A crucial component of Rufi Thorpe’s novel is absent. Here’s the reason.
Apple TV and A24’s “Margo’s Got Money Troubles” is progressing through Rufi Thorpe’s novel, but one essential character is absent. Where is JB?
In the novel, JB is one of Margo’s (Elle Fanning) dedicated OnlyFans clients. Their interaction transcends Margo’s usual exercise of evaluating clients’ private parts and equating them to Pokémon. Eventually, their exchanges evolve into prolonged emails, followed by phone calls, culminating in a face-to-face meeting and romance.
Before their relationship fully flourishes, a dramatic moment arises concerning Margo providing JB a false name and information to shape her online persona. When a confrontation ensues, Margo considers returning the money JB paid her to prove her affection. Initially, Thorpe planned for Margo to return the money, but real-life sex workers advised against it.
“Almost universally, sex workers believed returning the money implied wrongdoing in accepting it. She rightfully earned the money by creating the fantasy. That admission would imply fault, which is incorrect,” Thorpe noted in The Hollywood Reporter in April 2026. “And I acknowledged their correctness, as it hadn’t occurred to me.”
Margo’s developing relationship with JB is a substantial narrative thread in the novel, but midway through the television adaptation, JB remains unseen. According to a casting announcement in Deadline in May 2025, Michael Workéyè was cast as JB. However, Thorpe disclosed in the same April 2026 Hollywood Reporter interview that the JB storyline was excluded.
“They endeavored to retain all of JB’s romantic involvement, but the material was excessive,” Thorpe remarked to The Hollywood Reporter. “Transitioning from dramatic scenes to flirtatious texting was jarring. Being apart, certain novel techniques didn’t translate well to the screen. An attempt was made, but the medium proved too distinct.”
Consequently, Margo’s romance won’t feature in the forthcoming episodes, but it allows more focus on her surrounding support system, including her mother Shyanne (Michelle Pfeiffer), her father Jinx (Nick Offerman), her roommate Susie (Thaddea Graham), and OnlyFans partners KC (Rico Nasty) and Rose (Lindsey Normington).
“Margo’s Got Money Troubles” is currently available on Apple TV, with new episodes releasing every Wednesday.