Chisom Umejiaku
American actress and singer Bella Thorne has addressed the criticism that followed her decision to propose to her fiancé, film producer Mark Emms, a year after he initially proposed to her.
Thorne, 27, shared photos and videos on August 16 of herself on one knee before Emms in a romantic setting decorated with candles, flowers and red balloons. She captioned the post: “3 years ago we met, 1 year later he proposed, now 1 year later so did I.”
The move quickly divided opinion online. While many fans praised her for making the relationship milestone a mutual gesture, others questioned why she needed to propose when they were already engaged. Some critics argued that such actions should not be “normalized,” sparking debates on tradition and gender roles in relationships.
Responding to her Instagram Story the following day, Thorne dismissed the backlash as amusing.
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“Totally split down the middle,” she wrote. “Half of you are like let’s not normalize proposing to your partner — the other half is like f— yeah, girl power, this is the sweetest!!”
Thorne and Emms have been together since 2022. Emms, a British film and television producer, proposed to Thorne in 2023 with a diamond ring said to be over 10 carats. Their engagement came after Thorne ended a previous engagement with Italian singer Benjamin Mascolo in 2022.
The actress, known for her roles in Shake It Up and Midnight Sun, has often attracted media attention for her unconventional choices and outspoken personality. Her latest move adds to the ongoing conversation around shifting norms in relationships, where traditional roles in engagements are increasingly being challenged.