OnlyFans, a website that allows models and performers to sell access to adult videos and photos, said Thursday it will ban “sexually explicit” content in October amid pressure from financial firms, NBC News reports.
OnlyFans said in a statement that the new policy will go into effect on October. Creators will still be allowed to post nude images and videos but content will no longer be allowed to contain “sexually explicit conduct.”
“These changes are to comply with the requests of our banking partners and payout providers,” the company said.
The ban came shortly after an Axios report about the company’s “porn problem.” Though the company grew into a multi-billion-dollar behemoth thanks to the popularity of its adult content, the company has had trouble finding investors.
But the company also appears to be worried about financial firms and credit card companies cutting ties as well, especially after Visa and MasterCard cut ties with Pornhub over its failure to remove videos depicting abuse.
“Devastating” for performers:
"This is devastating for a new generation of adult creators who have used the platform, and others like it, to build businesses, profit off of their own work and achieve independence," Mike Stabile, spokesman for the Free Speech Coalition, told NBC.
Stabile said that credit card companies have been targeted by religious conservatives pushing an “evangelical War on Porn,” calling them "enablers of these anti-porn, anti-LGBTQ, misogynist groups.”
California state Sen. Scott Wiener warned that the move could be dangerous for sex workers.
"Forcing sex work off of the internet doesn’t make it go away," he said. "But it does make it less safe, as sex workers have no choice but to work on the streets, where they face increased risk of violence."
Creators feel screwed over:
“I’m beyond disappointed in OnlyFans’ decision — angry and betrayed would be a more accurate description,” Courtney Tillia, who earns over $20,000 per month as a “women’s life coach” on OnlyFans, told the New York Post.
“It was really a surprise to everybody in the industry,” said adult actress Maitland Ward. “And they’re all really freaking out right now. It’s really cruel what they’ve done at this time in the world.”
“Anybody who understands good business and relationships knows that you don’t betray your roots,” Tillia added. “History shows that those who did paid the price for their actions.”
