John Whaite, a former Strictly Come Dancing star, has revealed why he now laments joining OnlyFans.
The baker won The Great British Bake Off in 2012 before signing up for Strictly in 2019, where he finished second with his professional partner Johannes Radebe.
Last year, he decided to post his content on the over-18 social media site, but subsequently deleted his account.
John, 34, appeared on Steph’s Packed Lunch on Thursday to assist stand-in host Anna Maxwell Martin in discussing the most recent news stories.
John elaborated on his personal experience when the topic of whether or not they would be comfortable with a family member using an adult-only subscription site arose.
‘I actually joined OnlyFans after getting drunk on holiday and I wanted more ownership of my career,’ he said.
He explained that although his family was not opposed to him joining the site, they were very concerned.
‘How can you be a daytime presenter and cook with being on an adult-only site,’ he added.
John stated that he did not wish to specify the type of content he had posted, but that it had felt ’empowering’.
However, he stated that joining the site as a young person could result in a ‘lack of direction’ after they discussed instances in which young women stopped their studies or employment to pursue a career on the site.
John confessed later in the segment that he’regretted’ signing up for OnlyFans, stating that he could have’very easily’ lost his job as a consequence.
‘Because of preconceived ideas but also because I joined OnlyFans after a mental breakdown after Strictly…it was to do with that and I don’t think I was in the best mind-set,’ he continued.
Later, he chose to delete his account so that “no one gets the wrong impression.”
When announcing his move to the platform in August of last year, John stated that he would not be releasing porn and that he believed his ‘workout videos have value’ and his ‘cheekier gym-progress posts’ were’more appropriately suited in an area where age-restriction is better handled’.
Even though people may have “very strong opinions” about his decision, he urged them to “respect it with an open heart and mind.”
Two months later, however, he decided to close his account after hearing reports that platform users could “exploit young children.”
‘While the claims are yet to be proven/refuted, I cannot morally continue to use a platform that is subject to such serious allegations,’ he said.
‘Exploitation of children is abhorrent and it is incumbent on corporations such as OnlyFans to ensure they have the most advanced filter systems in place to prevent and report such activity.’
The site had previously said it used ‘state of the art technology and human monitoring’ to prevent children under 18 sharing content.
Steph’s Packed Lunch airs from 12pm on weekdays on Channel 4.