UPDATED 22:00 EDT / DECEMBER 21 2021

NEWS

OnlyFans founder steps down, replaced by the company’s marketing chief

Tim Stokely, the founder of the content subscription service OnlyFans, announced today that he’s relinquishing his position as chief executive and will be replaced by marketing chief Amrapali Gan.

Stokely took to Instagram today to make the announcement. He said he never could have imagined that a venture he started running out of his brother’s kitchen would turn into a global phenomenon. He added that he’s now ready for the “next challenge.”

“I’d like to thank all of my colleagues, but the most important thank you is to all of the content creators… you made OnlyFans what it is today,” said Stokely, adding that his replacement “has the vision and drive to help the organization reach tremendous potential.”

Stokely started the company in 2016 and since then it has seen outsized popularity. That rise became even more substantial during the COVID-19 lockdowns, when many people around the world tried their hand at making personal videos – often containing nudity and sexual acts.

The site says it now has more than 180 million registered users and 2 million creators globally. Those people have earned in the region of $5 billion collectively, with the company taking a 20% cut. Talking of his replacement, Stokely said, “OnlyFans is still a new company and Ami brings a fresh energy and reflects who we are as a business.”

A website that deals mostly with smutty content can’t go unnoticed for long by people who don’t approve of such a thing. Earlier this year, the company was roundly criticized for not doing enough to stop underage users from posting content. In August the website announced it would start banning the posting of sexually explicit photos and videos, only to suspend that decision soon after following an uproar from users.

Gan (pictured) said while she is at the helm, she will make OnlyFans “the safest social media platform in the world.” She added, “I look forward to continuing to work closely with our creator community to help them maximize control over, and monetize, their content.”

Photo: OnlyFans

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