Bella Thorne OnlyFans Controversy Explained

Photo: Getty Images

Bella Thorne has apologised to OnlyFans content creators after her highly lucrative debut on the platform sparked a backlash.

Based in London, the content subscription service is a platform which allows content creators to earn money from users (or "fans") who subscribe to their feeds for a monthly fee.

Though many different forms of video and photo content are uploaded to the platform, OnlyFans is best known for its premium adult content including nude photos and sex videos.

In addition to monthly subscriptions, creators can earn money from tips and the PPV (pay per view) feature, which allows them to charge users an additional sum to access a particular piece of content.

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Thorne joined OnlyFans earlier this month and earned a record-breaking $2 million (£1.5 million) in a week. However, some OnlyFans creators and users accused her of "gentrifying" a platform which has been providing a steady source of income for sex workers – especially during the coronavirus pandemic.

The controversy surrounding Thorne's OnlyFans account snowballed when several content creators accused her of causing policy changes which limit how much they can receive in tips and charge for PPV messages.

These creators have alleged that these policy changes were implemented by OnlyFans after Thorne reportedly charged users $200 ($150) for a "nude" PPV message that wasn't fully nude.

In a lengthy Twitter thread, OnlyFans creator Erika Heidewald claimed that because so many users requested a full $200 refund after receiving Thorne's PPV message , the content subscription service introduced a new policy capping the maximum price for a PPV message at $50 (£37.50) and the maximum tip at $100 (£75).

Heidewald also said that OnlyFans has implemented a new policy whereby creators will be paid monthly, rather than weekly, from now on.

To be able to pay all those people back and prevent such a massive chargeback problem in the future, OnlyFans changes their policies so now the maximum price for a PPV message is $50, maximum tip someone can send is $100, and all the money you make on OF is pending for 30 days.
— Erika Onlyfans Hoedewald (@erikaheidewald) August 28, 2020

is no one gonna talk about how Bella Thorne fu*ked up OnlyFans for the rest of us? She scammed a bunch of ppl and OnlyFans now has all these restrictions that prevents us from making as much money & I’ll stay mad about it
— jessica (@jessjackk16) August 29, 2020

Hi fuck Bella Thorne pic.twitter.com/zKDa1DVb3g
— bea (@bbygrlbea) August 28, 2020

An OnlyFans representative has since told Vulture that it "confirms that any changes to transaction limits are not based on any one user", but did not elaborate any further on Thorne's use of her account.

Thorne has now responded to criticism from her fellow OnlyFans content creators. In a Twitter thread, she said she had joined the platform to "remove the stigma behind sex, sex work, and the negativity that surrounds the word SEX itself by bringing a mainstream face to it".

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She added in a later tweet: "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."

Thorne also said she is meeting with OnlyFans executives to discuss the platform's new restrictions, adding: "This is fucked up and I’m sorry (sic) 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," she added.

PT1 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.
— BITCHIMBELLATHORNE (@bellathorne) August 29, 2020

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

Refinery29 has reached out to an OnlyFans representative for comment.