'Haha Horny!' — Sex Workers Try Their Hand At Comedy
NYC comedians have turned to OnlyFans to supplement their income, but now sex workers are turning to comedy to grow their audience.
The Stripper Index is an odd economic tool used to predict financial crises. Sex workers are at the forefront of noticing downturns in the economy. Their industry is one of the first places people slow down cash flow. When eggs are pushing $10 a dozen, it’s hard to justify a $50 lap dance to the missus. With the rise in online sex work, thanks in part to websites like OnlyFans, pornographic content creators are feeling the purse strings tighten as well. This has created a growing trend amongst OnlyFans models to turn to a different industry to supplement their income — stand up comedy.
We spoke to an anonymous OnlyFans creator who wished to keep her name private due to concerns those close to her might discover her comedy routines before she is ready. She said, “I had been considering doing comedy for awhile; many of the other working girls I know have gotten into it and I saw how much money they were making. It was scary putting myself out there, but once people were laughing, they started complimenting me saying, ‘you’re so funny, your bits are driving me WILD,’ or ‘these jokes are beautiful, I’d do anything to hear a solo set.’ When you hear stuff like that you can’t help but feel good about yourself; and I think a lot my audience who knew me from sex work wanted to know more about me or feel closer to me. They seem to crave to know more about my personal life and my inner psychology, even if that connection is artificial.”
We spoke to one man, Curtis Stone, who was skeptical of this diversification in the lives of sex workers. He stated, “I’m not sure why we should be interested in their personalities. It’s one thing to post topless photos of yourself on the internet, but it’s a whole nother thing to tell the public about your private thoughts and feelings. I just don’t know why they feel like they have to whore themselves out like that.” When asked if he would be attending any stand-up sets of OnlyFans creators he followed he said, “Oh, absolutely, I want to feel closer to them.”
Sally Fae, a sex worker and veteran of the comedy scene, gave some advice to those looking to get into stand-up. “You really just have to put yourself out there and not care what other people might think. You are going to get judged, but women are judged constantly whether they are on stage or not.”
Many sex workers are initially apprehensive to enter stand-up, often worried about what their friends or family may think. Sally Fae had this to say on the subject: “Yeah when my parents found out I was doing comedy, I was a bit ashamed. I was worried they would say, ‘didn’t we raise you right, I can’t believe you’re just baring all for the world to hear.’ But thankfully, they’ve accepted me and my choices, they see how much it has helped my confidence. People pay to hear me talk, and that’s empowering, even if they get an intimate show of my deepest thoughts.”
Only time will tell if sex workers will continue to invade the comedy scene, but we do not recommend forming a parasocial relationship with your comedians, even if they make you laugh, that doesn’t necessarily mean they want to fuck you.