Bella Thorne on Public Backlash and Overcoming Blackmail

Bella Thorne faced blackmail in 2019 when a hacker threatened to release her private nude photos. The former Disney star chose to release the images herself, aiming to take control of the situation.

Thorne discussed this on the podcast ‘Call Her Daddy’, describing her honest Twitter post that preempted the hacker. “I just did an honest Twitter post,” she recalled. “You’re not gonna keep taking this from me, so here it is.”

Despite her proactive move, Thorne faced significant public backlash. Accusations of victim-blaming left her emotionally shattered. “People saying, ‘You did this. You just wanna show us,’ really broke me,” she shared.

Thorne, once a star on Disney Channel’s ‘Shake It Up’, was deeply affected by the backlash. She revealed a moment of vulnerability during an Instagram story, describing herself as “completely broken and so upset.”

The situation turned when the FBI reached out. They believed they had identified the hacker and needed Thorne’s cooperation. She provided all necessary data, allowing the FBI to gather evidence.

Thorne assisted the FBI for over a year, sharing screenshots that ultimately helped identify the suspect. “If I hadn’t posted those screenshots, they wouldn’t have caught him,” Thorne explained. “It’s his exact writing, and they’re like, ‘This is his MO.'”