In December 2020, the New York Post published a story identifying 23\u2011year\u2011old New York City paramedic Lauren Caitlyn Kwei after she revealed she had been using the subscription platform OnlyFans to supplement her income because her EMS job didn\u2019t pay enough to cover basic living costs. The article included her real name, employer, and linked her social accounts \u2014 even though she had asked to remain anonymous.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Post\u2019s coverage was widely criticized on social media and by public figures as unnecessary and harmful \u201cdoxxing\u201d \u2014 exposing someone\u2019s private work life in a way that could jeopardize their job \u2014 especially during a pandemic when first responders were already under extreme strain. Many called out the outlet for stigmatizing sex work and shaming someone simply for trying to make ends meet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Supporters pointed out that Kwei\u2019s side work was a legitimate way to earn extra income and that outing her might risk her career and personal safety. Even Representative Alexandria Ocasio\u2011Cortez publicly defended her, saying the real issue was that medics needed to take on multiple jobs to survive \u2014 not that she used a platform like OnlyFans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n