Once child star turnt has-been Lil Tay is back in the news, and this time, she’s shattering records, and the internet.
The 18-year-old online personality earned more than $1 million within three hours of opening her account on OnlyFans, based on a screenshot she shared on X (formerly Twitter). The post featured her staggering earnings and a rather unsubtle caption reading, “Not bad for 3 hours… We broke the f-ck out of that OnlyFans record.” In the pic was her total earnings standing at $1,024,298.09, with more than $511,000 of it from subscriptions alone, close to $490,000 from messages, and $26,000 in tips.
Lil Tay’s explosive debut seems to have broken the earlier record held by rapper Bhad Bhabie, who earned more than $1 million within six hours when she debuted her OnlyFans in April 2021. As much as OnlyFans has yet to verify Tay’s record-breaking status, figures she posted were sufficient to create a huge reaction online, and not everyone was favorable.
She has never been known to shy away from controversy, but this action immediately drew intense ire from users on all social platforms. She was accused of hypocrisy and selling out the second she hit 18. “I used to think Lil Tay was real for all the takes she made earlier,” one commenter said. “But oh well, she actually did tumble down onto the earth’s crust.” Others addressed the less pleasant aspects of the impromptu adult content release, commenting, “She needs help. But also, there are a lot of freaks in this world that subscribe as soon as she turns 18.”
Lil Tay had already led her followers on before the release. On TikTok, she revealed her inspirations, naming sex-positive stars such as Sydney Sweeney and Sabrina Carpenter. In the short clip, she defended the two actresses’ critics and urged girls to look up to them as symbols of strength. Near the end of the clip, she doubled down on her position, declaring herself to be the youngest fan of their message and then leaving her OnlyFans link with complete conviction.
This OnlyFans stunt is merely the latest news for Lil Tay, whose wild public persona has been changing for years. In 2023, she made international headlines when a message declaring her dead flashed on her Instagram account. No confirmation was made by the authorities or family, and the post was removed the following day. She later came back onto social media a month later and accused her estranged dad, Christopher Hope, of staging the death hoax. In an interview with Rolling Stone, she accused him of employing it as a “last resort to sabotage her.” Hope refuted the allegations, describing them as false and blaming her entourage for setting up the hoax for publicity.
At just 18, Lil Tay continues to stir public conversation, blur boundaries, and dominate online spaces. Whether this OnlyFans launch is the start of a new chapter or another controversial blip in her unpredictable journey remains to be seen, but one thing is for sure: people are watching.
Jamie Wells has a knack for getting the inside scoop on Hollywood’s biggest stars and up-and-coming talent. With a sharp eye for industry trends and an ear for viral moments, Jamie covers everything from red-carpet events to behind-the-scenes drama in movies, TV, and celebrity culture.
