Sophie Mudd Says TV Misses The Business Behind OF

Hollywood is paying closer attention to the creator economy, but Sophie Mudd believes some portrayals still miss what the job looks like behind the scenes.

The social media personality recently pushed back on the idea that success on OnlyFans is simply a matter of posting a photo and watching money arrive.

“I don’t wanna say they didn’t capture it, but I think there’s some misinformation about the business behind the scenes,” Mudd told Playboy earlier this month.

Now, Sophie Mudd is getting an opportunity to help shape that world herself through “Subs,” a dark comedy thriller in development inspired by creators’ real experiences.

Sophie Mudd Says The Finished Photo Hides A Bigger Business

For Mudd, the biggest misconception begins with everything viewers never see.

“A lot of people think I just wake up and take the photo by myself in the morning and have a bunch of money in my bank account. But that’s so not how the business works,” she said.

Mudd explained that she regularly studies her metrics and keeps a large whiteboard at home filled with cosplay ideas and potential shoot locations.

“Nothing that I post is ever really random,” she said.

In an exclusive comment to The Blast, Mudd said creators constantly make decisions based on what audiences respond to and what they want to produce next.

“People see the finished photo, but they don’t see the planning that went into it,” Mudd told The Blast. “I’m thinking about what my audience responds to, what I want to create next and how to keep it interesting. That’s a real part of my job, and I’d love for people to see it on screen.”

‘Subs’ Gives Mudd A Chance To Bring That Reality To TV

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That opportunity is coming through “Subs,” a dark comedy series being developed by “Fly Me to the Moon” screenwriter Rose Gilroy and “The L Word” co-creator Ilene Chaiken through Run-A-Muck.

Deadline reported that the project will star Mudd alongside fellow creator Ari Kytsya. The story follows two best friends who build a multimillion-dollar OnlyFans business after being blacklisted by Hollywood, only to face AI competitors, parasocial stalkers and the manosphere.

Run-A-Muck said Mudd and Kytsya have been active creative collaborators from the beginning, helping shape the project with firsthand knowledge of the creator economy.

“When I talked with the team behind ‘Subs,’ they asked questions about the everyday details that usually get skipped,” Mudd told The Blast. “I don’t expect a TV show to explain every part of the business, but I do think it can show that creators are making deliberate decisions about their work.”

Other Creators Have Questioned Hollywood’s OF Portrayals

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Sophie Mudd is far from the only creator asking for more nuance.

After “Euphoria” returned for its third season, Sophie Rain told Complex that the show’s portrayal of OnlyFans as an “easy money gateway” was “damaging for girls.”

Rain argued that headline-making earnings can create a misleading impression of what most creators make.

ELLE later spoke with creators about portrayals in “Euphoria” and “Margo’s Got Money Troubles.” Taylor Vixxen said mainstream media often reduces OF to either a “quick-money fantasy” or a cautionary tale, while Gracie Canaan described the work as requiring “grit, strategy, and consistency.”

That closely mirrors Mudd’s description of her own process, where ideas, audience data, and planning shape what ultimately appears online.

More From The Blast

Hollywood Is Starting To Show More Of The Work Behind The Screen

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Not every recent portrayal has drawn the same criticism.

Creators interviewed by ELLE generally viewed “Margo’s Got Money Troubles” as a more detailed depiction of the entrepreneurial side of the business.

The series shows Elle Fanning’s character developing concepts, costumes and sets around her online persona instead of simply uploading content.

Fanning has said researching the role changed her understanding of OF, particularly the imagination involved in building an online identity.

Mudd’s point is similar. Hollywood can tell dramatic stories about creators while still acknowledging the decisions behind the images audiences see.

Sophie Mudd Is Already Giving Fans A First Look At ‘Subs’

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There is no premiere date for “Subs” yet, but its world is already taking shape.

Run-A-Muck released Gilroy’s short story “Backstage Bella” as an early entry into the “Subs” universe, with Mudd appearing as Bella.

The company said the project is part of its approach to building stories across platforms while the television series is still being developed.

For Mudd, it represents something she has wanted to see for years.

“I’m excited to show the truth,” she said.

If “Subs” succeeds, it may do more than turn the creator economy into entertainment. It could show viewers that behind a seemingly effortless photo is a business built on planning, strategy and constant calculation.