Strictly star defends making money from explicit OnlyFans videos after ‘quitting TV’
'It puts food on my table.'
Strictly Come Dancing star John Whaite has shared a defiant message about sharing explicit videos and images on OnlyFans.
The Great British Bake Off winner, who made history in Strictly’s first same-sex pairing with Johannes Radebe in 2021 and reached the final, has previously been open about sharing content on the adult-only website.
John, who vowed to quit TV in 2023 after the axe of Steph’s Packed Lunch, joined OnlyFans in 2022, saying at the time that he would not be ‘doing porn’ on the site, but later admitted he ‘regretted’ signing up.
Upon his return to the platform however, he’s been recognised as one of the top 0.41% of all creators, but is still being questioned about his decisions.
He’s now shared a defiant statement to Instagram, showing a shirtless selfie and writing: ‘I’ve had a lot of DMs about why I’ve re-joined OnlyFans, when I regretted it last time.
Get personalised updates on your favourite TV showsWake up to find news on your TV shows in your inbox every morning with Metro’s TV Newsletter.
Sign up to our newsletter and then select your show in the link we’ll send you so we can get TV news tailored to you.
‘Firstly, I think it’s important to remember that who we are, or at least little parts of us, can change. I for one don’t want to live my life stuck in a steadfast template that restricts my next move.
‘Secondly, I enjoy performance. I enjoy being a show off. I enjoy building my body and celebrating the results. That’s not for everyone, and that’s ok – if you don’t like meat just walk on by the butcher’s shop. ????’
John shares explicit videos and images on over-18s platform OnlyFans (Picture: @john_whaite)He went on: ‘Last time being on OF didn’t gel with my role on daytime television. But I quit the TV industry 18 months ago and haven’t looked back.
‘I had an incredible 12-year-long career and achieved some extraordinary milestones that I’ll proudly take with me to the grave.
‘I loved it (mostly) while it lasted, and made some wonderful friendships which I’ll cherish, but that river, for me, had run dry. It didn’t set me alight anymore.’
John went on to say that since launching his company Ruff Puff Brownies he’s learned about ‘alien’ concepts surrounding business, and is now treated his OF career as a business.
John and Johannes made history on Strictly in 2021, making it to the final (Picture: BBC/Guy Levy)‘It cycles money into the economy, it puts food on my table, it gives some people a little bit of cheeky joy – it’s a service,’ he went on.
‘If it’s not for you, simply pass it by, and know that I’ll always be using this platform for food, humour, and little glimpses into my life.
‘We’ll all be dead, buried and long forgotten one day, so I’m grabbing the bull by the horns and living this one shot at life to the fullest.
He finished his lengthy post by saying: ‘And if you want to judge, go ahead, I won’t stop you. Our worlds may be slightly different but neither of us have fallen off them…yet.’
The Bake Off winner has hit back at any judgement he’s received (Picture: Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock)In the comments, John added that his husband is supporting him through his venture, saying: ‘He’s here by my side the whole way.’
Fans and friends alike showered him in support with Michelle Visage commenting: ‘You do you baby.’
‘Big fan of both your brownies and your buns x,’ Ellie Taylor added.
John previously revealed that he first joined OnlyFans while he was ‘drunk on holiday’, and told followers: ‘Though I do have friends who do porn and think sex work should be respected, but that’s a different story!’
He went on to say that he’d be moving some of his social media content to the over-18s site because he thought his workout videos had ‘value’ and his ‘cheekier gym-progress posts’ are ‘more appropriately suited in an area where age-restriction is better handled’.
