Reality television star Lauren Goodger has opened up about feeling financially trapped, admitting she continues to post explicit content on the subscription site OnlyFans out of necessity, a situation her inner circle fears could plunge her back into a "dark place." The former The Only Way Is Essex cast member, who became one of the show's first millionaires, says her traditional work avenues dried up, leaving her with little choice but to rely on the adult platform to support herself and her young daughter.
The Financial Trap and a Staggering Offer
In a candid interview for the ITV documentary Olivia Attwood: Getting Filthy Rich, the 39-year-old mother revealed the extreme lengths her online interactions have gone. One subscriber propositioned her with an offer of £150,000 to spend a single night with him, a sum she confessed was "hard to turn down." Goodger stated firmly that she would never accept such an offer, explaining she "couldn't" and doesn't even "sleep with a guy in real life."
She joined OnlyFans in 2020 after the Covid-19 pandemic halted photo shoots and filming work, leaving her with mounting bills. "I sort of got backed into a corner," she explained. While she reportedly earned up to £30,000 a month initially, her income from the site has since dwindled. She now charges fans £6,500 for custom content but insists the money is for essentials, not luxuries. "I have my house, my car, my child so don't judge me," she said. "I'm only doing it so I can support myself. I need to live."
Friends' Fears of a Downward Spiral
Despite the financial imperative, those close to Goodger are deeply concerned about the impact on her wellbeing. A source told new magazine that friends "really don't think this is the right path for Lauren to go down, given how hard the last few years have been." They highlighted her existing struggles with low self-esteem, worrying that "just a few negative comments could put Lauren back into a dark place."
The source described her continued engagement with the platform as "like an addiction," driven by a feeling of having "fallen from a big height." Goodger herself admits she doesn't love the work, questioning, "Do I really want these men to have these pictures?" and is acutely aware of the stigma attached. She reads every negative comment about herself, often taking them to heart and questioning if critics have a point, particularly about her fluctuating weight and age.
A Background of Profound Personal Tragedy
The fears for Goodger's mental state are rooted in a series of devastating personal losses she has endured in recent years, which she believes left her with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In July 2022, her newborn daughter, Lorena, passed away shortly after birth. During that period, she had also split from her partner, Charles Drury, the father of her four-year-old daughter Larose.
Tragedy compounded when, just days before Lorena's death, Goodger learned that her ex-partner of five years, Jake McLean, had been killed in a car accident. She later spoke of feeling "abandoned" and her life "getting worse and worse," surviving only because she "had no choice." In 2024, Drury was cleared in court of assaulting Goodger on the day of their daughter's funeral.
Her struggles with public scrutiny are long-standing; she quit TOWIE in 2012 due to insecurities about her weight compared to slimmer co-stars and has faced relentless trolling. She has spoken about profound body image issues, even stating she'd keep her bra on during intimacy.
While one friend has begged her to "delete" her OnlyFans account, telling her she's "so much better than this," Goodger feels there is no alternative for financial survival. The source added that she looks at figures like Kerry Katona, who has used OnlyFans to rebuild, and hopes for a similar turnaround. "It's sad," the source said, "but she feels like there's no way out."
