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A Disney Child-Star has decided to speak out against the entertainment industry for inappropriately sexualizing her back when she was a child. This news is not the first time a Disney alum has called out the industry for inappropriately treating them as young actors.
Credit: ABC News
Former Child Star Speaks Out
During the Sundance Movie Festival earlier this year, actress Bella Thorne revealed some of the trauma she endured while working for Disney. Bella Thorne was a very popular actress on the Disney Channel. She is known best for her role “CeCe Jones” on the Disney Channel series, Shake it Up. In the show, Bella showed the world her dancing and acting talents alongside her co-star Zendaya.
To the outside world, Bella has an incredible life. She was starring in her own hit TV series and also had found success in the music industry. Many young girls dreamed of having the life and career of Bella Thorne. Unfortunatly, their was a much darker side to her story.
Credit: Disney
In an interview at Sundance Movie Festival, Bella explained that she felt overwhelmingly sexualized as a child working for Disney. As an adult, she has had dealt with paparazzi photographers asking her to sign what they described as “sexy photos” of her as a minor. She described the encounter, saying, “they have to make money and everyone has a job so I get that. It was just that I was under 18, and it’s inappropriate.”
Bella Thorne Nearly Fired by Disney Over a Swimsuit
Credit: CNN
Despite being oversexualised by the media, Disney also expected her to remain modest in her every day life. Bella explained that one time she was photographed in a swim suit on the beach by a fan. According to the actress, she was almost fired by Disney over this. Bella recalled the story in an episode of Emily Ratajkowskis podcast. Bella said, “They (Disney Channel) were like, ‘Hey, we’re getting a lot of heat for this, everyone’s getting heat for this because you’re in a bikini on the beach, so she needs to make sure she goes out in boy shorts and a loose T-shirt next time she’s at the beach.”
Ratajkowski responded, saying, “But also, they want you to look hot on the red carpet.”
Bella agreed with the statement, saying “Yes, It doesn’t make any sense, guys.”
The actress also recalled a time when she was a 10 years old child and was not hired for an acting job because she was accused of “flirting” with the casting director. She said, “I had a director give me feedback once and I was ten and they call the casting director, who calls my agent, and my agent calls my mom, and they’re like, ‘So she’s not moving forward because the director felt like she was flirting with him and it made him really uncomfortable.”
It is clear to fans of Bella Thorne that she still holds on to a lot of trauma from her younger years working on the Disney Channel. The actions of adults around her were not appropriate, and fans hope she finds peace and healing as she grows older.
