OnlyFans creators are torn over the future of the platform after the death of owner Leonid Radvinsky.
News broke on Monday, March 23, that Radvinsky died at age 43 following a battle with cancer. He is survived by his wife, Katie Chudnovsky, and their four children.
“We are deeply saddened to announce the death of Leo Radvinsky. Leo passed away peacefully after a long battle with cancer,” an OnlyFans spokesperson announced in a statement at the time. “His family have requested privacy at this difficult time.”
Radvinsky acquired Fenix International Limited, the parent company of OnlyFans, in 2018 — two years after the platform was founded by British entrepreneur Tim Stokely. Radvinsky served as its director and majority shareholder, leading some creators to theorize about what could happen to the platform after his death.
Scroll down to see what some creators have said:
Forrest Smith
Forrest Smith exclusively told Us Weekly that OnlyFans “didn’t just ‘blow up’ — it literally changed how people make money online.”
“It normalized direct-to-consumer content in a way we’ve never seen before, especially in adult content,” she continued. “And now the person who built that? Gone. What’s crazy is … when someone that powerful behind a platform disappears, things do change. Leadership shifts, priorities shift, sometimes the entire direction changes. So the real question is — what happens to OnlyFans now? Because this might be the beginning of a completely different era for that platform.”
Cynthia Jade
Cynthia Jade noted that Leonid Radvinsky “built OnlyFans into a billion-dollar platform that gave creators a legitimate way to earn on their own terms.”
“His passing is a real loss, and I think anyone who makes their living on this platform is rightfully asking — what’s next? Who takes over? What does leadership look like now?” Jade exclusively told Us. “Those are questions nobody has answers to yet, and sitting with that uncertainty isn’t comfortable. But I’ve spent years building my brand, growing my audience and investing in my relationship with my subscribers. I don’t think that just evaporates because of a change at the top. I’m optimistic that the foundation I’ve laid is strong enough to weather whatever comes.”
Brittney LeFevre
Brittney LeFevre, meanwhile, noted that it’s “incredibly sad to hear” the news of Leonid Radvinsky’s death and shared that her “heart goes out to his family and everyone impacted by this loss.”
“OnlyFans has changed so many lives including mine, and it’s built a space where creators can take control of their careers in a way that didn’t exist before,” LeFevre exclusively told Us. “I think moments like this can make people feel uncertain, but at the end of the day, the connection between creators and their audience is so strong and meaningful. Platforms can change, but that doesn’t go away. If anything, I think this opens the door for even more growth and I’m excited for what’s next. I think there’s naturally a little uncertainty, especially with who takes over and what changes might come. But I don’t really see it as something to be worried about. At the end of the day, fans are there for the creators — they’ll follow the people they have connections with no matter where they are. If anything I think this could bring some really positive changes and I’m hopeful for what’s ahead.”
Avery Skye
Avery Skye shared that the creators “who are concerned” about the future of OnlyFans are “being inherently selfish.”
“I’ve seen five different people post about, ‘Oh no, what’s gonna happen with my page.’ Like, stfu. Someone died. It’s a multibillion dollar business — you really don’t think they have someone next in line to take over? Come on,” Skye exclusively told Us. “Sorry for being harsh, but the girls who are concerned about their pages clearly have no idea how businesses work. That’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard. ‘A corporation never dies’ — super common business quote. I also think that girls who automatically assume that their pages are in danger are just reinforcing the stereotype that OF girls are dumb. Sorry, not sorry.”
