OnlyFans Managers Accused of Threats and Violence Against UK Creators
OnlyFans creators in the UK have reported experiencing abuse, financial exploitation, and physical threats from agencies purporting to manage their accounts, an investigation has revealed.
Creator Alleges Attack and Coercion
Rebecca, a 29-year-old creator from South Wales, detailed how an agency initially promised to boost her earnings but soon became controlling. After she altered her account login, fearing she would be locked out, she received messages threatening her and her daughter. This escalated to her window being smashed and, weeks later, two masked men allegedly attacking her at home, with one strangling her and throwing her “up and down the stairs”. Photos show extensive bruising.
This account is part of a broader pattern of allegations against 'OnlyFans managers' (OFMs) who offer to grow creators’ businesses. The investigation, which spoke to 60 UK creators and accessed a large private Telegram group for agents called OFM Empire, found advice on exploiting creators, controlling their accounts, and extracting profits, sometimes referencing “the pimp method”.
Systemic Exploitation Concerns
OnlyFans, a UK-based platform with annual pre-tax profits of $684 million, has been aware of concerns regarding exploitative OFMs for at least four years. However, human rights experts and lawyers contend the platform is not doing enough to protect creators.
Eleanor Lyons, the UK’s independent anti-slavery commissioner, stated that Rebecca's experiences exhibit “recognised signs of exploitation – control, coercion, financial pressure and an inability to leave freely”. Lyons added that “the government needs to look at in more detail… we potentially have a platform which is enabling exploitation, enabling abuse.”
Contracts reviewed show managers taking up to 70% of earnings, demanding full account access, and imposing fines for early termination. Matt Jury of McCue Jury & Partners, a human rights law firm, described this as “almost placing these content creators in servitude to the agents and agencies, trapped in a contract which is unfair.”
Several creators reported managers lying about earnings, changing account passwords to lock them out, or altering bank details to divert funds. Similar tactics are openly discussed within OFM Empire groups, including methods to gain “full control of everything” by creating new email and password combinations for creator accounts.
OnlyFans stated it takes user safety “incredibly seriously” and meets its duties under the Online Safety Act, claiming it has “strict onboarding processes, payment controls and ongoing account moderation”. The company added that it is not connected with or endorsed third-party management agencies and cannot influence creators' external contractual relationships.
However, a test by an investigative journalist revealed that an account verified with a female reporter's photo could use a male colleague’s bank details for payments, raising questions about payment verification processes.
Regulatory Scrutiny and Calls for Action
Another anonymous creator reported being threatened with legal action and account deletion for refusing to pay $10,000 to drop a percentage of earnings. A 33-year-old creator, Leanne, described being pressured into explicit content and finding that a video she filmed under duress was sold for significantly less than agreed, leaving her feeling “disgusting and so degraded”.
Repeated attempts by creators, such as Riley in 2024, to alert OnlyFans to exploitative practices, including the alleged buying and selling of creator contracts, reportedly met with responses of insufficient evidence for action.
Lyons expressed alarm, stating that “cases of exploitation are being reported but appear to be not properly acted on,” raising serious concerns about OnlyFans meeting its legal duties. She is engaging with Ofcom, the UK online safety watchdog, and policymakers, suggesting greater scrutiny and potential licensing for OFMs.
Ofcom described victim testimonies as “deeply concerning” and reiterated that regulated sites must assess the risk of their services facilitating offences, though offline offences are not covered by the Online Safety Act.
Lily Phillips, a high-earning UK OnlyFans creator, highlighted the lack of regulation as creating “a dangerous space where vulnerable people can be taken advantage of.” Sophie Kemp of Kingsley Napley law firm believes OnlyFans has a duty of care to its creators and that “it is only a matter of time before OnlyFans faces claims of negligence from creators who have suffered harm.”
Rebecca has since joined an agency run by women, which she says makes her “feel a lot better”, and hopes to save enough to pursue her dream of owning a horse-riding school.
