If you spend even a small amount of time on the internet, you’ve probably heard of Bonnie Blue—the British OnlyFans star known for her preference for barely legal 18-year-old young men. Recently, she stirred up quite a buzz when she announced plans to travel to Australia for a “sex marathon” with consenting school leavers and share the footage on her OnlyFans channel. The announcement sparked a public outcry, leading to calls for her visa to be revoked and accusations of her being a predator. Ultimately, her Australian travel visa was canceled, putting a stop to that particular trip.
Here’s the deal: Bonnie Blue isn’t doing anything new or inherently harmful—she’s simply a woman. Men in the adult entertainment industry frequently create content with young, barely legal women, and these partnerships rarely prompt a public backlash. So, why the uproar when a woman flips the script?
The answer lies in a gender-based double standard. Women in adult entertainment often face harsher scrutiny than their male counterparts, and society’s moral judgments still largely reflect the notion that women exist for men’s pleasure. When a woman like Bonnie takes control of her narrative and sexual agency, the public reaction is swift and harsh.
Despite the “won’t someone think of the men?” outrage surrounding her planned trip, Bonnie’s commitment to ethical standards is remarkable. She requires proof of age through ID checks, has participants sign formal consent forms, and administers a breathalyzer test immediately before any encounter to ensure sobriety and informed consent. Her adherence to legal and ethical standards sets her apart in her industry as an example of how to prioritize safety and respect. Yet instead of praise, she’s met with a brutal backlash and a significant financial hit.
Bonnie’s male contemporaries, meanwhile, rarely face this level of scrutiny. Her extensive consent and vetting process is exemplary precisely because it has to be, while many of her male colleagues take far fewer steps to ensure their partners’ protection and awareness. Women in the adult entertainment industry must not only meet but exceed standards—and even then, they’re often torn to shreds in public forums, while men frequently escape without consequence.
Bonnie Blue’s commitment to ethical standards urges us to consider the real issue behind the controversy: gender bias. The supposed concern for safety and consent is a smoke screen, obscuring the fact that the backlash is about her womanhood. Society continues to view women’s consent practices with skepticism, framing them as never “good enough” unless aligned with the idea that women exist for someone else’s pleasure rather than their own.
Perhaps Bonnie’s rigorous consent process will inspire wider adoption among adult entertainers—men and women alike. Maybe then, society can take a step closer to true equality between men and everyone else.
