If you’ve spent any time on the internet over the last decade, you’ve probably seen the headlines swirling around the former Disney star. People love to speculate. Is she? Isn't she? The question bella thorne is lesbian often trends whenever she posts a new photo or starts a new relationship, but the reality is actually a bit more nuanced than a single label. Honestly, Bella Thorne has never been one to hide who she is, but she's also not exactly what the "lesbian" keyword might lead you to believe.
She's been incredibly vocal about her journey. It’s been messy, public, and—to be fair—pretty brave considering how Hollywood can be.
The Confusion Around Bella Thorne Being Lesbian
Back in 2016, a fan on Twitter (now X) asked her point-blank if she was bisexual after she posted a video of herself kissing a woman. She replied with a simple, one-word answer: "Yes." That was the spark. Suddenly, the "Bella Thorne is lesbian" rumors morphed into "Bella Thorne is bisexual," and the internet went wild. For a while, that was the label everyone stuck on her.
But labels change. People grow.
In a 2019 interview with Good Morning America, Bella dropped a bit of a bombshell that cleared up the confusion for many, while leaving others scratching their heads. She explained that she realized she wasn't actually bisexual.
📖 Related: Victor French Cause of Death: What Really Happened to the Little House Star
"I'm actually pansexual, and I didn't know that," she told Juju Chang.
She basically said that she likes "beings." To her, it isn't about whether someone is a girl, a guy, a he, a she, or a they. It’s about the personality. It’s about the soul of the person. So, while many people still search for whether bella thorne is lesbian, the technical answer is that she identifies as pansexual.
Why the Label Matters (And Why It Doesn't)
You've got to understand that for someone like Bella, who grew up in the Disney machine, coming out was a massive risk. She actually spoke to Gay Times about how she lost auditions and roles almost immediately after she started being open about her sexuality. People started "tiptoeing" around her.
It’s kind of wild when you think about it.
She wasn't just dating women; she was living in the "middle in-between world" that she says makes people angry because they can't put it in a box. The search for bella thorne is lesbian often comes from a desire to categorize her, but she refuses to stay in that category.
She’s dated famous men like Gregg Sulkin and Tyler Posey.
She’s dated famous women like Tana Mongeau.
She’s been in polyamorous dynamics with Tana and Mod Sun at the same time.
It’s a lot. But it’s her life.
📖 Related: Sydney Sweeney Oscars 2025 Makeup: The Secret to That Luminous Glow
The Difference Between Pansexual and Lesbian
To get technical for a second, a lesbian is typically defined as a woman who is emotionally, romantically, and/or sexually attracted to other women. Pansexuality, which is what Bella identifies as, means attraction to people regardless of their gender identity or biological sex.
- Lesbian: Focuses on female-aligned attraction.
- Pansexual: Focuses on the "being" rather than the gender.
- Bisexual: Attraction to more than one gender (often used as an umbrella term).
Bella’s explanation was pretty simple: "You like what you like."
Her Relationships and the Public Eye
If you look at her dating history, it’s a total mix. She was engaged to Italian singer Benjamin Mascolo for a while. Then she moved on and got engaged again in 2023 to producer Mark Emms.
Because she often dates men, some people in the LGBTQ+ community have criticized her, accusing her of using her "bisexuality" or "pansexuality" for attention. That’s a pretty harsh take, honestly. Just because a pansexual woman is in a relationship with a man doesn't mean she’s no longer pansexual.
She’s dealt with a lot of biphobia and erasure.
✨ Don't miss: Colin Hanks Height Explained: How Tall the Fargo Star Actually Is
"It seems like no one understands bisexuality at all," she once told Cosmopolitan. She felt like people wanted her to be either 100% gay or 100% straight. By identifying as pansexual, she’s basically saying, "I'm not picking a side because there are no sides."
Actionable Takeaways from Bella's Journey
If you're looking into bella thorne is lesbian because you're questioning your own identity or just curious about how these labels work in the real world, there are a few things we can learn from her very public life:
- Labels are allowed to evolve. You might think you're one thing at 18 and realize you're something else at 21. That’s okay.
- Public perception doesn't define reality. Just because Bella is seen with a man doesn't invalidate her previous statements about liking women.
- Honesty has a cost. Bella lost work because of her transparency. If you're coming out, it’s important to find a supportive community first.
- Language matters. Understanding the difference between pansexual, bisexual, and lesbian helps us respect how people actually feel.
Bella Thorne isn't a lesbian in the traditional sense of the word. She's a pansexual woman who has been lucky enough (and unlucky enough) to fall in love with all kinds of people in front of a camera. Whether she’s with a man or a woman next, her identity remains her own to define.
If you're trying to keep up with her current status, the best thing to do is look at her own words rather than the rumors. She’s currently engaged to Mark Emms and seems happier than ever, proving that for her, it really was always about the "being."