Bella Thorne apologises to OnlyFans users after making $2m in a week
After her OnlyFans debut earned her over $2m, a former Disney starlet has issued an apology to sex workers who weren’t happy.
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Disney starlet turned adult film director, Bella Thorne has apologised to users of the website OnlyFans after sex workers said she was responsible for pricing changes which have financially impacted its content creators.
On August 28, the explicit subscription-platform changed its policies, preventing creators from charging over US$40 for pay-per-view content and capped users from tipping over US$100.
Some members claimed this was in response to Thorne generating over US$2 million (A$2.7 million) just a week after joining the site. The 22-year-old also broke records, becoming the first OnlyFans member to generate US$1.39 (A$1.9m) million in just 24 hours.
RELATED: Disney starlet’s shock move to porn
Responding to the backlash on her Twitter account, Thorne said she joined the platform in an attempt to “normalise the stigma” around sex and sex work.
“I wanted to bring attention to the site, the more people on the site the more likely of a chance to normalise the stigmas, and in trying to do this I hurt you,” wrote the Midnight Sun and Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip actor.
“I have risked my career a few times to remove the stigma behind sex work, porn, and the natural hatred people spew 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.”
She also apologised for hurting users who have been financially impacted by the new changes and said she was in talks with the website over the new restrictions.
“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,” she wrote.
“PS, I’m meeting with OnlyFans about the new restrictions to find out why!!! This is f***d 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.”
RELATED: Bella Thorne comes out: ‘I’m pansexual’
After the changes were announced, sex workers and advocates voiced their frustrations online, accusing the actor of “ruining” the website. Thorne is also accused of allegedly scamming subscribers after promising nude photos for $200, however she has denied this to the Los Angeles Times.
“1. Bella Thorne is trash for scamming and ruining OnlyFans. 2. OnlyFans is trash for changing policies for everyone instead of banning her. 3. Her subscribers are stupid and y’all should have just subscribed to actual sex workers and you wouldn’t get scammed,” wrote OnlyFans content creator Erika Heidewald.
“So cute how Bella Thorne made her OnlyFans on a whim without doing an ounce of research on how it would impact the community and she immediately f***ed it up for us. LOVE that!” tweeted Savannah Solo.
please tip ur fav onlyfans creators because bella thorne is out here ruining it all for us
— isabel (@isabelfulla) August 28, 2020
Commenting on the controversy, OnlyFans has denied claims their policy change was related to Thorne, stating that “any changes to transaction limits are not based on any one user”.
“Transaction limits are set to help prevent overspending and to allow our users to continue to use the site safely,” read a statement shared by the site. “We value all of the feedback received since this change was implemented and we will continue to review these limits.”
Launched in 2016, OnlyFans originated in the UK and allows content creators to charge subscribers, or ‘fans,’ for accessing their content.
While it’s popular among adult actors and sex workers, the platform is also used by fitness instructors and musicians.
Originally published as Bella Thorne apologises to OnlyFans users after making $2m in a week