Chris Salvatore stepped away from OnlyFans earlier this month, and the internet summed up his reason in one word: empty. Now the “Eating Out” actor says that single word missed the point, brought him a wave of hateful messages and buried what he actually wanted to say about sex work.

According to Pride Source, Salvatore, 41, sat down for a new interview published October 19 specifically to explain himself in his own words after the earlier coverage spread.

How “empty” became the headline

It started with a promo interview for his new horror film. According to Out‘s Ricky Cornish, Salvatore said he did OnlyFans for about four years after joining in 2021, and that he first signed up because times were tough and his dog needed surgery on a broken leg. He told Out he’d learned he’s “really not meant for it,” described himself as demisexual, and said he would sometimes “feel empty afterwards.” He also said the break “might not be forever.”

Other outlets ran with that line. PinkNews‘ Lorna McDonald headlined her story on OnlyFans leaving him feeling “empty,” and the framing stuck.

What he says he really meant

Salvatore told Pride Source he doesn’t blame Out, but the short version wasn’t the full story. He said the “empty” feeling came after filming collabs with creators he had only just met, because he found himself using alcohol to calm his nerves before getting intimate. Looking back, he said, he realized he had rarely hooked up sober at all, and that made him question whether the work really fit who he is.

He also shared that he’s exploring a painful experience from his childhood in therapy, and said he’d want to work through all of it before ever considering a return to OnlyFans.

Most importantly to him, he wants it clear that this isn’t a knock on the industry. “Sex work is work, and I champion sex work,” he told Pride Source, adding that he feels a responsibility to share his experience “since it’s just not talked about enough.” He said there were many fun times too, and that the money let him pay his bills and help his family.

Dealing with the DMs

Salvatore said the headline-only version brought in hate messages, which frustrated him because he has long pushed back against the stigma around sex workers. After almost 20 years in entertainment, he said, he’s used to negative comments, and he tends to see a lot of the cruelty as coming from the insecurity and shame many gay men carry from growing up.

He told Pride Source about one past troll who accused him of chasing an elderly neighbor’s money. Salvatore replied with a “virtual hug,” and the person apologized and said they were just having a bad day.

Back on screen as a villain

The project that started all this is “Scorch Marks,” a queer apocalyptic horror film streaming on Dekkoo. According to Pride Source, it’s his first film in more than five years and his first time playing a villain. Salvatore plays Joel, a toxic executive who comes back as a demon to haunt his former partner. Writer-director Brendan Haley frames the film as a critique of how heteronormative culture harms queer people.

Salvatore told Out the role is a big change from the boy-next-door parts he’s known for. He also told Pride Source he’d “love” to do another “Eating Out” film and is writing a book, plus a children’s book, about the elderly neighbor he cared for.

The takeaway

Salvatore’s story is a good reminder of how fast a creator’s words get flattened online. One quote turned a nuanced answer into a headline that seemed to slam the platform, when his real message was more personal and more supportive of sex workers. For anyone thinking about the work, his point is simple: know your limits, and make sure you have a support system around you.

Image: Clapperboard on a film shoot, photo by Mattbr (CC BY 2.0), via Wikimedia Commons.