Rachel Dolezal's journey has taken yet another turn.
Rachel Dolezal, once at the center of a national debate on racial identity, has been terminated from her elementary school teaching position due to her activities on OnlyFans.
Rachel Dolezal, known for a 2015 scandal involving her racial identity, has found herself in the headlines again. This time, it's not her racial identity under scrutiny but her attempt to make a living through an OnlyFans account. Dolezal, 46, was let go from her role as an after-school instructor at Sunrise Drive Elementary School within the Catalina Foothills School District in Arizona.
The firing came to light following the school district’s discovery of her OnlyFans page, where Dolezal was reportedly offering risqué content for subscribers at $9.99 a month. The school district cited a breach of their "Use of Social Media by District Employees" policy as the reason for her termination. The situation prompts a discussion on the public-private boundaries of educators' lives and their activities outside the classroom.
Since August, Dolezal had been working at the elementary school, reportedly earning $19 an hour. Her role was terminated on a Tuesday, the exact date not provided, once her additional source of income was discovered. It's a stark reminder of how quickly one's personal decisions can impact their professional life.
On the day following her dismissal, Julie Farbarik, the district’s director of alumni and community relations, addressed the situation. She highlighted the contradiction between Dolezal's OnlyFans account and the district's guidelines for employee conduct online.
In response to losing her job, Rachel Dolezal turned to social media. She posted a smiling selfie on Instagram, engaging with her followers by promoting her art website as a means of support. This move underlines a critical shift towards personal entrepreneurship in the face of professional setbacks.
Dolezal, who now prefers to be called Nkechi Diallo, has faced considerable difficulties in securing stable employment since the racial identity controversy erupted in 2015. Back then, it was revealed that she, a Caucasian woman, had been representing herself as African American while leading the Spokane, Washington NAACP chapter. Since the scandal, Dolezal has worked various jobs to provide for her family, highlighting the importance of adaptability in today’s job market.
Rachel Dolezal’s comments during a 2021 appearance on the "Tamron Hall Show" reflect the challenges she has faced over the years:
I’m still doing the work, I’m still pressing forward, but it has been tough for sure. Not having a job for six years and having to create my job and find my ways to provide for my children through braiding hair, through grant writing to bring funds into marginalized communities and black-owned businesses and nonprofits, through painting, through doing pep talks on Cameo.com.
"People have asked how they can support. Show some love with an order from my art website," said Dolezal. This plea resonates with the ongoing discourse on social media's role in our personal and professional lives. It underscores the evolving landscape of employment, where traditional jobs are increasingly intersecting with the digital and personal brand sphere.
Rachel Dolezal's story is a nuanced narrative of identity, resilience, and the complexities of navigating public controversies. It speaks to broader societal issues such as employment challenges, personal branding, and the implications of social media activities on professional lives. As communities and institutions adapt to these changing norms, stories like Dolezal’s serve as poignant reminders of our times.
The unfolding of events since Dolezal's 2015 controversy presents a case study of the intersectionality of race, identity, and the economic pressures on individuals in the public eye. Her dismissal brings to the fore the delicate balance between an individual's private interests and their professional responsibilities, especially in roles that involve shaping young minds.
