Abuse and Threats from OnlyFans Agents
Warning: contains details of violence that some readers might find distressing
Rebecca, an OnlyFans creator from south Wales, joined an agency after they promised to help her increase her earnings on the adult social media platform. However, she reports that the agency abused her, threatened her daughter, and sent violent masked men to attack her at home.
"They were lovely at the beginning."
The 29-year-old recalls that her new managers initially complimented her appearance, telling her she was beautiful and that they had "never seen a girl" like her before.
Within weeks, their behaviour became controlling; they insulted her appearance and forbade her from socialising with friends, as she recounted to the BBC Three documentary OnlyFans: Inside the Machine.
The abuse escalated after Rebecca changed her account login details, fearing the agency—who had access to her account—might lock her out.
"I will have you and your daughter wrote off,"
said one threatening message seen by the BBC.
A brick was thrown through her window, and weeks later, two masked men arrived at her home. One entered, strangled her, and threw her "up and down the stairs." She provided the BBC with photos showing bruises on her legs and throat.
Widespread Exploitation by OnlyFans Managers
Rebecca's experience is part of a broader pattern of allegations against self-styled OnlyFans managers (OFMs). These agents claim to help creators grow their businesses on the platform but, according to BBC findings, sometimes engage in exploitative and threatening behaviour.
The BBC interviewed 60 UK OnlyFans creators and embedded itself in one of the largest private Telegram groups for agents, called OFM Empire, which has 24,000 members.
Within this group, advice was shared on signing creators, taking control of their accounts, and profiting—often through threats of violence. One user referred to this as the "pimp method."
OnlyFans has been aware of concerns about exploitative OFMs for at least four years, following international media reports about agencies. This investigation is the first to focus on the UK, where OnlyFans is based, revealing that the platform is not doing enough to protect creators from exploitation, according to human rights experts and lawyers who reviewed the findings.
"What Rebecca experienced are all recognised signs of exploitation - control, coercion, financial pressure and an inability to leave freely,"
said Eleanor Lyons, the UK's independent anti-slavery commissioner.
"It is something that the government needs to look at in more detail… we potentially have a platform which is enabling exploitation, enabling abuse."
An OnlyFans spokesperson responded:
"The allegation we 'turn a blind eye' [to these issues] is unfounded. The company takes user safety 'incredibly seriously' and invests 'heavily' in measures to protect its community. We meet all our duties under the Online Safety Act.
"OnlyFans' relationship is with our creators and fans and we are not connected with, and do not endorse, any third parties including management agencies.
"Unfortunately, we cannot review or influence any contractual relationships creators choose to enter into outside the platform as we are not party to them."
OnlyFans Platform and Agent Earnings
More than 4.6 million creators worldwide upload videos and photos for paying rs on OnlyFans. The platform takes a 20% commission.
OnlyFans' parent company, Fenix International Limited, reported annual pre-tax profits of $684 million (£513 million) in its latest filing.
A global network of OFMs has emerged alongside the platform, seeking to share in its success. They promise to attract more rs and increase earnings, but typically take around 50% of creators' pre-tax income.
Gia Clarke, a UK creator active on OnlyFans since its launch 10 years ago, said she receives more messages from OFMs than fans.
"The concept [of OFMs] is really good, it's just that there are too many unqualified people... because there are no regulations, the models don't know who to trust,"
she said, describing some OFMs as "predatory."
Contracts shared with the BBC show managers taking up to 70% of earnings. Many require full access to account logins and impose fines on creators who attempt to terminate contracts early.
"They [OFMs] are taking advantage... which is almost placing these content creators in servitude to the agents and agencies, trapped in a contract which is unfair,"
said Matt Jury of human rights law firm McCue Jury & Partners.
Sophie Kemp, head of public law at Kingsley Napley, agreed:
"This isn't really a fair contract situation at all. They seem to be the first step in the road to exploiting creators."
Several creators reported that their managers accessed their accounts and misrepresented earnings to keep more money. One said their manager changed their password without consent, locking them out. Another said their OFM altered bank details so payments went directly to the manager.
These tactics are openly discussed on the OFM Empire Telegram channel.
"Create an email and password for their [OnlyFans]. They can't log in,"
one user wrote.
"I have access to their [payment platform] under their name again [in] my created email. And password. I have full control of everything."
OnlyFans stated it has "strict onboarding processes, payment controls and ongoing account moderation." The company said it restricts accounts and investigates if concerns arise to ensure creators retain control.
However, a BBC reporter was able to set up an account with a verified photo and use a male colleague's bank details to receive test payments.
OnlyFans told the BBC:
"In the UK, where a creator requests a payout from their OnlyFans accounts, our third-party payment providers undertake confirmation of payee checks when processing that payment. Where this check is not successful the payment will be rejected."
Rebecca's Experience of Abuse and Threats
Rebecca changed her OnlyFans password after a friend with the same OFM had her login details changed without consent, locking her out.
She then received abusive phone calls and messages.
"He's sending me my own address, telling me how he's gonna swing me and my daughter around by our hair,"
she said.
"See you soon whore,"
read another message seen by the BBC.
A brick was thrown through her window days later. Although she contacted the police, she was too frightened to mention the OnlyFans agency.
Three weeks later, two masked men came to her house.
"They [one of the men] were on top of me, strangling me, and I just tried getting my phone to ring somebody because I thought, this is it.
After they proved their point, they stopped and left."
Rebecca believes these incidents were connected to her manager, stating, "I've got no bad blood with anybody else."
She is not alone; other creators reported threats.
One woman, who wished to remain anonymous, initially agreed to give 35-40% of her earnings to her manager but later found this too high.
"He told me that if I want to drop [the] percentage then I have to pay him £10,000 because of how much time and effort he's put into me."
When she refused, her manager threatened:
"You will get what's coming to you."
She wondered whether he would come to her house or delete her account. He told stories about deleting other creators' accounts and sending lawyers to their homes.
"I'd get the odd message every week - you're gonna get what's coming to you. Just you wait, it's coming."
She has since left that manager.
Leanne's Contract and Pressure to Produce Content
Leanne, 33, signed a contract granting her manager access to her account, including the ability to change the email address, and 50% of her pre-tax earnings after OnlyFans' cut.
The contract, reviewed by the BBC, required her to fulfil r content requests within 24 hours.
She told her manager she would not produce explicit videos, but said they pressured her repeatedly to do so.
Eventually, she agreed to film one video to "shut them up," stipulating it not be sold to her followers for less than $250 (£187). She felt "physically sick" after filming and did not watch the video.
Later, she discovered it had been sold for less than $40 (£30).
"It just made me feel so disgusting and so degraded,"
she said. Leanne is no longer posting on OnlyFans.
OnlyFans' Response to Exploitative Practices
OnlyFans has been aware of concerns regarding exploitative OFMs through media coverage and direct reports from creators.
Riley, a creator, alerted OnlyFans in 2024 to discussions on OFM Empire about agents buying and selling creators' contracts without their knowledge.
"The tactics of these groups consistently grow more and more exploitative,"
she wrote in an email to OnlyFans support, providing links and screenshots.
OnlyFans responded that there was insufficient evidence to take action.
The platform stated that any bad actors exploiting creators should be reported to OnlyFans and, if necessary, the police, so appropriate action can be taken.
Eleanor Lyons, the UK's anti-slavery commissioner, emphasized OnlyFans' legal duty to protect users from illegal content and to act swiftly upon becoming aware of it.
"It's alarming that cases of exploitation are being reported but appear to be not properly acted on,"
she said after reviewing Riley's emails.
"That raises serious concerns about whether OnlyFans is meeting its legal duties to protect users."
Lyons is engaging with Ofcom, the UK online safety regulator, and policymakers, urging closer attention to the issue.
She suggested that OFMs should face greater scrutiny and potentially be licensed.
Ofcom described testimony from victims in this investigation as "deeply concerning."
"Regulated sites and apps, such as OnlyFans, must assess the risk of their services being used to facilitate the commission of offences,"
it said.
"Any offences which take place entirely offline, however, are not caught by the Online Safety Act."
Creators Speak on Vulnerability and Regulation
Lily Phillips, one of the highest-earning UK OnlyFans creators, said the lack of regulation around OFMs creates "a dangerous space where vulnerable people can be taken advantage of."
"People realise how much money you can make from OnlyFans. So, you know, everyone wants a piece of the pie, especially men… they want their little piece,"
she said.
Sophie Kemp from Kingsley Napley law firm stated that OnlyFans has a duty of care to its creators and, based on the evidence, believes:
"It is only a matter of time before OnlyFans faces claims of negligence from creators who have suffered harm."
Rebecca's Future Plans
Rebecca said she wanted to prove her former agency wrong by succeeding on OnlyFans.
She is now signed with an agency where content is managed by women, which she says makes her "feel a lot better."
She views being an OnlyFans creator as temporary and hopes to eventually earn enough to own a horse-riding school.
