Bella Thorne on being bisexual: ‘it is hard in this business for us’

just having some #BTS fun

A photo posted by BELLA (@bellathorne) on


Bella Thorne is quite… open on social media. And by open I mean she regularly posts bikini and workout photos, of PDA with the person she’s dating (Tyler Posey at this point) and of getting procedures like her eyebrows tattooed and her septum pierced (notice the giant hickey on her neck). That’s alright, she’s 19 years old and it’s become a cliche to say but I’m glad that social media didn’t exist when I was 19 and figuring out my identity. Like Bella, I am bisexual but I’m honestly not that open about it. (Guess I am now. I’m also a monogamist and people still conflate bisexuality with promiscuity, which bugs.) The stigma around bisexuality, sexual fluidity and gender fluidity is lifting gradually. Say what you will about women like Miley Cyrus and Bella Thorne, they’re visible and they’re helping raise awareness. They’re also facing pushback online and in their careers. Bella talked about this in an interview with Maxim. It sounds like an executive or manager type told her to stop sharing so much online. My initial response is to assume she’s confusing people telling her to tone it down with them telling her to stay in the closet, but you know what? As women we know sexism when we experience it and people who experience homophobia or racism know it too. Here’s part of what Bella said:

Why did you decide to publicly come out as bisexual?
I didn’t even think about it. A fan on Twitter asked me, and I’m super open about it. So I just said, “Yeah!”

Has there been any backlash?
It is hard in this business for us. It really is. I have already had people talk shit to me. And it comes from people in the industry, not even fans. I’ve had studios tell me my image is too “out there,” hinting at it but not really saying it.

Do you take any heat from publicists about your social media use?
People tell me all the time about my social media and my Snapchat, but I’m not going to change myself for this business, and I’m not going to change myself for anyone else.

What actresses do you look up to?
I love Rose Byrne. She does two of my favorites genres so well–comedy and horror–so I can’t do anything but admire her completely. And obviously, Jennifer Lawrence. I like her attitude and how she is always speaking out. A lot of people tell me I’m like her, which is cool.

Have you got any celebrity crushes, male or female?
Demi Lovato. I must say…rawrrrr. She is a pretty toasty woman. Miley Cyrus, too. She’s dope. But Demi is fire, just fire.

What’s your perfect day in Los Angeles?
Yesterday was my perfect day in Los Angeles. We hung out by the pool and then watched movies all day and night until we fell asleep, and it was perfect.

Do you have a guilty pleasure?
Oh, don’t I always have a guilty pleasure? Empire just came back on so I’m really excited about that. I’m waiting for Scream to come back on, of course. I’m gonna get Tyler [my boyfriend] to start watching Sons of Anarchy. I’ve already watched it twice, but he’s gotta watch it so I’m gonna start that with him because he’ll love it.

What do you look for in a guy, or girl for that matter?
Somebody who gets you, that relationship where somebody’s just completely accepted who I am as a person and is just like, “F-k it!” I love that.

[From Maxim]

I can’t help it, I like her! Yes she’s annoying and in our face and she’s thirsty and a hustler. But she’s also unapologetic, she’s out there, and she loves TV and movies, which is something I can definitely relate to. Go ahead and tell me I’m wrong and that she’s using her bisexuality for “attention.” She may use everything for attention, but that doesn’t mean she’s not bisexual or is playing it up, she’s just open about it.

Bella also posted a video to Snapchat in which she goes on a mini rant against sexism. She references a tweet she made but I checked her Twitter and can’t figure out what she’s talking about. She said “Go to Twitter now and look at what I just wrote. This is the kind of sh-t that makes me really upset. You think it’s so funny until you’re then one getting beaten to death in a bathroom stall that’s disgusting. [I used] to think it was more men with the sexism thing but now I realize it’s girls tearing other girls down for no reason at all.” At the end she kind of mocks herself for recording a video at CVS while she’s looking for protein shakes.

Here’s a video Bella Thorne made for Joss Whedon’s #VoteYourFuture project.

Aren't #mondays your favorite day of the week? -said no one ever. #nope

A photo posted by BELLA (@bellathorne) on

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36 Responses to “Bella Thorne on being bisexual: ‘it is hard in this business for us’”

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  1. lannisterforever says:

    “A lot of people tell me I’m like her (Jennifer Lawrence)”

    GIRL PLEASE, where’s your humility (and your hit movies and Oscar nominations and industry respect for that matter)?!

  2. HH says:

    Re: ” I am bisexual but I’m honestly not that open about it. (Guess I am now. I’m also a monogamist and people still conflate bisexuality with promiscuity, which bugs.)”

    YOU JUST DESCRIBED ME AND MY FEELINGS PERFECTLY. So much so, that only my caps lock would do. 🙂

    It’s always good to know you’re not the only one. Thanks, Celebitchy!

    • ell says:

      same, i was just about to write the same comment. as a fellow bisexual, this makes me super happy.

      • Amy Tennant says:

        Hear, hear!

      • HH says:

        It was just also nice to know someone else is not very open. Sometimes I feel like I’m hiding or not being honest. However, I don’t feel like dealing with questions (and also it’s no one’s business, unless I’m dating you). I feel like we’ve gotten (or are getting very close) to the point that people that are gay/lesbian do not have to explain themselves. People like the idea of either/or (hetero-/homo-sexual), but still have a hard time accepting anything in the middle.

      • JRL says:

        never posted here before…love this site like nobody’s business…as a fellow bi…thanks celebitchy…love u even more now….

      • Scootypuffjr says:

        Me too!

    • Celebitchy says:

      Thanks you guys!

  3. Anastasia Beaverhausen says:

    I’m openly bisexual too. People conflating promiscuity with bisexuality bugs too. But then I don’t think promiscuity is bad thing either. Do yo thang. I started following Bella today.

    • HH says:

      They conflate it with promiscuity and indecision, which is the WORST. Whenever you get in a serious relationship, it’s like “oh, so you’ve finally decided.” uuuughhh

  4. K37745 says:

    It’s difficult to be gorgeous, young, white, buxom and feel comfortable with women AND men?

    I don’t get it. Isn’t that the most greased route of all the Hollywood worlds…? No snark, I just don’t get the struggle..

    All she’s missing is a famous parent.

    • ladysussex says:

      Yeah, I just don’t feel sorry for her. I can’t imagine it’s difficult for her at all in that business. And honestly, be who you are but you don’t have to be so up in everyone’s face all the time. I can’t stand when friends are always posting cutesy or romantic or sexy couple photos or posts. I mean, why can’t people just have their relationships without making everyone else see and hear about it all the time? I don’t give a tish if you are gay, straight, bi, or anything else. Just stop shoving it in my damn face all the time.

  5. lvw2 says:

    this girl…..I’m sorry but she is DESERT thirsty.

    • Adele Dazeem says:

      Agreed. I don’t care who you are or what you stand for, I have a very low tolerance for THIRSTY wannabes, especially women that use nudity/sexuality to get attention. (I’m looking at you too, Emily Rata- from GONE GIRL).

    • Bridget says:

      Yeah, it’s not “out there” because of her bisexuality – it’s because of her epic thirst.

  6. LolaBones says:

    The reason a fan asked her on twitter if she was bi was because she posted a pic of her and her best friend Bella on snapchat and they were kissing. It didnt come from nowhere.

    Idk. I dont like her, she sounds super thirsty.

  7. ell says:

    she sounds thirsty yes, but doesn’t really matter in this case. bringing attention to bisexuality as something normal is a good thing, so i welcome it.

    • tracking says:

      ell, that’s a great point. I’ve just always found her so annoying (entirely separate from this issue).

  8. Gabby says:

    I’m sorry but I just don’t feel any sympathy for her. I can’t put my finger on it but it all seems so forced and thisrty, I am glad that she is raising awareness and young people might look up to her and feel more confident about their own sexuality, and that really is awesome.

    I know that there is no “right or wrong” way to be bissexual, but I just hate when people say they are just to seem “edgy” in some form, and don’t tell me this doesn’t happen, and this is the vibe I get from her. Maybe is because she looks so hungry and thirsty for fame, that anything she says seem to be aimed at that particular goal.

  9. Marie says:

    I’m sorry but she is the thirstiest girl I’ve seen in a long time. Did you see those pictures of her flaunting her hickey?

  10. tracking says:

    They don’t make them any thirstier than this girl.

  11. Bridget says:

    I disagree that Bella’s “out there” image is because of her bisexuality, but rather the fact that she has a hyper sexual image at the age of 19, and has been projecting that for a long time.

    • jwoolman says:

      She also just is not a very good actor, which will limit her professional opportunities. Really, she wasn’t even convincing in a kids’ yoghurt commercial… But most kid actors don’t successfully make the transition to acting when they are adults and the expectations are higher. She does seem to be looking to be famous for nothing, but she’s young yet so maybe she will sort things out and find something she really is good at. It must be very difficult for child actors who really never develop adult-level skills. They are used to being called stars and having fans, and then that all goes away.

      But as people here have said, her openness about bisexuality can be a good thing regardless. My own suspicion is that bisexuality is far more common than realized yet, just for biochemical reasons. There would be no species-preserving problems associated with it. Human sexuality is not just about biochemistry or physiology, so other emotional factors enter into it. It just makes sense that many people would be fairly fluid about to whom they are attracted. Culture may promote a single choice more than nature.

      Besides, if cats do it, that means it’s natural…. 🙂 Cats are wonderfully oblivious to the rules.

  12. ElleBee says:

    19? Are we certain?

  13. Red says:

    I’ve never heard of her, so I have no idea what industry she is involved in, but bi-erasure is a problem, so good on her. Whoever she is. Whatever she does.

  14. QQ says:

    There isn’t enough Gatorade and IV Fluids in the world to quench this one’s thirst LOLOL at She, The Other Jennifer Lawrence

  15. Clairej says:

    Yep she is extremely parched. Wish she would go away

  16. Bread and Circuses says:

    No opinion on her personality, but she is so, so pretty, isn’t she? I could totally add her to my girl-crush collection. 🙂 I always have had a soft spot for red hair, on men and women both.

  17. xpresson says:

    I’m a straight woman that is fiercely defensive of Bisexuality. So many people bash it and call them greedy, promiscuous among other terrible things. And the worse thing is they get all this from both straight and gay!
    Women who are bisexual are more or less tolerated now but men? They are downright torched!

    There needs to me more awareness about bisexuality and it needs to come from both men and woman.
    Please lets be more tolerant and compassionate towards them. It is not easy coming out as bisexual.

  18. right says:

    so thirsty