Anything for Fame

Ava slips into an airplane bathroom, adjusts her phone settings—and licks the toilet seat. Her TikTok account explodes. Within hours she’s getting interview requests from international media.

As the Internet upends traditional notions of celebrity, Anything for Fame journeys into the virtual Wild West to profile an ambitious and reckless breed of content creator. Hungry for notoriety, they venture to unprecedented highs—and lows—in pursuit of that white-hot commodity, clout.

Amateur stuntman Peter routinely defies death, leaping between urban rooftops, while self- described “dumb-as-shit” suburban prankster Jake stages hair-raising hijinks inspired by the Jackass franchise. And Ava now brands herself “New Jersey Trash,” having parlayed the toilet seat stunt into a lucrative career producing content on OnlyFans.

Only a few will strike it rich. Most find themselves dodging multiple pitfalls and moral dilemmas as they navigate a ruthless “attention economy” where likes and views become intoxicating currency. Online fame can exact a devastating price. While stars rise with meteoric and disorienting speed, they can plummet just as fast—with heartbreaking results.

At a time when the Internet is radically reshaping global economics and culture, Anything for Fame examines the phenomenon of online celebrity with empathy, insight and its own arresting sense of style.