Bella Thorne Denounces 'Controversial' Tag She Carries From Public Scrutiny

Bella Thorne and Zendaya skyrocketed to popularity as part of Disney's newest generation of preteen stars. However, Thorne was accused of having a defiant attitude throughout her time on the network, which lasted until 2013.

The actress has since transformed herself into a forceful voice in a profession that typically places women in easily defined cages. She has seemingly decided to live outside the box in all aspects of her life, from her relationships to her job and sexuality.

Many people believe Thorne has a penchant for stirring up controversy due to her way of life. The 24-year-old has now spoken out against the moniker, claiming that "people deem her controversial because she is a woman."

In a recent interview with Marlowe Stern of The Daily Beast, she expressed her dissatisfaction with the contentious name slapped on her by the public, stating why she believes the label is discriminatory.

"I haven't been arrested. I'm not doing bad things," she said. "Of course, I am a woman, and that definitely plays a part in it."

"If I post in a bikini, it's 'She's a slut,' but if a man posts shirtless on a beach, it's 'Fuck yeah, bro,'" the "Shake It Up" star added. "If a man posts with a different girl every other day, it's 'Fuck yeah, bro, keep getting that pussy,' but if I'm in a three-year relationship, and then break up, and then get into another three-year relationship, it's 'Wow, Bella Thorne, she's a ho. Look at her.' I'm like, what? I've been in long-term relationships my whole life!"

Thorne understands that the causes for the controversial label may vary from person to person. She did, however, mention that one of the causes could be her friendship with some adult stars and her involvement in that industry.

The actress had previously directed the adult film "Her & Him" in 2019, which received a lot of controversies. On the other hand, Thorne is unconcerned about it all since she believes that being allowed to direct the film was a way to help improve the industry's reputation.

The actress added that she had a lot of friends in the sex-work sector, and it was heartbreaking for her to see them suffer because of the stigma they had gotten from the public. So she'd attempt to be a voice advocating for them as much as she could.

Although more celebrities have joined her on the sex-positivity bandwagon, Thorne claims she continues to face sexist double standards, mainly due to her ascent to popularity in the public spotlight.

"I think a lot of people say, 'Oh Bella, you're trying to really break out of your Disney image. You went really sexy. You try to make everyone see how sexy you are and be sexual,'" she said in a 2019 interview with the Insider.

"And I'm just like, no, it's called growing up. It's called, when you saw me, I was 12, and now I'm 23."

She continued: "Imagine if you had a spotlight on your kids at home? You think that would be any different? I assure you, it would not be any different."

During their time at Disney, Thone and Zendaya had grown close. Since then, they've taken separate courses in the entertainment world, with Zendaya currently starring in the smash drama series "Euphoria."

Thorne told the Daily Beast that seeing how her former coworker has progressed from being a Disney kid to playing the lead in one of HBO's most mature series has brought her joy, as they both endured numerous challenges since leaving Disney.

She also joked that if she gets a call from series director Sam Levinson, she'd be down for a role in "Euphoria."