Australian tennis star Nick Kyrgios became one of the latest athletes on OnlyFans, urging others to follow in his footsteps. The 28-year-old player rose to prominence as the Wimbledon runner-up in 2022 before being saddled with a series of injuries. At one point, the Aussie star was ranked No. 13 in the world. He also commands a large social media audience and a reputation as one of Tennis' most entertaining stars.
Now, Kyrgios is looking to diversify, focusing on content creation and choosing OnlyFans as his ideal social media platform to do it. He's one of the most high-profile athletes on OnlyFans to date.
What Is OnlyFans?
OnlyFans is, at its core, a paid social media platform. Unlike platforms like Instagram and TikTok, which want to leverage hundreds of millions of free users for things like advertising revenue, sales commissions, and revenue shares from incentivized monetization, OnlyFans' core premise is paid exclusivity. The platform focuses heavily on content creators who (mostly) have private feeds, which other users pay to access.
The London-based company launched in 2016, but didn't really see a ton of mainstream interest until 2020, during the Covid-19 pandemic. If you're familiar with OnlyFans, there's a decent chance you associate the platform with adult content. That's partially because its founder Tim Stokely's background is in adult entertainment, and partially because during the pandemic, a lot of sex workers and adult actors turned to the platform to earn money.
OnlyFans famously allows nude content on the platform, a major departure from just about every other mainstream content creator subscription site, from all notable social media platforms to sites like Patreon. However, since 2020, the company has put a major emphasis on the platform's use for exclusive content of all kinds, including providing grants to some musicians and launching safe-for-work content initiatives.
OnlyFans continues to grow rapidly, with more than 3 million content creators and 220 million users throughout 100 different countries. Creators charge between $4.99 and $49.99 per month, and can also charge for personal messages and accept tips. OnlyFans takes 20 percent. However, you don't have to charge to provide access to content, and you can also post some things for free while keeping others exclusive to subscribers.
Are There Athletes On OnlyFans Right Now, And What Kind Of Content Do They Post?
The short answer is yes, there are absolutely athletes on OnlyFans. In fact, there are creators of just about every kind, from musicians and comedians to gamers, fitness and financial experts, chefs, and many more. Some of the most notable athletes on OnlyFans include Terrell Owens, Floyd Mayweather Jr., and Paige VanZant. In addition, there are tons of fitness experts and coaches who provide exclusive training content.
Content varies, from updates and news, to personal messages, exclusive new music, education, and yes, adult content. DJ Khaled and Fat Joe even launched an account together where they delivered motivational messages to subscribers.
When it comes to athletes, OnlyFans has had some of its strongest adoption with mixed martial artists. But as the platform continues to grow, there have also been football players, olympians, drivers, college athletes, and more. And that's why Kyrgios' announcement is such a big deal. He's one of the first major tennis stars to join the platform, bringing an audience that you may not typically associate with OnlyFans.
Why Nick Kyrgios Is Joining
In an announcement, Kyrgios said it's not enough for athletes to only be athletes — they need to do more. "[OnlyFans is] revolutionizing social media and I wanted to be a part of that," Kyrgios says. "Athletes can no longer just show up on the court or the field. We have to show up online too. I want to create, produce, direct and own content. That´s the future."
Kyrgios notably already attracts a massive social media audience, including 4 million followers on Instagram. He's already pretty outspoken, opening up to his fans and followers about mental health. He's also been fined several times for the types of antics that most of his fans probably don't care about (swearing during a match, miming "lewd" actions off court, breaking tennis rackets). Joining a platform like OnlyFans feels pretty on-brand for a player who rose to prominence by being surprising, both in his on-court performance and his general demeanor.
“I’ve been speaking to my fans directly for years and I know what they want to see," Kyrgios says. Of course, there’ll be tennis balls involved, tips, tricks and behind the scenes, but also they’ll get to see all different sides of me. Gaming, tattoos, my intimate side – it’s all on the table and I’ll be bringing fans along for the ride!”
Notably, Kyrgios plans to keep his account free to access. It's currently unclear if OnlyFans is paying Kyrgios to launch an account as a sort of ambassador between athletes and the app.
The primary takeaway is that OnlyFans is much more than what you thought it might have been a few years ago. And with an audience that aligns heavily with the sports audience (in other words, mostly married white men in their 20s, 30s, and 40s), OnlyFans could be the perfect platform for athletes looking to expand their reach and revenue opportunities beyond the game.