Disney's Bella Thorne apologises after OnlyFans backlash
Bella Thorne has apologised to OnlyFans users after being slammed by sex workers who believe she is responsible for pricing changes which are affecting them.
OnlyFans changed their policies, preventing creators from charging more than US$40 ($54 AUD) for pay-per-view content and capped users from tipping over US$100 ($135 AUD).
Creators will now also be forced to wait 30 days to be paid as opposed to the seven days it was previously.
Many believe this is in response to Bella earning over US$2 million ($2.72 million AUD) a week after joining the site.
She also broke a record, being the first creator to earn US$1.39 million ($1.89 million AUD) in 24 hours.
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OnlyFans has denied the changes are related to Bella and said in a statement, "Any changes to transaction limits are not based on any one user."
The former Disney star took to Twitter to apologise, saying she joined the site in the hopes to "normalise the stigma" around sex work.
In a series of tweets, she wrote, "Remove the stigma behind sex, sex work, and the negativity that surrounds the word SEX itself by bringing a mainstream face to it that’s what I was trying to do, to help bring more faces to the site to create more revenue for content creators on the site."
"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 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 finished, "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."
Bella also added that she was meeting up with Only Fans to speak about the new restrictions put on creators and find out why they were implemented, "This is f***ed up and I’m sorry."
She asked people to comment with their ideas or concerns that she could bring up in the meeting and for people to send her their Only Fans links or pictures so she could promote them.
Sex workers have accused Bella of "ruining" the website after she allegedly scammed subscribers by promising nude photos for $200, only for her to be wearing underwear in the snaps.
However, she has denied this to the Los Angeles Times, saying the claims on social media were falsified.
She told the publication that she joined OnlyFans to do research for a movie she is making with director Sean Baker.
"It’s a feature we are researching as I’m living it currently," she said.
“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."
However, many OnlyFans users say as a white celebrity, she will never have the same experience of an actual sex worker who has likely faced a negative stigma for their work.
The fact she earned so much so quickly also has users worried the general public will think joining OnlyFans is a way to make quick, easy money rather than a full-time job which it is for many.
Stephanie Michelle, an L.A.-based performer who has been on the site for two years told the publication, "By Bella saying this is just an ‘experiment’ or using it for ‘research’ really degrades our work."
"If she wanted to know how sex workers really live, she could have easily shadowed any number of creators working in L.A. full time.
"Bella herself will ever get the authentic sex worker experience she craves because she is a celebrity. Making millions as a sex worker on your first week is not a universal experience."
Director Sean Baker has also denied being part of Bella's foray into OnlyFans, saying in a statement on Twitter, "I would like to make it clear that the news of me making a film (documentary or fiction narrative) about OnlyFans and using Bella Thorne as research is false.
"I'm NOT attached to this project. I'm actually in development on two features that I've put years of research into and neither of these films have anything to do with Ms. Thorne or OnlyFans."
He continued, saying that earlier in the month he had a conversation with Bella about "a possible collaboration in the far future that would focus on her life and the circumstances leading to her joining OnlFans".
However, he said that he had advised her and her team to consult with sex workers and not to hurt the sex work industry.
"I am an ally and have literally devoted my career to tell stories that remove stigma and normalise lifestyles that are under attack.
"I would never do anything that could possibly hurt the community. So please know that this news isn't correct."
Many people have urged Bella to donate her profits to pro-sex work organisations or to users on the site.
Others are questioning how she is "normalising" sex work when she isn't actually sharing naked snaps.
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