Lily Phillips, OnlyFans and the big lie that sex work is good for you

London: So, Lily Phillips is planning to sleep with a thousand guys in just 24 hours for her OnlyFans. Can you believe that? I saw the flyer, and it’s wild. To apply, you have to send a headshot and hold your ID up to your face. It’s like a bizarre audition for a twisted reality show. She’s already done 100 men in a day, and it sounds like it was a total nightmare for her. She even cried afterward. Was it for the camera? Who knows? But it’s clear that there’s a lot more going on here than just sex.

It reminds me of Gisele Pelicot’s story, who was drugged and assaulted by 51 men, and now she’s a symbol of strength in France. Pelicot gets what happened to her, but Phillips? I’m not so sure she does. It’s a sad truth that by the time women really understand sex, many men have moved on. Pelicot is now celebrated as one of the most influential women, while Phillips seems lost in the chaos.

Now, the big question is: who’s to blame? It’s like a game where everyone wants to point fingers when something goes wrong. Honestly, I think Phillips is in over her head. A thousand men in a day? That’s just asking for trouble. Once you do something like that, the shame can really eat you alive. And let’s not forget, the guys involved aren’t exactly coming out unscathed either. It’s a rough world for everyone.

People have been pushing this fantasy about sex work for way too long. You want to protect women like Phillips, but how do you do that when they’re chasing internet fame and money? Online porn has messed with so many lives, and it’s like a sickness we can’t shake off. Just because it’s on a screen doesn’t mean it’s not real or that it won’t hurt you. I saw a guy who looked completely shell-shocked after the whole thing. And Phillips? She was in tears, saying, “I wouldn’t recommend it.” It’s heartbreaking.

I only know Phillips through her social media, and honestly, she looks so vulnerable. Posing by the pool or in the mountains, she seems like the loneliest girl out there. It’s a strange brand she’s built. She has a story to tell, but it feels like she’s telling it without really understanding it. She’s a sex worker, and for years, we’ve been told that sex work is empowering and pain-free. But is it really? She said, “Why not charge for what you give away for free?” But there’s so much more to it than that. There are emotional connections in every encounter, but not when it’s just a transaction.

We’ve been fed this fantasy about sex work for too long, and it’s time to face the truth. The reality is often grim: many women in this trade are trafficked, abused, or struggling with addiction. It’s easier to ignore the harsh realities and paint a pretty picture of sex work. I think Phillips is starting to see the truth, and it’s a heavy burden for someone so young.

Oh, I just want to tell her: Did you really think this would be fun? Maybe just skip the day of the thousand men or say you changed your mind. That’s real agency.

Tanya Gold is a London Standard columnist