Brianna Coppage claims she earned $2 million on OnlyFans last year, far exceeding her earnings as a high school teacher. In an Instagram promotional video, she expressed, “I really need someone to take me to dinner and bring me home for dessert.” Before venturing into OnlyFans in 2023, Coppage taught English at a high school in suburban St. Louis, Missouri. Financial stress hit when her husband lost his job.
“My annual salary was $42,000,” she mentioned in an interview with Ashan Singh on “Nightline.” “Missouri ranks low for teacher pay in the country.” She noticed a friend’s OnlyFans page and decided to try it out. “It started with just me and my husband. We did boy-girl stuff, girl stuff, but I didn’t show my face initially,” she recounted.
This side hustle added $5,000 monthly to her income. OnlyFans hosts over 3 million creators, generating more than $1 billion annually, according to Fenix International Limited’s 2022 earnings report. “We could cover our rent, but I worried about potential risks. I wondered, ‘Could they fire me for this?’”
Despite concerns, she didn’t view her OnlyFans work as conflicting with her teaching role. “I wasn’t breaking any laws,” she stated. “I was there to teach reading and writing, not to instill morals.” Her employer’s opinion became clear when a school employee suspected she was in one of the videos.
“I realised I needed to inform the school,” she said. “Then I started panicking, and someone reported it to them.” This led to her taking leave from teaching, and the story garnered international media attention. “Seeing my name and face in global news was shocking,” she admitted.
Shortly after, Coppage resigned. However, she stated she wouldn’t mind if someone with a similar side-hustle taught her children. “Provided they didn’t bring it to school or discuss it with my kid,” she said. Despite her teaching career ending, Coppage embraced her OnlyFans career. “I have no regrets,” she affirmed.
Coppage fits the typical OnlyFans creator profile – young and female – but the platform caters to varied interests. Joe Gow, a 63-year-old, faced issues with his 16-year tenure as chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse due to his involvement in porn. “We felt liberated and thought, ‘Let’s see if anyone is interested in these videos,’” he told “Nightline.”
Gow and his wife Carmen Wilson have made sexy videos for a decade. “Joe asked, ‘How do you feel about porn?’ I was fine with it,” Wilson recalled. Initially, they recorded about 20 videos privately. That changed in late 2023 when they uploaded them to their “Sexy Happy Couple” OnlyFans account. When this didn’t attract many subscribers, they tried a free porn site.
“I didn’t expect the explosive response,” Wilson noted. “We wondered how we’d get noticed among millions of videos. But we did, quickly.” The university’s legal team contacted Gow regarding the videos. After confirming their identities, Gow was dismissed as chancellor. “Recently, we learned of Dr. Gow’s conduct that harmed the university’s reputation. His actions were unacceptable,” read a statement.
The story gained widespread media attention, with Gow feeling he was punished for making porn with his wife. “The media reaction was overwhelming,” Gow said. “We featured in several British papers and The Economic Times.” Despite losing his chancellor position, Gow hoped his tenured teaching role in media studies would remain.
“I wasn’t surprised they said, ‘You can’t be chancellor,’” he stated. “But targeting my tenured faculty position was unexpected.” In a June hearing, Gow admitted to making the videos. “We did it on our own time and with our money,” he explained. Colleagues expressed concerns about the university’s reputation.
“We don’t want to be known as Porn U,” Interim Chancellor Betsy Morgan said. “We aim to be recognised for our academic programmes.” The university ultimately decided unanimously to dismiss him for unethical conduct. Gow continues to contest the decision, with his health insurance benefit at risk. If he walks away, he keeps the benefit, valued at $313,000. By fighting, he risks losing it. His appeal may be heard in August.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions asked about this news
How much did Brianna Coppage make on OnlyFans?
Brianna Coppage made $2 million on OnlyFans in the last year.
Why did Brianna Coppage start creating content on OnlyFans?
She started creating content on OnlyFans to supplement her income after her husband was laid off.
Did Brianna Coppage face any consequences at her teaching job for her OnlyFans content?
Yes, she went on leave and eventually quit after a school employee reported her OnlyFans content.
What happened to Joe Gow after his OnlyFans videos became public?
Joe Gow was terminated as chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse.
Does Joe Gow still have his tenured teaching position?
Joe Gow is fighting to keep his tenured teaching position after being dismissed for unethical conduct.