As Starbucks axes hundreds of stores and thousands of jobs in a sweeping $1 billion restructuring effort, one former employee claims getting laid off was the best thing that ever happened to her.
G Baby, an OnlyFans content creator with millions of followers, says her dismissal from a Starbucks several years ago gave her the push to pursue her own business.
"I got fired from Starbucks, and it was the best thing that ever happened to me," she told LA Weekly. “At the time I thought my life was falling apart, but it set me up for everything that came after.”
After leaving the coffee chain, G Baby, whose real name is Grace, turned to OnlyFans.
She said she didn’t expect much at first, but quickly found a niche by engaging directly with fans.
“It started with a couple of posts here and there,” she said. “Then I realized people were responding to me, not just the pictures. They wanted to connect, and that’s when things really took off.”
“You have to treat it seriously,” she said. “It’s not posting once in a while and waiting for money to show up. You’re creating, editing, promoting, and interacting every single day. It’s work.”
“I used to stress about rent, about bills. Now I’m building savings and looking at investments. It’s a completely different world.”
She says people often underestimate creators on platforms like OnlyFans. “I know people judge,” she said. “But I’m proud of what I’ve built. I own my brand, I set my schedule, and I decide what’s right for me. No boss can take that away.”
She has since embraced her Starbucks past in viral skits.
One video shows her handing out pink drinks while wearing a revealing version of the green apron. Captioned “yk what else is pink,” the clip racked up over 1.8 million likes.
“That job is a punchline now,” she said. “But it gave me the push I needed.”
Her story resurfaces as Starbucks slashes 900 corporate jobs and plans to close about 500 North American stores in fiscal 2025, according to CNBC.
CEO Brian Niccol called the decision part of a move to build “a more resilient Starbucks.” Stock has dropped more than 8% this year amid slower U.S. sales.