Reason Iggy Azalea quit OnlyFans despite being one of the highest earners on the platform

Iggy Azalea has opened up about why she stepped away from OnlyFans - despite becoming one of the platform’s top earners.

Iggy Azalea was one of OnlyFans' top earners. Credit: Dave Kotinsky / Getty

The 35-year-old rapper, whose real name is Amethyst Amelia Kelly, first rose to prominence with her debut studio album The New Classic in 2014.

The album was a global success, landing in the top five on multiple international charts and ultimately reaching No. 1 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart - making Azalea the first non-American female rapper to achieve that milestone.

Nearly a decade later, in 2023, Azalea made headlines again when she announced to her 7.5 million followers on X (formerly Twitter) that she was launching a bold new creative endeavor.

Titled Hotter Than Hell, the exclusive mixed-media project would be released through the adult subscription platform OnlyFans.

“SURPRISE! I’m dropping a mixed media project called ‘Hotter Than Hell’. There’s photographs, visual artist collabs, videos, merch, and all kinds of aesthetically pleasing, hot as hell things happening this year,” she wrote in the now-deleted post, adding, “You can get first look content + updates on my new OnlyFans account,” as cited by XXL Mag.

According to reports, the 'Fancy' hitmaker topped the platform’s celebrity earnings, bringing in a staggering $9.2 million per month.

But despite the financial success, she confirmed she’s moved on to other ventures- including her own cryptocurrency coin, $MOTHER, and an interactive community on Telegram.

Speaking with journalist Laura Shin on the Unchained podcast in July, Azalea explained why she ultimately shut down her OnlyFans page.

While Azalea admitted her crypto efforts aren’t generating as much income, she said the two platforms aren’t as different as people may think.

“I mean, I'm sure a lot of people wouldn't like to hear it in a way because people think about OnlyFans and they think that it's so sexually deviant and a lot of it is, obviously,” she said.

“But a lot of it isn't, and so for me to say what I'm going to say right now and say it's really not that different, I'm sure a lot of people would like to think they're a lot different to the people that go on OnlyFans," she added.

Azalea described her experience on the adult content site as a “learning experience,” crediting her music career for preparing her to build and manage a dedicated fan base.

“I already have experience cultivating communities,” she said, noting that what people really wanted wasn't just risqué content, but genuine connection.

Initially, she joined the platform to share explicit visuals that weren’t allowed on Instagram. However, her plans shifted after falling ill and being unable to complete the content series.

What she discovered, though, was eye-opening. “A lot more of my people that I would talk to every day just seemed like they wanted regular human interaction or friendship more than they wanted a transactional relationship,” she said.

Azalea now shares content on Telegram. Credit: Gerardo Mora / Getty

Fans began messaging her on Instagram, expressing regret about missing interactions with her on OnlyFans because they couldn't afford the $25 monthly subscription.

“It was really just more about friendship connection,” she explained. “Which was beyond monetary.”

That realization led Azalea to move to Telegram, a platform that allows creators to monetize through premium content, product sales, and advertising, without the stigma often associated with adult content platforms.

"Hey, everyone! I enjoyed our conversations so much - but I've decided I don't have enough time to chat via this page anymore. You can find me on Telegram," she shared on her social media.

Now focused on building digital communities through crypto and messaging services, Azalea seems to have found a different way to connect with her fans.

Featured image credit: Ethan Miller / Getty