Bella Thorne Apologizes for OnlyFans Controversy

Bella Thorne is issuing an apology to the users of OnlyFans following her controversial debut on the subscription-based social media platform. Earlier this month, the actress cleared $1 million in a single day, charging $20 a month to members to access her page and NSFW content, and a week later, that figure grew to $2 million. She claimed that she joined OnlyFans as research for a movie she's making with director Sean Baker, telling the Los Angeles Times, "It’s a feature we are researching as I’m living it currently. What are the ins and outs? What does a platform like this do to its users?”

Almost immediately, backlash from the sex-work community began, accusing Bella of using the platform to capitalize on her celebrity status without bringing awareness to the plight of adult entertainers, who rely on the site for steady income.

Tweets also began circulating that allege Throne was selling pay-per-view naked photos for $200, but the images she ended up sending were not nudes, and OnlyFan users began requesting refunds at such a high rate that some creators claim it changed the platform's policies permanently. Now, creators in some countries will have to wait 30 days to receive their money (as opposed to 7), and there's a cap on the prices they can charge for PPV content and tips.

By Saturday night, the controversy caught up to Bella, and she's addressed the sex-work community directly in a series of tweets, saying she initially joined OnlyFans to "remove the stigma behind sex, sex work, and the negativity that surrounds the word SEX itself by brining a mainstream face to it" which she believed would "create more revenue for content creators on the site." She admitted her plan backfired, writing: "And in trying to do this I hurt you."

She continued, "I am a mainstream fan 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." As for the new policy restrictions surrounding PPV content, she revealed that she's meeting with the company to find out the reasoning behind the recent changes. "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!"