OnlyFans creators are calling out HBO’s Euphoria for its unrealistic and harmful depiction of the platform in its third season. They argue that the show’s storyline promotes damaging stereotypes about sex workers. Variety first reported on the backlash.
In the series, Sydney Sweeney’s character, Cassie Howard, launches an OnlyFans account and posts provocative content. Her early shoots involve cosplay as a dog-with ears, a collar, and a tail-then she appears dressed as a baby, wearing a see-through shirt and sporting pigtails while holding a pacifier.
Popular OnlyFans creator and actress Maitland Ward criticized these portrayals as not just unrealistic but harmful. She said, ”Dressing her as a baby to create content is extremely concerning. It perpetuates the stereotype that sex workers lack moral boundaries and will do anything for money.”
OnlyFans content rules conflict with Euphoria’s depiction
Sydney Leathers, an OnlyFans creator since 2017, pointed out how the show blatantly contradicts the platform’s actual rules. She noted that content involving underage imagery is expressly forbidden by OnlyFans’ terms of service. Violations typically result in content removal or account suspension.
Another top content creator, Alix Lynx, highlighted a different disconnect. She said the show wrongly suggests you only need to look good to succeed on OnlyFans, while in reality creators spend years building their audiences and carefully managing their accounts.
Sydney Leathers summed up the broader frustration: ”Sex workers, including myself, tend to be very sensitive to how Hollywood portrays us because it’s almost never flattering. It’s always absurd or depressing, and rarely accurate.”
OnlyFans, a subscription-based platform that allows creators to post adult and exclusive content, has risen rapidly since its 2016 launch and become a significant player in the creator economy. Euphoria, known for its gritty portrayal of youth culture, is one of HBO’s most popular series. However, its dramatization of OnlyFans has evidently missed the mark according to seasoned creators.
Compared to platforms like Patreon or mainstream social media, OnlyFans enforces strict guidelines to prevent exploitative or illegal content, including bans on underage themes. Creators also stress that success requires strategic content creation, branding, and audience engagement-not just provocative imagery.
The question now is whether Hollywood dramas will adopt more accurate and respectful depictions of sex work in mainstream media-or continue recycling outdated tropes that fuel stigma.