Sophie Rain is outdoing the NBA again, this time with a simple clapback. An NBA star decided to take a shot at her on the court of opinion, and Rain didn’t take it lying down. Both Sophie Rain and Michael Porter Jr. earn millions annually, yet their work is judged very differently by society.

Sophie Rain is a digital creator and OnlyFans superstar who has publicly disclosed her multi-million dollar earnings. She’s known for her online presence and her fan-driven business model. Michael Porter Jr. is a forward for the Denver Nuggets, and an NBA champion. He earns multi-millions annually for his position as a professional basketball player. On a livestream, Porter was heard saying it was “lame” that men subscribe to Sophie Rain’s OnlyFans page, especially when men with families do so. He was also openly skeptical, and suggested that she might not run her own page, implying that exploitation or deception might be at play. Rain was quick to respond, highlighting the blatant hypocrisy in his statements, pointing out that men are frequently paid enormous sums of money to “dribble a ball,” but that she’s vilified for building a digital empire. Rain also emphasized her work ethic, and detailed her time spent editing her content, messaging with her subscribers, and building her audience on both OnlyFans and traditional social media.

One thing is for certain, male athletes who are paid millions for entertainment do not experience the same kind of moral scrutiny that women who monetize their online presence do. Society is uncomfortable with women who make money off of sexual content, even when that content is legally and consensually made. Per Rain, in creating her content, she provides a service and builds community. Her business model is not unlike that of other entertainment industries.

When athletes earn jaw-dropping salaries, it’s easily accepted as “earned,” however the income that women generate on OnlyFans is frequently dismissed as “undeserved.” Cultural attitudes towards sex work and adult content haven’t shifted much in recent decades, especially when it’s women who are earning the money. If we take a look through a gendered lens, the power that women earn economically through their sexuality is much more policed than men’s physical or entertainment-based success. The great irony at play is that both industries depend completely on fans who pay to watch someone else perform for them.

Both dribbles and DMs are valid ways to earn an income. Both are forms of entertainment, voluntary, and— in the case of Rain and Parker— are both incredibly lucrative. The two are, however, judged very differently, based on who is the one doing the earning. It is worth asking ourselves if the criticism is really about money and morality, or the discomfort that society at large has with women profiting in ways that upset traditional norms. The beef between Parker and Rain isn’t really about what’s “lame.” It’s about who gets to define what legitimate labor is in the digital economy.