John Duff, the fearless artist known for pushing boundaries with his lyrics and genre-blending music, has just announced his latest project: an OnlyFans launch one week after the release of his provocative new single and music video, Stick Up. This audacious move reflects Duff’s unapologetic exploration of modern capitalism and society’s complex relationship with integrity and self-worth, with Stick Up offering listeners a gritty look at the lengths people go to survive and thrive in today’s economic climate.
Inspired by a recurring sentiment among artists and workers facing economic strain — “I should just do porn” — Duff explains, “I don’t know anyone in the past four years who hasn’t said those words. They’re usually being cavalier – that they would do anything – as if the perceived immorality of sex work is more compromising than the way said person must behave in a late-stage capitalist landscape. Stick Up is a mirror held up to society, challenging how we perceive morality, integrity, and the compromises people make to be accepted.” He goes on to underscore how the track criticises the moral gymnastics people perform daily, whether in corporate offices, political spaces, or, more candidly, in a strip club.
Stick Up sets its stage in a strip club, alluding to the adage: “Believing the politician cares about you is like believing the stripper likes you.” The song leans into this comparison, portraying everyone as a disgusting player, selling a version of themselves for a chance to get ahead. “Like Cristal Connors’ says in the movie, Showgirls: ‘We take the cash, we cash the check, we show them what they wanna see.’ I personally find that people in sex work have a bit more integrity than most – they acknowledge that they are selling a fantasy. CEOs, billionaires, and gurus cannot always say the same.”
Stick Up marks a departure from Duff’s previous work, including tracks from his Greatest Hits: Deluxe Edition album.
The single takes a raw, spoken-word approach rather than his signature vocal melodies, emphasising lyrical punch over musicality. “I wanted this track to hit differently. It’s the first time I’m not singing. I’m just talking,” he notes.
Fans familiar with Duff’s work on Give a F*ck and Be Your Girl will recognise the biting wit and introspection that has become his trademark, but with a grittier, stripped-back delivery.
In crafting the Stick Up music video, Duff collaborated with an entirely queer team – helmed by Brett Loudermilk and Zain Curtis – marking their debut as music video directors. “I’ve been a fan of their world-building for years,” says Duff.
When Loudermilk and Curtis were asked how they came up with the concept for the Stick Up music video, Curtis said, “As artists, Brett and I are actively creating our own universe. When John gave us the song to listen to, we both saw the need to build a strip club in our fucked up little world. We named it, ‘The Piggy Bank’.”
“It’s amazing to me that people are figuring out that can come to us to make something really fun, really rotten and exactly what people want to see. Our society is so unserious and we’re happy to reflect that in our work. Look into this mirror! It’s you. We’re just showing everyone what’s already there,” added Loudermilk.
Duff adds, “The shoot was magic. No one wanted it to end.” The result is a visual rollercoaster that blends humour, drama, sex, and a bit of the absurd, reflecting the raw themes of Stick Up in both imagery and tone. Adding another layer to the release, Duff has chosen to expand his artistic journey onto OnlyFans, offering his followers a deeper look into his provocative world. “The OnlyFans version of the video includes Showgirls-level explicitness and full-frontal content, making it the most uncensored version of my work to date,” he shares.
OnlyFans subscribers will pay a standard $10 monthly fee, and can expect more than just music videos. “I’m a perverted exhibitionist absurdist, and this platform allows me to share content that goes beyond the restrictions of mainstream platforms. Plus, music alone has paid me negative tens of thousands. OnlyFans gives me the chance to profit directly from my creativity.”
Duff’s experiences in the music industry resonate throughout Stick Up an anthem for anyone who has ever had to hustle to stay true to themselves. “I’ve only spent money pursuing my art,” Duff acknowledges, “all of us artists are told to project an image that isn’t real. Half of these celebrities are BROKE. Integrity has slowed my climb, but I can’t compromise who I am,” Duff explains.
As Duff’s artistry continues to evolve, he says he feels more authentic and fearless than ever. His music has shifted from the optimistic, international gay pop persona of his early career to a more complex exploration of identity and societal criticism. His work has become a platform for honest expression, and with Stick Up Duff has created a poignant commentary on the pressures of late-stage capitalism and the performative nature of modern life. It’s an invitation for listeners to confront their own hustles, to question the roles they play in society, and to recognise that, as Duff puts it, “we’re all whores, darling. All is forgiven. Get that cheque.”
Let us know your thoughts on X (formely Twitter) @SceneLGBTQ and @DaleyPopScene and follow John Duff on Facebook, Instagram, X and beginning November 15, on OnlyFans and stream Stick Up HERE.