who rakes in an average $1.8 million a year using OnlyFans
OnlyFans announced the U-turn in a statement on its Twitter page today, although it is not clear if the ban is permanent or temporary. It said: 'Thank you to everyone for making your voices heard.
'We have secured assurances necessary to support our diverse creator community and have suspended the planned October 1 policy change.
ANALYSIS: OnlyFans now must consider support for cryptocurrency payment
By SCARLETT WOODFORD, analyst at Juniper Research who tracks the adult entertainment industry
We were surprised to hear about OnlyFans' initial decision to ban adult content, as this genre of creators represents a lucrative revenue stream for the platform.
With content creators able to charge up to $50 for exclusive content, and accept up to $100 in individual tips, the initial decision to ban adult content was likely to have serious financial ramifications for OnlyFans.
The ability for users to pay for content on OnlyFans via traditional payment providers, such as Discover, Mastercard and Visa, will rely heavily on the attitudes of these providers towards adult content.
Given the fact that all three card providers have withdrawn support for Pornhub, it is unclear as to whether support for adult content monetisation will remain.
To maintain control over content monetisation and reduce the influence of mainstream payment providers, OnlyFans must seriously consider introducing support for cryptocurrency payments.
'OnlyFans stands for inclusion and we will continue to provide a home for all creators.'
Some users of the platform criticised the policy change when it was first announced, with some stating that they intended to look elsewhere following the announcement, while others were anxious about what the future holds.
The company said today that an 'official communication to creators will be emailed shortly', but one user, a 23-year-old who uses the name Hexx Girl, criticised the firm for the U-turn.
She said: 'I think it just shows the cracks in OnlyFans as a company, and to make things worse, they announced on Twitter and have still yet to send any communications to their users.
'It shows that all they care about is their public image and they are desperately trying to hold their company together but it's a sinking ship. I thought surely they were at least gonna stick to it. It's such a joke.'
Hexx Girl said that after the last announcement, she lost 500 subscribers, meaning her income dropped by £4,000 to £5,000 this month. Her earnings vary monthly.
'I have new accounts on new sites and will be actively encouraging all my subscribers to move,' she added.
Initially, the company said the move was being introduced due to pressure from financial partners, leading some to assume payment processors Mastercard and Visa were behind it.
However, Mr Stokely later said in an interview it was 'unfair' banks had prompted the change over concerns about 'reputational risk'.
A spokesperson for OnlyFans said: 'The proposed October 1, 2021 changes are no longer required due to banking partners' assurances that OnlyFans can support all genres of creators.'
OnlyFans had said last Thursday that it would ban explicit content from October 1, blaming policies of banks and payment processors for the policy change.
Some blamed former Disney star Bella Thorne for 'ruining' OnlyFans after she sparked controversy last year by joining the site
New York-based OnlyFans star Ona Artist previously said that it was 'suicide' for the site to ban sexually explicit content
Glamour model Jessie Jo from Warwickshire began posting nude pictures on the OnlyFans website two years ago
The company said in a message to users last week: 'The new rules are necessary to comply with the requirements of these financial institutions and are the only way to help ensure the long-term sustainability of OnlyFans.'
OnlyFans' top 10 highest earners: How celebrities like Bella Thorne and Blac Chyna rake in MILLIONS a month on the site
OnlyFans has become a hugely lucrative endeavor for many of its users - particularly celebrities like Blac Chyna, Bella Thorne, and Mia Khalifa who are among its highest-earning creators.
According to Influencer Marketing Hub, these A-listers rake in millions of dollars a month, with Blac Chyna topping the list of the site's biggest earners with an estimated monthly income of $20 million.
Here, FEMAIL reveals the site's top 10 earners - and their estimated monthly incomes:
1. Blac Chyna: $20 MILLION
2. Bella Thorne: $11 MILLION
3. Cardi B: $9.34 MILLION
4. Tyga: $7.69 MILLION
5. Mia Khalifa: $6.43 MILLION
6. Erica Mena: $4.49 MILLION
7. Pia Mia: $2.22 MILLION
8. Safaree Samuels: $1.91 MILLION
9. Megan Barton Hanson: $1.06 MILLION
10. Jem Wolfie: $900,000
Last week's abrupt change upset the site's creators, many of whom threatened to move to another website. The site has been tremendously lucrative for some people, allowing them to earn thousands every month.
Scarlett Woodford, an analyst at Juniper Research, who tracks the adult entertainment industry, told MailOnline: 'We were surprised to hear about OnlyFans' initial decision to ban adult content, as this genre of creators represents a lucrative revenue stream for the platform.
'With content creators able to charge up to $50 (£36) for exclusive content, and accept up to $100 (£72) in individual tips, the initial decision to ban adult content was likely to have serious financial ramifications for OnlyFans.
'The ability for users to pay for content on OnlyFans via traditional payment providers, such as Discover, Mastercard and Visa, will rely heavily on the attitudes of these providers towards adult content.
'Given the fact that all three card providers have withdrawn support for Pornhub, it is unclear as to whether support for adult content monetisation will remain.
'To maintain control over content monetisation and reduce the influence of mainstream payment providers, OnlyFans must seriously consider introducing support for cryptocurrency payments.'
OnlyFans says it has 130 million users and 2 million creators who have collectively earned $5billion (£3.6billion).
Lacy Lennon, who says she makes tens of thousands of dollars a month from OnlyFans charging $100 (£72) a minute for custom videos, remains sceptical on the ban reversal.
She said: 'What's scary is what's the safety on this? How do we know it won't happen again?'
There are other sites where people can pay for porn, and a crop of new ones started trying to lure upset OnlyFans creators.
Rapper Tyga was promoting his plans for a new platform called myystar in media interviews after OnlyFans announced their ban, saying, 'We're not putting a limit to any content that you do.'
'We've been in the adult industry for 20 years and we're tired of seeing sex workers get bullied and exploited by the platforms that make the money off them,' said Mattie McCoy, whose company in Nevada is also developing a site that could offer an alternative to OnlyFans for sex workers, called Naughty Popcorn.
Tim Stokely, the British entrepreneur behind the website OnlyFans, has blamed the decision last week to ban sexually explicit content was the result of pressure from banks
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Stokely said Chase, Metro Bank and Bank of New York Mellon were to blame for the change in policy, which has angered many content creators on the site
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Advocates had criticized OnlyFans' planned ban, saying they were concerned it would push people into more dangerous street-based sex work. They say taking away a safer virtual space and cutting people's income makes them more vulnerable to the risk of being trafficked.
'Not having the online outlet is going to hinder and harm a lot of people. Online is much safer, particularly for trans and gender nonconforming folks,' said LaLa Zannell, the ACLU's trans justice campaign manager who leads the rights group's effort to decriminalise sex work.
The online porn industry is changing amid concerns about sex trafficking and the exploitation of children.
Two 2018 laws, the Stop Enabling Sex Traffickers Act and the Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act, were meant to stop sex trafficking online, and led some spaces to shut down.
But many sex workers say these changes have also made their jobs more dangerous.
Elected officials had also raised concerns about OnlyFans. A bipartisan group of over 100 members of Congress called on the Justice Department to investigate OnlyFans earlier in August, saying the site was a 'major marketplace' for sexual videos with children in them.
Some Twitter users speculated that the past week had been a huge publicity stunt, but OnlyFans insisted that it had suspended the planned change having 'secured assurances necessary to support our diverse creator community'
The letter cited anti-porn group National Center on Sexual Exploitation, which has its origins in the faith-based group Morality in Media, as a source, as well as the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
Sex workers and their advocates say conservative and religious groups are trying to erase sex from the internet under the guise of combating sex trafficking and child pornography.
'The only reason they're going after porn sites is because they're ideologically opposed to sexual content,' said Cathy Reisenwitz, a writer and OnlyFans creator who makes between $1,600 (£1,166) and $3,500 (£2,550) a month on the site. 'Trafficking and porn are totally different.'
Mr Stokely blamed banks such as Bank of New York Mellon for the planned ban in an interview with the Financial Times on Tuesday, saying they refuse the site's business.
Adult-content companies have to navigate higher fees and requirements from financial companies beyond what most retailers encounter; others won't touch it.
Both Mastercard and Visa last year began blocking customers from using credit cards on Pornhub after accusations that the site had videos of rape and underage sex. American Express cards, meanwhile, can't be used on online pornography. Stripe won't process adult content.