Teaching assistant with spicy OnlyFans account fired for what employer calls ‘blatant’ behavior
A Maple Ridge teaching assistant who says she struggled to make ends meet has been fired from her second job: posting racy content online, including on OnlyFans.
Kristin MacDonald, 35, posted exciting photos and videos under the name of Ava James for about a year on the website known for modified pornography.
That angered School District 43, where MacDonald had been a teaching assistant at Terry Fox Secondary in Port Coquitlam since 2015.
The district ordered her to shut down her adult content on social media, including OnlyFans, in April or risk being fired.
She didn’t. She was peated on June 16.
“Your misconduct in this matter is egregious,” read a letter of resignation from a district assistant superintendent, listing six reasons for her to be fired.
Among them, material was reportedly posted on public social media accounts that “involves the sexualization of the school environment”.
It also alleges that MacDonald disparaged the district in media interviews, linked her teaching assistant and adult performance work through those interviews, and capitalized on the link between being a school employee and being an adult performer through her OnlyFans subscription offerings.
“In the employer’s opinion, each of the above six points independently constitutes a fundamental breach of your obligations as an employee and grounds for termination of your employment,” the letter reads.
“As such, your employment will be terminated with immediate effect for cause.”
‘It seems very petty’
MacDonald first spoke about the layoff in an interview Monday because she had been traveling.
She said firings were a foregone conclusion. She suspects a TikTok video of her in a schoolgirl outfit may have been a particular problem for the district.
“I feel like they’re making connections to, you know, I’m defaming the education system by wearing this outfit,” MacDonald said. “It’s so far-fetched for me. It seems very petty.’
MacDonald said she and her union have filed a complaint. Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) 561 did not immediately respond Monday to CBC News’ request for comment.
LOOK | Kristin MacDonald discusses ‘misconceptions’ about OnlyFans’ work:
Kristin MacDonald says OnlyFans is part of the evolving face of sex work, empowering women like herself.
“There’s been a lot of mixed feelings about it,” MacDonald said. “Sure, disappointment and all. But I’m also optimistic that the process isn’t over yet.”
MacDonald said that as a teaching assistant, she only made $1,000 every two weeks after deductions. She insisted that while on duty at the school, she focused solely on helping students and had never been the subject of complaints about her behavior with students.
She says there should be more attention to the low wages of teaching assistants and less stigma around sex work. She does not regret speaking out.
“I strongly believe that in this day and age we should be able to do whatever we want as long as it’s not illegal,” MacDonald said. “I’m not hurting anyone.”
School District 43 did not respond to an interview request Monday.
In a statement in late June, it said all employees are treated fairly and equitably when investigations are conducted.
“The district does not comment on individual employee matters.”
