Bella Thorne says Disney pitted her and Zendaya to compete

Actress Bella Thorne has revealed that she and her former Disney Channel co-star Zendaya were deliberately pitted against each other as young teens, a situation that grew so tense they once snuck off a live set to privately resolve their differences. Thorne made the comments in an interview on the "Call Her Daddy" podcast, reflecting on their time starring together on the series "Shake It Up," which aired from 2010 to 2013.

Thorne, now 28, described an atmosphere where adults and industry pressures encouraged competition between the two actresses, who were only 12 years old when the show began. She characterized the dynamic as a product of a patriarchal system that often forces women to fight for a single opportunity. The constant comparisons and external pressure, Thorne said, created a significant rift during their first season working together, making them feel they could not be friends.

The turning point came while filming a crossover episode with the series "Good Luck Charlie" in 2011. Thorne recounted that she and Zendaya, aware they had a break between scenes, decided to slip away from the live taping to talk privately on an unused set. She clarified they did not truly...