Two men file class action lawsuit against OnlyFans, alleging they were deceived by models

Two former OnlyFans users from Illinois, M. Brunner and J. Fry, have filed a class-action lawsuit against the platform, claiming they were defrauded by agencies impersonating models. According to reports from 404 Media, the creators they subscribed to were allegedly using agencies to handle their messages instead of engaging with them directly. This practice led the users to believe they were interacting with actual models through direct messages and video clips.

The lawsuit alleges that if the users had known they were communicating with agency representatives, they would have either not subscribed to the platform or reduced their subscription fees. Despite these claims, the plaintiffs expressed a willingness to return to OnlyFans if the platform stopped allowing models to use agencies to manage their interactions with subscribers. While numerous OnlyFans agencies have been offering services to handle creators’ messages, it is important to note that not all creators utilize these services.

However, the lawsuit did not provide concrete evidence that the plaintiffs were indeed communicating with agency representatives as opposed to the models they subscribed to. The complaint targets OnlyFan’s parent companies, Fenix International Limited and Fenix Internet, LLC. This lawsuit adds to previous legal actions taken against OnlyFans and associated agencies, such as the case against Unruly Agency in 2021, which claimed the company defrauded fans into sharing personal information.

The complaint detailed the experiences of Brunner and Fry, highlighting instances of receiving conflicting information and errors in messages, leading them to become suspicious of the communication. Fry especially noted the challenges involved in a single person managing communications with thousands of fans. The plaintiffs argued that OnlyFans had deliberately deceived its customers by allowing this practice to continue, leading to a breach of the agreement between creators and subscribers and failing to meet reasonable expectations.

OnlyFans has yet to respond to requests for comment on the lawsuit. However, a previous statement from an OnlyFans spokesperson emphasized that third parties working with creators do not represent the company. Despite this, creators may choose to collaborate with various individuals and agencies to enhance their content and monetization efforts. This clarifies that the platforms themselves do not endorse or engage in such intermediary services.

In conclusion, the class-action lawsuit filed by Brunner and Fry sheds light on the debate surrounding OnlyFans and its use of agencies for managing creator interactions. The case underscores the importance of transparency and accountability in online platforms to ensure that subscribers receive authentic interactions with the creators they support. It remains to be seen how the legal proceedings will unfold and whether they will lead to changes in how OnlyFans operates its platform.