CCP146: On OnlyFans and Hooters

Apr 11, 2025

The discussion dives into Hooters' decline and its bankruptcy, tied to shifting cultural norms around sexuality. It contrasts this with the rise of OnlyFans, where users seek intimate connections through personalized content. The podcast explores how younger generations prefer private, digital interactions over traditional venues. It also touches on the psychological impacts of parasocial relationships and addresses loneliness, underscoring the need for authentic community in today's society.

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ANECDOTE

Hooters' Origins

Hooters, founded in the early 80s, was initially a joke.
It became a successful restaurant chain known for chicken wings and its waitresses.

INSIGHT

Hooters' Downfall

Hooters struggled to balance political correctness with its male-centric appeal.
The rise of easily accessible pornography made Hooters seem tame.

INSIGHT

Beyond Sex Appeal

The #MeToo movement and evolving cultural norms impacted Hooters.
Hooters offered men a form of interaction and a pseudo-relationship.

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In this week's conversation between Dr. James Emery White and co-host Alexis Drye, they discuss the interesting cultural connection between the demise of Hooters (which has now filed for bankruptcy) and the rise in popularity of OnlyFans. For those not familiar with this website, it's a platform where people offer online content that they've created, which is usually pornographic in nature, to paid subscribers. People are spending thousands of dollars to both see content created by their favorite creators and to interact with them through texting and personalized content - essentially creating a fantasy relationship. To be frank, an establishment like Hooters is absolutely tame when compared to the ubiquitous nature of porn.

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Whereas years ago men might have been drawn to a place like Hooters, younger generations are so much more private, and access to websites like OnlyFans affords that privacy. There are several articles that would be worth your time to read, particularly those about OnlyFans, as people need to be aware of how addicting the platform has become for so many people:

Elaine Kurtenbach & Dee-Ann Durbin, “Restaurant chain Hooters goes bust and files for bankruptcy protection,” AP News, April 1, 2025.

Russell Moore, “Hooters and the Future of the Church,” Christianity Today, April 2, 2025.

Carly Lewis, “Addicted to OnlyFans Men are spending tens of thousands of dollars to text with their favorite creators.” New Yorker Magazine - The Cut, April 1, 2025.

Magdalene Taylor, “When Is OnlyFans Cheating, and When Is It Just Porn?” New Yorker Magazine - The Cut, December 14, 2024.

Ezra Marcus, “The ‘E-Pimps' of OnlyFans,” The New York Times, June 15, 2023.

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