(Warning: This article contains NSFW content)
Back in April, Traitor to America, Patreon unveiled its brand new path forward. A creator oriented path forward where creators would be freed from the constraints of censors and other obstacles that hinder the creative processes. Allowing content creators to focus on what they do best, create content. Overall the campaign was cringe, and no one believed they were genuinely going to cease their censorious behavior.
Later that month, the company laid off 13% of its staff, citing non-economic reasons for some of the layoffs. Though what those non-economic reasons were, were never specified to the media.
Now it has become clear the purge had no intention of eliminating the censorious elements within the company. Japanese hentai artist Eigaka revealed the company demanded he censor all of his off-site material. Stating they do not support content featuring the “sexualization of minors”, and that all characters must appear to be an adult. Despite both Japan and the United States considering loli content to be 100% legal.
Naturally, this is just a continuation of systematic discrimination against content creators producing content featuring Japanese Art Styles. Despite the CEO stating their model is unsustainable and the company begging content creators to return, they continue to demonstrate no interest in changing how they operate. Highlighted by the fact two of the images the company demanded to be removed aren’t even loli. They’re short females, one of the futa variety, but neither appearing childish in stance or nature.
So after being told to delete absoltely every supposedly shota drawing from pixiv and twitter (patreon is now monitoring my other sites which is sketchy), I still got suspended after giving me an ultimatum for today the 6th for this two draws I didnt remove. pic.twitter.com/ysSpatXMJB
— EIGΛKΛ (@EigakaArt) July 6, 2020
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Following the suspension of his Patreon accounts, discussions of where he should go sprung up in the post. With the top two contenders being SubscribeStar and Fanbox. That is until users called to attention how American companies cannot be trusted. For as soon as they achieve mainstream appeal, they decided to kick out their fringe elements who made them big in the first place.
Fanbox is a better choice in my opinion. Any American company will eventually attract big business and do away with fringe content as they see fit. This has always been the case (Discord, Tumblr, etc.) I don’t see Japanese companies doing anything like this, regardless of size.
— Dewnot (@Dewnot2) July 7, 2020
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By all appearances, the Japanese audiences have realized that American companies cannot be trusted to partner with. It would be unrealistic to presume this is an observation that only the Japanese markets have come to realize. Over the next decade, mere association with America will become a problematic issue for companies courting both domestic and international markets.
Following the discussions, Eigaka settled on re-establishing himself on Fanbox. As of this writing, his account is currently being set up, but will soon be operational.
reminder that i have moved from patreon to Fanbox now! if you would like to support my art and/or were an old patreon pledger, i would suggest pledging to my Fanbox!
do consider supporting me! its not mandetory but highly appreciated! https://t.co/AxTlBlcQjJ
— 𝗖𝗘𝗢 𝗼𝗳 𝗖𝗨𝗠 (no commission atm) (@Krekkov) July 10, 2020
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Unlike its American competitors, Fanbox is a whole Japanese entity. Ran by the image hosting site Pixiv, it is poised to become a dominant player in the industry if it can maintain its censorship-free mentality. An issue Japanese consumers have experience and willingness to ensure happens.