OnlyFans Reverses Porn Ban Following Outcry

Less than a week after declaring that sexually explicit content would no longer be welcome on the

platform starting October, OnlyFans made an about-face today declaring on its official Twitter site that it "stands for inclusion and we will continue to provide a home for all creators."

The email sent out by OnlyFans prohibiting explicit content. 

Thank you to everyone for making your voices heard.

We have secured assurances necessary to support our diverse creator community and have suspended the planned October 1 policy change.

OnlyFans stands for inclusion and we will continue to provide a home for all creators.

— OnlyFans (@OnlyFans) August 25, 2021

It was a stunning reversal for the content subscription service, which cited banks as the main reason for the decision to cut off the site's large contingent of sex workers from their major source of revenue in an interview with Financial Times:

The change in policy, we had no choice — the short answer is banks," Tim Stokely, the company's CEO, said, adding that banks have refused to work with the company due to "reputational risk," alluding to the many OnlyFans users who sell explicit content on the subscription-based platform.

OnlyFans has frequently run into issues due to financial institutions "flagging and rejecting" transactions, which ultimately led to their decision to move forward without X-rated content, he explained.

"This decision was made to safeguard [our users'] funds and subscriptions from increasingly unfair actions by banks and media companies — we obviously do not want to lose our most loyal creators.

The OnlyFans community would not be what it is today without you.

The policy change was necessary to secure banking and payment services to support you.

We are working around the clock to come up with solutions.#SexWorkIsWork

— OnlyFans (@OnlyFans) August 21, 2021

Following an immediate outcry from both fans, supporters, and advocates critical of the move because they believe it puts sex workers at risk, OnlyFans has suspended the planned policy change. An email sent out to creators said, "The proposed 1 October 2021 changes are no longer required, due to banking partners' assurances that OnlyFans can support all genres of creators. OnlyFans is committed to providing a sage and dependable platform for all creators and their fans."

Former Football Star Herschel Walker to Campaign for Georgia Senate Seat

Herschel Walker 

One of the greatest running backs in college football history has decided to tote the ball for the Republican Party in an effort to lead it to victory in one of its most important contests in recent history.

Herschel Walker, the 59-year-old who won the Heisman and was a three-time All-American while playing at the University of Georgia in the early 80s, filed paperwork Tuesday to enter U.S. Senate race in Georgia, in a bid to defeat and unseat Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock in 2022.

The move ends month of speculation whether-or-not the longtime Republican, former NFL star, Olympian (Walker competed in the 1992 Winter Olympics in Albertville, France, as a member of the United States' bobsleigh team), mixed martial artist and chicken tycoon —would enter the race against Warnock, the pastor of Georgia’s historic Ebenezer Baptist Church, whose slim victory over Georgia Republican Sen. Kelly Loeffler in a closely watched runoff election, helped give control of the Senate to Democrats in January.

Walker, a longtime Texas resident who registered to vote in Georgia Aug. 17 using an Atlanta residence owned by his wife Julie Blanchard prior to filing Federal Election Commission papers declaring his candidacy, kept mum following the move which seems to have been motivated by former President Donald Trump.

The two are longtime allies. Walker, who played for a team owned by Trump early in his career and appeared on the real estate mogul’s Celebrity Apprentice reality show was a fixture at MAGA rallies and came to the defense of his good friend against claims of racism following the racial unrest that followed the murder of George Floyd, a black man, by Minneapolis police in 2020.

“People who think that don’t know what they’re talking about,” Walker said. “Growing up in the Deep South I've seen racism up close. I know what it is, and it isn’t Donald Trump.”

Herschel Walker: "It hurts my soul to hear the terrible names that people call Donald. The worst one is 'racist.' I take it as a personal insult that people would think I would have a 37-year friendship with a racist." #RNC2020 #RepublicanConvention pic.twitter.com/igTALvteaL

— The Hill (@thehill) August 25, 2020

In March Trump issued a statement urging Walker to run. 

“Wouldn’t it be fantastic if the legendary Herschel Walker ran for the United States Senate in Georgia?” Trump said. “He would be unstoppable, just like he was when he played for the Georgia Bulldogs, and in the NFL. He is also a GREAT person. Run Herschel, run!” 

In June the ex-president doubled down, telling The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show, replacements for the recently deceased Rush Limbaugh, that Walker told him he would run when the two dined together and added, “He’s a great guy. He’s a patriot. He’s a very loyal person. They love him in Georgia, I’ll tell you.”

The name recognition Walker brings to the race is immense. Republicans would love to have a prominent black candidate to face off with the pioneering preacher, but Walker has some baggage that might impede his efforts beyond his last-minute return to the state of his birth just to run for office. 

The Associated Press reported “that a review of public records uncovered detailed accusations that Walker repeatedly threatened the life of his ex-wife, Cindy Grossman, by telling her relatives he would kill Grossman and her new boyfriend. Walker denied the accusations, but a judge granted a protective order in 2005 and for a time barred Walker from owning guns.”

In 2008, the AP added, Walker wrote a book that detailed his struggles with mental illness. He wrote that he'd been diagnosed with dissociative identity disorder, once known as multiple personality disorder. He said he constructed alternate personalities as a defense against bullying he suffered as a stuttering, overweight child. 

Taco Bell Tabs Former Employee Lil Nas X to Star in Advertising Campaign

CREDIT: LIL NAS X/YOUTUBE

The wins keep on coming for Montero Lamar Hill. 

Better known by his rap non de plume, Lil Nas X, the 22-year-old openly gay rapper has taken the industry by storm in three short years, going from internet personality to multi-platinum artist with the record for most steams on Spotify. 

Along the way he has set records, avoided most of the public pitfalls of celebrity and even his seeming missteps, like the Satan Shoes fiasco that led to a lawsuit from Nike against the company that produced the entertainer’s signature shoe — have worked out in his favor. 

With music stardom firmly in his grasps and chatter of television and film projects on the horizon, Lil Nas X has decided to do things his way once again and return to a very familiar place to launch the next phase of his career.

Monday Taco Bell said “Yo quiero Lil Nas X,” announcing that the two-time Grammy winner has been appointed the company’s chief impact officer, an honorary role that will allow him to collaborate on the brand experience from the inside out. 

"Lil Nas X knows the job, the experience and the culture Taco Bell creates for its fans - including its people," said Mark King, CEO of Taco Bell of the reasons for the move. "This unique partnership will deliver on more than just marketing, allowing us to tap into the genius of Lil Nas X to inspire our team members and align with our commitment to unlocking opportunities for young people."

Following the announcement Lil Nas X, who famously worked at an Atlanta area Taco Bell in 2017 and featured the fast-food chain in the music video for his song “Sun Goes Down,” joked on Twitter that “life has come full circle, i officially work at taco bell again.” 

life has come full circle, i officially work at taco bell again. https://t.co/Z0xWBdHIFS

— nope 👶🏾 (@LilNasX) August 23, 2021

Initially, Taco Bell will team up with Lil Nas X to offer an “exclusive experience” around the upcoming release of his album "Montero," launching Taco Bell's newest menu innovations. The rapper will make a cameo in Taco Bell's breakfast campaign and is also partnering with the Taco Bell Foundation, announcing awards to the recipients of the Live Más scholarship. A total of $7 million was awarded to 725 students in 2021.

"Lil Nas X is one of the most important voices of this generation," said Jennifer Frommer, SVP Brand Partnerships & Commercial Sync at Columbia Records, of the rapper who plans to release his debut album later this year. "His expertise in understanding social media and youth culture alongside his skills in creating great music makes this partnership with Taco Bell exciting, brave and one of the most innovative campaigns I've had the pleasure of creating."