Cardi B launches OnlyFans account

Cardi B has launched an account on OnlyFans, the social network that allows creators — by-and-large sex workers — to share exclusive content with fans and clients in exchange for a one-off or monthly payment. While OnlyFans is generally used by models and influencers to share content "too racy for Instagram," as a recent Times profile put it, a spokesperson for Only Fans says that Cardi will be using the platform to "release behind the scenes content, address ongoing rumors, share glimpses into her personal life, and connect closer with her fans," among other things. You can subscribe to Cardi B's OnlyFans for USD $4.99 here.

OnlyFans has experienced a surge in popularity since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, a phenomenon that has been controversial among sex workers who use the platform. In a Rolling Stone report from earlier this year, a handful of sex workers alleged OnlyFans had booted them from the platform for no reason; in the same report, a dominatrix named Ms. Hell expressed dismay that the market was being flooded, saying: "The top content creators on there are no longer sex workers but celebrities/YouTubers [...] That’s very problematic. More people into the vanilla lifestyle think it’s easy to make money on there, so it could have an impact [on our ability to make a living]."

Last week, Cardi released "WAP," her first single as a lead artist in nine months. A collaboration with Megan Thee Stallion, the song quickly garnered notoriety and attention for its explicit lyrics and instantly iconic video, a romp through a surreal mansion that featured cameos from Normani, Rosalía, Mulatto, and more.