How to Stop OnlyFans | A Response to Matt Walsh

Author’s Note: This article was originally published on January 21, 2025, in response to an article posted by the Daily Wire, written by Matt Walsh. Magdala has no political affiliations and does not endorse or condemn DW as a platform—this is purely a response piece.

A week ago, Matt Walsh wrote a piece for the Daily Wire (DW) called “This is How We Stop the Festering Disease Called OnlyFans.” I’m not usually one for response or rebuttal pieces, but this one lit a small fire under me, so here goes nothing. 

As a note, my response has nothing to do with my overall opinion—whether positive, negative, or somewhere between—of the DW and Walsh himself, whom I don’t know. I’m simply responding to this article, since this issue is a bit in my wheelhouse.

First, I agree that OnlyFans is indeed a “festering disease.” It’s been a heartbreaking addition to the foray of pornography streaming platforms, making it far too easy for both men and women to engage with the industry. My break with Walsh is when we treat the people on the platform like they are the disease, which essentially is the point of his article. The antidote to pornography and prostitution becoming mainstream, according to the article, is to use shame: 

“Most of all, we have removed shame from society. At least we have removed it from the things that are actually shameful. History shows that we can put an end to pretty much any type of conduct, or drive it into the shadows and out of public view so that very few people engage in it, simply by using shame. We stopped shaming whorish behavior, and now we have soccer moms turning to prostitution for some extra spending money. One follows from the other.” 

While Walsh may posit he’s advocating for the shaming of behavior, not people, the tone of the piece suggests otherwise. His lack of sympathy is something he owns: 

“You often hear people, especially conservatives, say that they feel sorry for women like this. I have to admit I don’t. I reserve all of my sympathy for whoever owns the AirBnB they used for this stunt. You’ll have to go in there with hazmat suits to fumigate that room.”

Referring to women on OnlyFans or involved in the pornography industry as “women like this” (or “hookers” at a different part of the article) does nothing to encourage them toward a different way of life, whatever their story or background may be. If shame is our approach, we are only confirming how they already feel about themselves. My heart has been deeply saddened by the news surrounding OnlyFans creators like Lily Philips, who boasted of sleeping with 100 men before breaking down in tears. Her vacillating cries of both victory and crushing heartbreak is indicative of a much deeper trauma that none of us will ever know, only compounded by her extreme behavior. Her brokenness should move us to mercy, pity and prayer, not judgment and satirical jabs.

One of the first OnlyFans models I spoke with was 20 years old at the time of our conversation. She was experiencing crippling depression and other intense effects from her work, but had no idea how to leave it behind (partly because of the income she was generating). She had just revealed her face on the account, which in turn led to even more revenue—but it also embedded her very identity to the work and the platform. 

I could feel palpably on that video call how trapped she felt. She was beautiful, incredibly beautiful. Her eyes were piercing blue. She was a person. When I asked her what held her back from leaving OnlyFans, she said, “I just don’t know if I could ever be good at anything else. I don’t know what else I can do now.” Her destiny felt sealed—it felt like it was “too late.” 

This is the problem with Walsh’s suggested approach; when we shame those engaging in the pornography and sex work industries, we only confirm this feeling of being trapped, pushing them into the hidden alleyways of society. My hatred for mainstream pornography and how widely accepted it is in our culture only fuels my desire to fight for these women to recognize their dignity.

Someone like Lily Philips, or like the young woman referenced above, does not arrive at producing OnlyFans content randomly. There’s another video floating around right now of an OnlyFans model propositioning a young cashier at Five Guys and he turns her down. Good for him, truly. I’m grateful to see him communicate his morality so unflinchingly, and it’s unjust and violating he was put in that position. 

But conversely, I also look at the woman and can’t help feeling pretty certain she’s behaving so ruthlessly to protect herself from something. Trauma, shame, powerlessness—the possibilities are endless. But ultimately it’s not a series of accidental circumstances that lead people to act against their dignity—it’s pain. And the source of the pain is often not their fault, even if their behavior now is.

The only way to help people rise above undignified behavior is to teach them they are dignified. You can’t fight shame with shame, and we most certainly cannot reach into this space—this industry—without acknowledging the ways we have propped it up by our own use. Anyone, and I mean anyone, who has at any time consumed pornography—of any kind, at any amount or frequency—has aided in its industrial growth. Yes, that should make us beat our chests with a repentant fist and say “mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa.” 

We all have our places of shame, our behaviors we’re not proud of.

I agree that we must never treat pornography production, prostitution, or any way sex is sold as dignified work. It’s not, and that’s the problem: it’s a crime against humanity, both the people buying and selling. They are worth more—so much more. 

Our work is not to shame OnlyFans creators, but to dignify them so they no longer escape into such heartbreaking and harmful behavior. 

And this isn’t just necessary, it’s also the Gospel. 

Jesus did not turn His face from the tax collector or the prostitute. He dined with them, broke bread with them, allowed Himself to be touched by them and seen in their company. More than anything, He saw their pain; their deep wounds by their own sin and the sins of others, and He cared for them. 

We should take a page.