BBC reveals that OnlyFans ‘managers’ are using creators

OnlyFans isn’t doing enough to protect creators from exploitation, according to a BBC investigation. The research also included interviews with 60 UK OnlyFans creators, human rights experts and lawyers.

This report focuses on OnlyFans’ “Agents,” “Managers,” or “OFMs” (OnlyFans Administrators) who are said to be in charge of creators’ accounts and earnings. He was also the subject of the BBC Three documentary OnlyFans: Inside the Machine.

While OFM claims to help creators succeed and build viewers and subscribers, experts say it actually takes advantage of creators.

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According to the OFM agreement shown to the BBC, management will receive up to 70% of a creator’s revenue, while the platform itself will receive 20%. Several creators who spoke to the BBC said their manager lied about their earnings to get more money for themselves, and the couple claimed their manager changed the passwords on their OnlyFans accounts and bank account details, respectively.

Managers threatened creators with physical harm, and one creator believed the physical attack was related to the manager.

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A spokesperson for OnlyFans told the BBC: “The claim that we are ‘turning a blind eye’.” [to these issues] There is no basis. ”

The spokesperson went on to say, “OnlyFans’ relationship is with creators and fans, and we have no relationship with or support any third parties, including management offices.”

A spokesperson said OnlyFans takes the safety of its users “incredibly seriously”, investing in safeguards and meeting its obligations under the UK’s Online Safety Act. “Unfortunately, because we are not a party to creators, we cannot review or influence the contractual relationships creators choose to enter into outside of the platform.

“When someone raises concerns about a creator’s account, we immediately restrict the account, conduct an investigation, and take steps to ensure creators are in control of their OnlyFans account,” an OnlyFans spokesperson told Mashable.
“Despite repeated requests, the BBC has refused to share account details of OnlyFans users or the agencies it claims were the basis of the report,” the spokesperson added.

Eleanor Lyons, Britain’s anti-slavery commissioner, told the BBC that the reported but not properly addressed incidents of exploitation “raise serious concerns about whether OnlyFans is meeting its legal obligations to protect its users.” She is working with Britain’s communications regulator Ofcom, which also said the BBC’s findings were “very concerning”.

Last year, a lawsuit against OnlyFans claimed that subscribers believed they were communicating directly with creators, when in reality they were being fooled by administrators who were pretending to be creators. The lawsuit was dismissed in December 2025.

UPDATE: June 16, 2026, 12:48 PM EDT This article has been updated with a statement from OnlyFans to Mashable.