Jessica Alves, the model famously dubbed the “human Barbie doll,” recently revealed that her longstanding bank account with Barclays has been abruptly terminated. Alves, who is also active on OnlyFans, claims that her involvement with the platform is the reason behind the account closure.
Alves, who has been banking with Barclays for 22 years, received a notice in the mail stating that her account was being closed. Concerned and confused, she immediately went to a branch in London to understand the reasoning behind the decision. According to reports, Alves was informed that her account was being terminated because she is considered a sex worker—a label she disputes.
Barclays Terminates Jessica Alves’ Account Over OnlyFans Presence, Sparking Industry Concern https://t.co/MQbIY958uu via @coinotagen
— imX (@imcoinx) August 17, 2024
“I have banked with Barclays for 22 years and I was told I can’t bank with them anymore because I’m considered a sex worker,” Alves said. “I explained that I’m not and that my income comes from my rental properties, TV shows, and brand endorsements. My OnlyFans is purely a fan page where fans have direct access to me. There are some Page 3-style and sensual images but no sex acts or pornography.”
In response, Barclays issued a generic statement about their account closure practices. The bank emphasized that such decisions are not taken lightly and are made in accordance with their terms and conditions to prevent potential legal or regulatory breaches, particularly those related to financial crime.
“We will only close a customer’s account after careful thought and in line with our product terms and conditions, including where we believe that keeping the account open may cause us to breach laws or regulations, some of which are to prevent financial crime. We do not take this decision lightly, understanding the difficulties that having banking services withdrawn can cause,” Barclays stated.
The closure of Alves’ account has brought attention to a broader issue that has been gaining traction: the practice of banks shutting down accounts of individuals involved in the adult industry. This issue came into the spotlight following several high-profile debanking cases, including that of politician Nigel Farage.
Earlier this year, a parliamentary committee reported that over 140,000 business accounts in the UK were shut down by major banks within a single year. In light of these figures, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is conducting an ongoing review to determine whether these closures are legal and fair, particularly when it comes to individuals and businesses associated with the adult industry.
Jessica Alves Reportedly Blasts Barclays For Closing Her Account ‘Because She Has OnlyFans’ https://t.co/ugmK1sRmHd pic.twitter.com/L99BztjBC9
— Voice Of Anambra West (@Olubanasa) August 13, 2024
Key Points:
- Jessica Alves, known as the “human Barbie doll,” claims her bank account with Barclays was terminated due to her presence on OnlyFans.
- Alves asserts that her income primarily comes from rental properties, TV shows, and brand endorsements, not from sex work.
- Barclays issued a statement explaining that account closures are made carefully to prevent potential breaches of laws or regulations.
- The incident raises broader concerns about banks shutting down accounts of those associated with the adult industry, a growing issue in the UK.
- A parliamentary report revealed over 140,000 business accounts were closed by major UK banks in one year, prompting an ongoing review by the Financial Conduct Authority.
Conner T – Reprinted with permission of Whatfinger News
