Ever since former Disney star and author Bella Thorne decided to release her own nude photos, she’s been on the receiving end of a lot of victim-blaming. And leading the charge? None other than The View co-host Whoopie Goldberg.
It all started on Saturday when someone hacked into Bella’s phone and got ahold of some of her nude, intimate photos. Instead of giving in to the hacker’s demands, she took back her power by posting the pictures to her own Twitter page. She wrote,
“F**k u and the power u think you have over me. I’m gonna write about this in my next book.”
She also left a message to her fans, explaining the situation.
“Yesterday as u all know, all my s**t was hacked. For the last 24 hours, I have been threatened with my own nudes and I feel gross, I feel watched, I feel someone has taken something from me that I only wanted one special person to see. For too long I let a man take advantage of me over and over and I’m f***ing sick of it, I’m putting this out because it’s MY DECISION NOW AND U DON GET TO TAKE ANOTHER THING FROM ME.”
Although Bella has received support from a number of her peers including Dove Cameron, Zendaya, and Lucy Hale, there are some who haven’t been so sympathetic.
In advance of Bella’s impending appearance on The View, co-host Whoopi Goldberg decided to share her own, not-so-nice opinions on the matter. She said,
“Once you take that picture, it goes into the cloud and it’s available to any hacker who wants them. And if you don’t know that in 2019 that this is an issue, I’m sorry, your age does not… you don’t get to do that.”
She added,
“If you’re famous, I don’t care how old you are, you don’t take nude pictures of yourself.”
Bella was understandably extremely upset by Whoopi’s comments and took to Instagram stories to respond.
“Dear Whoopi, I have loved u for so long but honestly I’m so displeased and saddened by your response to my leak. Blaming girls for taking the photo in the first place? Is sick and disgusting… I am offended for every person who has committed suicide for someone leaking their nudes. Ur view on this matter is honestly awful and I hope u change ur mind set as u are on a show talking to young girls.”
She also posted a tearful video, telling Whoopi,
“Watching this interview made me feel really bad about myself. Shame on you, Whoopi… for putting that public opinion just out there like that for every young girl to think that they’re disgusting for even taking a photo like that. Shame on you. Saying if you take a sexy photo, then it basically deserves to get leaked, like don’t be surprised at all and don’t feel sorry for yourself.”
Let’s be clear, anyone should be able to take whatever kind of pictures they want for themselves or for their significant other without worrying if they are going to get leaked.
What Bella did took a lot of strength and bravery. And for that, Whoopi and anyone else giving Bella crap should be commending her, not condemning her.
It might be wishful thinking, but hopefully, Whoopi will issue some sort of apology.
In the meantime, Bella has canceled her appearance on The View.
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