Fury over £200,000-a-month OnlyFans model’s billboard advert erected just yards from a primary school – as she says it’s ‘less racy than ads you see for lingerie’
- The ASA has said it is investigating complaints regarding the adverts
- Ms Watson is thought to be a millionaire from her online cam business
Fury has erupted after an OnlyFans model erected a billboard promoting her raunchy content just yards away from a primary school.
Eliza Rose Watson, 34, played down the outrage by claiming that the imagery used is ‘less racy than ads you see for lingerie’.
The huge billboards have been spotted in at least three different areas of the capital; in Harrow, Edgware and Lambeth.
Outraged locals expressed their dissatisfaction at the model’s marketing strategy, with one in Harrow defacing the advert by spray painting the message ‘Keep porn off our streets’.
One Harrow resident, who did not want to be named, slammed the ads, saying: ‘The gambling, alcohol, and tobacco industries are regulated on how and to whom they are able to advertise, with particular regard to the need to protect children, young people, and those who are vulnerable from being harmed or exploited.
Billboard advertising the OnlyFans performer in Cambridge Road, Harrow, north west London
The model, who boats 2.7million followers on Instagram, reportedly forked out £18,000 for saucy billboards to promote her OnlyFans account
Outraged locals expressed their dissatisfaction at the model’s marketing strategy, with one in Harrow defacing the advert by spray painting the message ‘Keep porn off our streets’
According to the model, one of the reasons she paid for the billboards was to ‘break the stigma’ surrounding the subscription platform
‘The billboard is not only visible to anyone at all times but is also less than half-a-mile away from two schools, one of which being for primary school children and shares a road with the advertisement.
‘Naturally, this is on the same route parents would take their children to school.
‘Regardless of what the intended audience may be, it is a matter of fact that pornographic services are being promoted to children in this instance.
‘Placing the responsibility of advertising standards in the hands of every parent is as impractical as it is immoral.
‘Separately from the issue of children, I’m sure many adults would find the billboard in poor taste, as sexual services and, by extension, sex itself have always been treated with an appropriate amount of sensitivity in polite society.
‘There is a reason why most would be happy to discuss their favourite rolling tobacco or whiskey with their grandmother, but perhaps wouldn’t be so forthcoming with their online pornography habits.
‘Sex and the use of sexual services such as OnlyFans is something that should be kept private, which is why advertisements such as these have no place on our streets.
‘This is a question of the sort of activities we choose to promote and endorse within our society, not a moral argument for or against pornography.’
The UK’s advertising watchdog, the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA), has said it is reviewing complaints made about the advert.
In a statement, the ASA said it had received five complaints in total.
‘Complainants believe the ad is inappropriate, in particular in untargeted media where children are able to view it,’ it said.
Although the OnlyFans star (pictured) admits the raunchy posters may be a controversial move, she insists that her ads are nowhere near as sexy as other brands’ such as lingerie and alcohol companies
One of the OnlyFans billboards pictured in in Gold Hill, Burnt Oak, north west London
‘We’re reviewing these complaints to determine whether there are grounds for an investigation.’
Ms Watson, who is now thought to be a millionaire from her online cam business, said she understands why some would be worried about children potentially accessing adult entertainment.
The former preschool teacher-turned adult content creator claimed OnlyFans is ‘one of the most protected platforms’ against underage people accessing pornography.
She said there were months of planning and discussions regarding advertising regulations to make sure the advert would be approved and would not be harmful to children.
Comparing her billboard to underwear marketing, she said hers ads were ‘less sexy than Ann Summers’ and ‘well within advertising guidelines’.
She said: ‘But to the people that are in general offended just because it’s kind of not something that’s done – there’s many other adult-oriented ads.
‘There’s ads for alcohol, there’s ads for gambling, there’s ads for Ann Summers, and you encounter those walking down the high street on a daily basis.’
According to the model, one of the reasons she paid for the billboards was to ‘break the stigma’ surrounding the subscription platform which has been popularised by people posting raunchy content behind a paywall.
She added: ‘The more people can open up the dialogue about it, the less secrecy and shame or potential misuse of the platform.
‘People were very supportive, like my subscribers were really excited and my mum and dad loved it. I sent it to my mum and dad as soon as it went up.
‘Given the careful thought and consideration behind it and looking into any legitimate harm that could be done to a child, I don’t think I’ve done anything wrong.’
Ms Watson, who claims to be a ‘recovered addict, turned gym junkie’ said shrugged off the criticism, saying: ‘some people are always going to be offended by stuff. That’s just the way it goes.’
The model previously described being addicted to drink and drugs in the past, however she has turned her life around and now rakes in around £200,000 a month using the platform.
Eliza Rose Watson (pictured) previously described being addicted to drink and drugs in the past, however she has turned her life around and now rakes in around £200,000 a month using the platform
Ms Watson is thought to be a millionaire from her online cam business
‘If a child was to see that – one it is designed for adults. The picture is of a 34-year-old woman and the OnlyFans logo is there. It doesn’t tell you how to access it, it doesn’t give a website address, it’s just there.
‘And if someone underage were to try and access that, as long as there’s parental controls on their phone – which I assume there are – they’re not going be able to load onlyfans.com. It just doesn’t work.’
A spokesperson for billboard company Amplify, which Ms Watson paid to place the adverts, told the BBC it follows ‘strict ASA rules’ and the company had ‘stuck to the advertising guidelines’.
‘The contents of the campaign are those of the advertiser, not of Amplify,’ they said.
‘We believe the adverts being displayed are well within the ASA rules.’
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