For the first time, Bella Thorne opened up about her heartbreaking story of abuse she has alluded to but never revealed.
Bella Thorne, 20, normally uses her Instagram to post scantily-clad selfies, plug her latest project, or to share her own brand of off-kilter humor. Today Thorne’s Instagram was deadly serious as she revealed her very own #MeToo story.
“I was sexually abused and physically growing up from the day I can remember till I was 14, when I finally had the courage to lock my door at night and sit by it,” the former Disney actress began. “All damn night. Waiting for someone to take advantage of my life again. Over and over I waited for it to stop and finally it did. But some of us aren't as lucky to get out alive. Please today stand up for every soul Mistreated,” ending with the hashtag “#timesup”
The emotional Instagram post was put up on Sunday, coinciding with the Golden Globe awards. Many of the actors and actresses wore black as a protest against sexual harassment in the entertainment industry.
Thorne didn’t stop at Instagram. She gave further details on her Twitter account, writing, “I never knew what was right or wrong growing up..I didn't know the person sneaking into my bedroom at night was a bad person. #timesup.”
RELATED: BELLA THORNE GETS INTO THE HOLIDAY SPIRIT WITH LATEST PHOTO
This is the first time that Thorne has given details regarding her struggles with abuse. Last December she hinted at having been abused as a child but stopped short of providing any hard information about her story.
Thorne now joins a growing chorus of women who are calling out powerful men in the wake of the Harvey Weinstein scandal.
Oprah Winfrey used her acceptance speech at the Golden Globe awards to further the cause of women’s liberation, saying that for men who abuse their power over women that “their time is up.”
Perhaps taking her words as inspiration, a new website supporting both women and men who are victims of sexual assault has sprung up. Called Times Up, the website directs people to donate to a legal defense fund that will help victims of sexual harassment regardless of sex or gender.
The fund has already received nearly $16.5 million in the 19 days it has been active.