Receipts Please! Myths Don't Stand A Chance! Myth #6: All Clients Are Predators

The idea that every client is a predator is one of the most persistent myths about sex work. While violence against sex workers is real and must be taken seriously, painting all clients with the same brush is inaccurate and harmful. This stereotype distracts from the real structural risks sex workers face and fuels policies that make their work more dangerous. From TV dramas to crime podcasts, the “violent john” trope is everywhere. But the evidence doesn’t support the claim that all clients are predators—and focusing on this myth obscures the actual source of risk.