Digital sex workers are NOT happy with actress Bella Thorne.
The former Disney Channel star recently became the topic of controversy after she made $2 million on OnlyFans in the span of a week. Initially, there was a strong but harmless affront to Thorne’s appearance on the subscription-based adult site. But now Thorne may have had a direct influence on the site’s policies, and sex workers on the platform believe Thorne has ruined things for everyone else.
According to the Rolling Stone, OnlyFans quietly announced changes to its payment policy. From now on, the site has capped pay-per-view messages, where followers can pay to receive private messages and content from account holders to $50. In addition, tips offered to account users are capped at $100. In addition, there was some word of OnlyFans extending the payouts, when users can withdraw their earnings from the site, from seven days to 30 days. However, it was later clarified that this change would only affect a few specific countries like Mexico, Nigeria, and Morocco. After hearing of this change, many OnlyFans users say it will negatively affect their income and livelihoods.
But what caused this shift? Many assume it was Bella Thorne. Earlier this week, Thorne created an account on the adult site. Fans allege that Thorne promoted the sale of nude photos for $200, despite Thorne earlier specifying that she wouldn’t do so, and one Twitter user shared a screenshot of Thorne’s account confirming the nude photo. Though, that screenshot’s credibility was later disproved.
Once they’d paid, fans discovered thirst trap photos such as Thorne eating a hot dog. Many subscribers then attempted to reverse their charges by contacting OnlyFans or their credit card companies.
https://twitter.com/FernsVylette/status/1299449899625443329?s=20
At the height of the moment, Thorne told the Times that she created the OnlyFans account as research for a new film she’s working on with director Sean Baker.
“It’s a feature we are researching as I’m living it currently,” Thorne explained. “What are the ins and outs? What does a platform like this do to its users? What’s the connective material between your life and your life inside the world of OnlyFans? … How can it change your life for the worse and the better? How far are you willing to go, and how far do you WANT to go? You can be me, or this talented girl from Montana, and OnlyFans could change your life — if you want it to, of course.”
If Bella Thorne wanted to actually experience what it’s like being a sex worker, she could have disguised herself, made a fake name, bought an iPhone 7 and started from scratch just like the majority of all sex workers had to do.
— Paris Bush (@itsparisbush) August 28, 2020
That said, Sean Baker later disproved Thorne’s claim of an OnlyFans movie with her. Instead, he said, “I had one conversation with her about a possible collaboration 5 years from now… suddenly there’s news about me making a film about her Onlyfans thing. Not true. At all. I’m working on two films that have nothing to do with Bella or Onlyfans.”
https://twitter.com/bbygrlbea/status/1299454471865536514
After receiving word of this controversy, OnlyFans claims that it didn’t base the policy changes “on any one user.” Specifically, a spokesperson said:
“Transaction limits are set to help prevent overspending and to allow our users to continue to use the site safely. We value all of the feedback received since this change was implemented and we will continue to review these limits,” adding, “We can confirm that any changes to transaction limits are not based on any one user.”
But even if these changes were not a direct result of Bella Thorne’s account, many OnlyFans creators, sex workers, and consumers are blaming her on social media.
So cute how Bella Thorne made her Onlyfans on a whim without doing an once of research on how it would impact the community and she immediately f*cked it up for us 🥰 LOVE that!
— tomboy titties @ Onlyfans & Fansly (@savannah_solo) August 28, 2020
https://twitter.com/bbygrlbea/status/1299180303093846016
i hope bella thorne never has a career ever again pic.twitter.com/dflxIdsFpN
— shelby (@cloudmyg) August 28, 2020
bella thorne fucked over thousands of sex workers whose primary income is onlyfans to research for a movie she’s making about what the platform “does to its users” and ended up ruining the platform??? ok daniel day lewis pack it up 🙄
— helen (@helen) August 28, 2020
https://twitter.com/CrypticNoOne/status/1299384855411785729?s=20
https://twitter.com/ThyArtIsMemes/status/1299365417660579840?s=20
bella thorne redistribute that $1mil to all of the OF sex workers you just shit on and interfered with the income of because your illegitimate experiment fucked up how often and how much they get paid challenge
— bug girl (@buggirl) August 28, 2020
Bella Thorne;
– Hopped on OnlyFans with no intent on taking it seriously
– Made 2 milli in 48 hours
– Scammed her fans
– Ruined the platform for other creators
– Cause OF to cap pricing
– Financially impacted other creators
– Exploited the platform to make a movie… pic.twitter.com/VfyaeQt3hq— MillennialLondoner (@MillennialLDNer) August 28, 2020
i still can’t believe bella thorne singlehandedly ruined the livelihoods of god knows how many sex workers just bc she was bored and wanted to increase her net worth by a million dollars or whatever
celebrity culture is a disease
— indiebrat . bsky . social ✨ (@DoSomeMolly) August 28, 2020
Neither Bella Thorne nor her representation has yet to comment on the situation.
Update (8/31/20):
Both Sean Baker and Bella Thorne have released statements on social media about the incident. Sean Baker, again, refuted the claim that he was working on a project with Thorne. Bella Thorne, meanwhile, apologized, stated that she wished to represent the sex work industry, and alleged that she would be talking to OnlyFans about the policy change.
https://twitter.com/Lilfilm/status/1299491042941566976
I wanted to bring attention to the site, the more people on the site the more likely of a chance to normalize the stigmas, And in trying to do this I hurt you. I have risked my career a few times to remove the stigma behind sex work, porn, and the natural hatred people spew…
— BITCHIMBELLATHORNE (@bellathorne) August 29, 2020
behind anything sex related. I wrote and directed a porn against the high brows of my peers and managers because I WANTED to help with the stigma behind sex.
— BITCHIMBELLATHORNE (@bellathorne) August 29, 2020
…I am a mainstream face and when you have a voice, a platform, you try to use you in helping others and advocate for something bigger than yourself. Again in this process I hurt you and for that I’m truly sorry.
— BITCHIMBELLATHORNE (@bellathorne) August 29, 2020
Ps. I’m meeting with only fans about the new restrictions to find out why!!! This is fucked up and I’m sorry comment any ideas or concerns you want brought up to OF!! and send me your links and a pic so I can promote you guys
— BITCHIMBELLATHORNE (@bellathorne) August 29, 2020
Source: Rolling Stone, The Times, Vulture,
