Actress Drea de Matteo has stated that her decision to join the subscription platform OnlyFans was not only a financial necessity to save her home but also served as a "political statement" against the entertainment industry. De Matteo, known for her role in "The Sopranos," appeared on Jamie Kennedy's "Hate to Break It to Ya" podcast, where she elaborated on her reasons for turning to the platform.
De Matteo, 54, explained that she felt increasingly alienated from Hollywood due to her political views and opposition to COVID-19 vaccine mandates. This led her to seek financial independence from the industry, viewing her OnlyFans presence as a way to say, "F— you. I don’t need to work for your f—ing corporation."
The income generated from OnlyFans allowed her to fund her entrepreneurial ventures, including her clothing line Ultrafree and her podcast of the same name. De Matteo shared that despite her success on "The Sopranos," she was not as financially secure as often perceived, and acting work was often pursued primarily for income to cover mortgage payments.
She recounted difficulties in finding work during the COVID-19 pandemic, as she declined roles that required vaccination. Her agent eventually dropped her due to the limited work available for an unvaccinated individual. This decline in acting income exacerbated her financial troubles, leading to foreclosure notices on her home, though she was ultimately able to resolve the situation but was left with a lien.
De Matteo announced her OnlyFans account in August 2023, posting a nude photo and setting a monthly subscription fee of $15 for exclusive content. She reported that within 75 minutes of posting a bikini photo, a $75,000 lien on her property was paid off. She clarified that this initial payment was solely for the lien, and she later earned substantial monthly income from the platform, sometimes exceeding $100,000.
Initially, de Matteo intended to use OnlyFans as a secure space for her podcast, fearing censorship on other platforms. However, her financial situation led her to monetize the account with content.
She also addressed assumptions about the nature of her content, stating she "only got naked once." This instance involved a protest art piece painted on her body, intended to raise awareness about geoengineering. She believes many of her subscribers are drawn to the page due to her "Sopranos" character, Adriana La Cerva, referring to it as "Adriana's fan page."
De Matteo also clarified earlier remarks about her teenage son's involvement in editing content for her page. She explained that her son had edited only a single photo of her dressed as a superhero during the platform's launch, not regularly editing content as had been previously suggested. She noted the attention this generated caused strain in her relationship with her son as she coached him through the aftermath.