Beyoncé graced our locked-down world this week when she dropped three new verses on the Megan Thee Stallion hit, Savage. Aside from the general Beyhive excitement, Beyoncé got the internet talking by mentioning OnlyFans in her second verse. That's right, Beyoncé know's exactly what OnlyFans is.
On the hit, Beyonce raps, ‘Hips TikTok when I dance / On That Demon Time, she might start an OnlyFans (OnlyFans)’.
What Is OnlyFans?
OnlyFans is a website, created in 2016, where people can pay for content (photos and videos) from – as originally designed – YouTube influencers and celebrities. It was basically another way for ‘content creators’ to monetise their profession.
Of course, the website is now also used as a hub for adult content, where adult and sex workers and cam girls can sell photos and videos from home.
How Many People Use OnlyFans?
Coronavirus lockdown has seen a huge reported spike in the amount of people selling on OnlyFans, with sex workers unable to meet up with people utilising the website, as well as celebrities, influencers and even people who’ve found themselves unexpectedly unemployed and in need of money. There’s also been a rise in users.
OnlyFans has reported a 75% increased in sign-ups since 1 March. 3.7million new people have registered – apparently 60,000 of them as content creators.
What Do OnlyFans Think About Beyoncé’s Mention?
Rolling Stone approached OnlyFans to ask what they thought about Beyonce mentioning the site on the Savage remix. They responded: ‘Beyoncé, and any artist, are welcome to join OnlyFans at any time to foster a deeper connection with their fans.’
Does this mean Beyoncé has an OnlyFans account?
We're gonna go with no.
Which Celebrities Are On OnlyFans?
Megan Barton-Hanson has an OnlyFans account: she recently reactivated it and has claimed she's been trolled for doing so and she reportedly charges around £19 a picture. Other account holders include US YouTuber Trisha Paytas, Courtney Stodden, Aaron Carter and Chad Johnson.
It’salso been claimed Danniella Westbrook, Danielle Lloyd, former X Factor star Chloe Khan and Love Island’s Katie Salmon have accounts.
Is OnlyFans Controversial?
Lots of people made quickly unemployed by coronavirus and sex workers unable to access their usual income streams have found OnlyFans useful. One mother, Rae, who was made unemployed from her job at a gym, told The Huffington Post she had already made $1,000. ‘It has already made quite a difference for us,’ she said. Some sex workers have warned though that it’s not always as easy as it looks and cautioned against joining the site lightly.
A recent BBC documentary, called #Nudes4Sale caused concern about the prevalence of underage pictures on the site. The research found that in a single day, a third of Twitter profiles globally advertising ‘nudes4sale’ or similar appeared to belong to someone underage – and that many used OnlyFans. They met one user who used a fake ID to sell pictures when she was 16. She was kicked off the platform when she was reported for being underage, but then set up a new profile.
In a statement to the BBC, OnlyFans said: ‘If we are alerted to any underage individual who has gained or tried to gain illegitimate access to the platform we will always take immediate steps to investigate and suspend the account.’
How Much Can You Earn On OnlyFans?
In the BBC Documentary, #Nudes4Sale, documentary makers met one woman, Lren, who makes £37,000 a month selling explicit content. Another, Beth, makes £3,000 a month.
On the OnlyFans FAQs, where it asks, ‘How much can I charge’, they say: ‘The minimum amount you can charge for your subscription is $4.99 per month. The maximum amount you can charge for your subscription is $49.99. The minimum amount you can charge for paid private messages or tips is $5.00. Your earning forecast really depends on the quality and quantity of the content you upload. The more you post, the more incentive there is for your fans to subscribe (and remain subscribed) to your profile.’
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