Bella Thorne Accuses Charlie Puth of Lying About 2016 Fling, Says Public Backlash Stemmed From Rejection

Bella Thorne recently revisited her brief and controversial relationship with singer Charlie Puth, sharing new claims about their past. On July 11, Thorne commented on an Instagram post quoting Jade Thirlwall’s statement about not collaborating with Puth. Thorne accused the “Light Switch” singer of lying publicly about her and sparking online hate against her, all because she allegedly refused to be intimate with him. This statement marks a bold public reflection on a relationship that was both brief and turbulent.

Romance Turns Sour After Misunderstanding and Public Accusations Spark Online Drama and Confusion

Thorne and Puth were romantically linked in December 2016 after they were seen together at the Jingle Ball in Miami, where Puth even serenaded her onstage. However, the relationship soured quickly when Puth accused Thorne of cheating on social media, suggesting she was still involved with her ex, actor Tyler Posey.

Without naming Thorne directly, Puth expressed his emotional reaction to what he perceived as betrayal and later apologized to Posey, implying Thorne misled him about the status of her previous relationship.

In response, Thorne took to social media to set the record straight, stating that she had broken up with Posey weeks earlier and was never officially dating Puth. She criticized Puth for reacting publicly rather than discussing it with her privately, attributing the drama to a misunderstanding over an old interview he had seen. Thorne made it clear that their interactions were casual and friendly, not romantic, and that the online frenzy was the result of miscommunication and premature assumptions.

Thorne Reflects on Misunderstanding, Both Stars Now Find Peace in New Relationships

Further elaborating in a 2017 interview on The Jenny McCarthy Show, Thorne explained that she and Puth had only hung out a couple of times and attended the Jingle Ball together as friends. She recalled being impressed by his talent but insisted that things had escalated unnecessarily. She also stated that she had reached out to Posey to clarify the situation, confirming that they remained on good terms. According to Thorne, Puth’s outrage stemmed from misreading a dated article about her and Posey, which led to a public overreaction.

Years later, both Thorne and Puth have moved on with their lives and relationships. Thorne is now engaged to film producer Mark Emms, expressing happiness in their growing bond, though they’re not rushing into wedding plans. Meanwhile, Puth married his childhood friend Brooke Sansone in September 2024, sharing a heartfelt message of enduring love on Instagram. Despite the drama of their brief entanglement, both stars seem to have found stability in their personal lives.