SPOILER ALERT: This post contains details from Episode 6 of “Margo’s Got Money Troubles,” now streaming on Apple TV.
Margo’s journey into OnlyFans was premeditated.
In the dramedy “Margo’s Got Money Troubles,” created by David E. Kelley and featuring Elle Fanning as Margo, the character turns to OnlyFans when financial pressures mount as a single mother. However, the character’s creator approached the storyline differently.
Rufi Thorpe, author of the 2024 novel that inspired the Apple TV series, explained to Variety that her initial concept was to explore a mother working in sex work. Thorpe wanted to delve into the stigmas surrounding sex work and motherhood, both of which trouble Margo throughout the season. Episode 6 marks a turning point as Margo’s real identity is exposed online, leaving friends and family disillusioned by her choices—be it her parenting style or her decision to join OnlyFans, a platform where creators earn directly from fans, often through explicit content.
Thorpe had envisioned an OnlyFans creator for a long time, but faced challenges due to the platform’s complexity. To gain insight, she created a customer account for research, a step later mirrored by Eva Anderson, an executive producer on the series.
Thorpe compiled a list of various creators she followed, from humorous personalities to realistic models, sharing this resource with Anderson and the writing team, who also created accounts to follow these creators.
“We often found ourselves in circular discussions,” Anderson notes, referring to the writers’ initial reluctance to directly reference specific content. “Eventually, we decided to share photos in the group chat to simplify things.”
These inspirations were added to Anderson’s followed accounts list. When filming began, Anderson presented Fanning with a mood board, which Fanning reviewed and remarked, “OK, I understand this on a level that I didn’t before.”
Margo’s OnlyFans content—ranging from alien cosplay to quirky comparisons—defies typical expectations of the platform. While many creators opt for more traditional styles, those with distinctive approaches stood out to Thorpe.
Influencers like TooTurntTony, BigHonkinCaboose, and HarperTheFox showed Thorpe that humor and personality could be integral to the profession. “OnlyFans is more appealing when it feels genuine and personal, unlike overly produced adult content,” Thorpe says. “The humor making a girl attractive to a guy was definitely a component I considered.”
Video elements, such as mannerisms or language, also inspired Anderson and the writing team.
“We realized that the Apple TV audience is generally older than the readers of Rufi’s book,” Anderson observes. While Thorpe’s book attracted a younger, more OnlyFans-savvy audience, the show aimed to guide viewers through the platform, reflecting Margo’s gradual learning process.
The team enlisted OnlyFans creator HankSirStinki as a consultant, helping ensure realism in Margo’s journey, from social media restrictions to financial projections.
The show meticulously recreated the OnlyFans interface, including the chatboxes Margo uses to seek advice from fellow creators.
“The OnlyFans search algorithm is peculiar. It’s tough to discover an account without knowing the exact name,” Thorpe explains. “Collaborating is the best way to gain visibility within the platform.”
“Collaborating is essential for Margo’s progress, but Rose [Lindsey Normington] and KC [Rico Nasty] are crucial as friends and creative partners,” Anderson adds. “It’s not just about capitalism; it’s about forming a community and creating collective art.”
Initially, Thorpe faced challenges reaching out to OnlyFans creators via social media. Ultimately, she used her OnlyFans account to connect, offering a $50 tip to encourage conversations. “I’m a novelist working on a book about a character starting an OnlyFans. I want to accurately portray sex work. The book has no moral agenda. I need good research to ensure accuracy,” she explained.
This strategy was incorporated into the series, with Margo tipping models $50 to ask questions. Thorpe recalls, “Many creators had automated responses, sending explicit content instead of engaging in conversation. I had to clarify my genuine intent to talk.”
Thorpe’s inquiries varied, focusing on aspects of the platform she couldn’t access firsthand.
“When viewing a creator’s account, I can’t see what others are saying,” Thorpe notes. “I often asked: What do men name their profiles? What photos do they use? How do they withdraw money? What does the earnings screen look like?”
Although creators were hesitant to discuss the emotional or psychological impacts of OnlyFans, Thorpe reviewed think pieces by models who had been doxxed or harassed.
“I chose to focus on the early stages of the journey because I could authentically imagine that experience,” Thorpe says, acknowledging her lack of insight into long-term industry involvement.
By making Margo a writer, Thorpe found a way to relate to her character. She crafted Margo’s narrative with detail and care, including the “HungryGhost” username she adopts.
“Margo feels a sense of detachment from the world, partly due to her identity as a writer and person. It felt right that she would see herself as an alien exploring a beautiful land,” says Thorpe. Her complex family dynamics and first-time motherhood contribute to this perspective. “These elements made the alien persona fitting for Margo from the start, and having her baby, Bodhi, amplified that feeling.”
Episode 6 concludes with Margo facing a custody challenge, highlighting the potential consequences of a controversial career like OnlyFans. Although Thorpe and Anderson wanted to depict the platform’s downsides, they were committed to avoiding a “misery porn” narrative, as Anderson describes it.
“We didn’t want to pass judgment on Margo,” Anderson states. “That’s for the critics in the book and the show to do.”
