Hollyoaks star Sarah Jayne Dunn has reportedly been sacked over joining the adult subscription site OnlyFans.
The actress, who is one of the long-running soap's biggest stars, is said to have left the show after being unable to 'reach a resolution' with bosses.
Mother-of-one Sarah, who has appeared on Hollyoaks on-and-off as Mandy Richardson since 1996, previously told her Instagram followers that she was 'taking back control' by joining the racy website and using it to share her 'sexier' images.
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A Hollyoaks spokeswoman told the Sun that they had hoped she could remain in the role as mum Mandy but they 'respect' her choice to stay on OnlyFans.
“Hollyoaks is a youth-facing drama with many young viewers, who follow our cast very closely, both in the soap and outside of it," the spokeswoman said.
“We take our responsibility to our young audience very seriously and therefore the show does not allow any Hollyoaks cast members to be active on certain 18+ websites.
“We had hoped we could reach a resolution with Sarah that would allow her to remain in her role as Mandy, but we respect her choice to continue to produce content on OnlyFans.
“In the past four years since her return to the show her legacy character has been an integral part of some our most important storylines and we will be very sad to see her go.”
Kerry Katona, who made her first £1million since bankcruptcy on OnlyFans, has applauded Sarah for joining her on the site.
Mum-of-five Kerry, praised Sarah in her latest column for New Magazine.
Kerry wrote: “I think it’s great to see so many celebrities being open about using it.
"I think the stigma has worn off a bit now.
"We’re seeing more empowerment and acceptance of people who want to make money and celebrate their bodies.
“It’s a business. I am constantly at it, along with my dating app Marnii and my clothing brand.
"I don’t see why it’s a big issue when people find other ways to increase their income – go for it if you want to!”
Sarah penned about her decision last week: "This is a decision I’ve thought long and hard about, not one I’ve taken lightly or on a whim, it’s about taking back control, about empowerment and confidence and having full power over my choices.
"I love doing photo shoots, always have always will, it’s how I got into the acting industry, at the tender age of 12 I decided I wanted to be a model and enrolled on a modelling course, joined an agency and had my first professional shoot and I was hooked. I got my first TV audition and the rest is history.
"I’ve been lucky enough to travel to some pretty amazing places for photoshoots since being 17, that being said I’ve never felt in control, of the content or of the finances.
"I’ve done men’s mag upon men’s mag and calendar upon calendar, I’ve enjoyed every shoot but never felt like I had much say in them.
"I’ve been pitted against other girls and felt deflated if not chosen for a shoot or for a cover, I’ve been airbrushed, retouched and ‘enhanced’ without consent and without necessity and I’ve not always been given photo or copy (the wording of an interview) approval, leaving both my image and words distorted.
"The older I get the more cathartic it is to take back control, to put healthy boundaries in place and to know my worth and my value."
