- - Bella Thorne Addresses 'Social Debate' Over Her Proposal to Fiancé Mark Emms (Exclusive)

Ashlyn Robinette, Abby SternJanuary 3, 2026 at 12:55 AM

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Stefanie Keenan/The Hollywood Reporter via Getty; Bella Thorne/Instagram

Bella Thorne at The Hollywood Reporter's Annual Women in Entertainment Gala in December 2025; Bella Thorne proposing to Mark Emms in August 2025 -

While chatting with PEOPLE on Dec. 3, Bella Thorne addressed the "social debate" over her proposal to her fiancé, Mark Emms

Emms popped the question in May 2023, then two years later Thorne got down on one knee herself in August 2025

"I think that bringing in the romance to his side was nice," the singer-actress says

Bella Thorne is speaking out again about her proposal to Mark Emms.

Two years after Emms popped the question, Thorne, 28, got down on one knee herself in August 2025. At the time, some fans criticized her unique second proposal. Thorne addressed this "social debate" while chatting with PEOPLE at The Hollywood Reporter's Annual Women in Entertainment Gala on Wednesday, Dec. 3.

"It's hilarious," Thorne says. "I was like, there was a war, there was a debate going on, a social debate over this, which was very interesting. Yeah. Funny enough, I actually got more congratulations, like texts and messages when that video, than the first time I got engaged."

She adds, "I was like, oh, so nobody cares about me. Everybody only cares about Mark."

Bella Thorne/Instagram

Bella Thorne and Mark Emms in August 2025

On Aug. 16, Thorne revealed on Instagram that she got down on one knee and proposed to Emms. She shared a series of photos and clips of the candlelit and flower-filled proposal, writing, "3 years ago we met, 1 year later he proposed, Now 1 year later so did I 🥴❤️."

While many of Thorne's followers shared their well-wishes in the comments section, not everyone was supportive. One of the top comments with more than 133,000 likes reads, "Ok ladies let’s not normalise this, okay?"

Reacting to the negativity on her Instagram Stories the next day, Thorne wrote, "The comments on my post are hilarious!! Totally split down the middle. Half of u are like let's not normalize proposing to your partner -- other half is like f--- yeah girl power this is the sweetest!!"

Now, Thorne tells PEOPLE that Emms found the proposal to be romantic while she thought it symbolized "equality."

View this post on Instagram

"Oh my God, he was crying and he was losing his mind," Thorne shares. "I think showing the equality, like the equalism, in a relationship is so beautiful, and I think that bringing in the romance to his side was nice. I think he was, well one, he was really shocked, so he was kind of like, 'What is happening here?' And yeah, I think it made us a lot stronger together as a team."

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Emms first proposed to Thorne at her home in California on May 13, 2023, presenting her with a "10-plus-carat emerald-cut diamond ring with baguettes flanking the center stone," according to Vogue. The pair celebrated with their family afterward.

on People

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