Bella Poarch Speaks On Her Traumatic Childhood 

She was a domestic helper who didn't get paid. They didn't adopt her because they wanted a new child to nurture and love. They wanted free labor from a minor and in return, her adopted parents would just give her some food and shelter.

"Every kids deserves a parent, but not every parents deserves a kid" This is so sad 😞

'caring' isn't a sole American thing Ethan, it's human emotions. Every country is "caring" if you're with right people

How disgusting that the father “loved” animals, yet treated his daughter so abusively.

The interviewer trying to generalize what Bella went through by blaming it on Filipino culture and then finding out her abuser was a white American: 😲

To everyone who gets mad why she acts like a child. Let her be. She's trying to enjoy the freedom and a childhood like life she never had.i hope you understand her now.

As a person who was abused often as a child, I can relate to her saying the abuse felt normal. I was abused so often that I thought that's just how life is and everyone gets abused like this. Like her, I didn't realize what was done to me was wrong and abusive. My heart goes out to her. ❤️

It's so sad u can really see her trying to hold back tears :( she's amazing she escaped her abusive parents,served the army for 4 years and has an amazing voice

Him thinking it was a typical Filipino family: *disbelief* Him realizing her adoptive father was an American: *disbelief intensifies*

She’s definitely not one of those awful, privileged Tik Tokers. She’s been through hell, I am so happy she’s doing so well for herself! Good for her.

Poor girl, crazy stuff. Obviously, she's pretty damaged by this but glad she has so much now, really happy for her. Way to overcome such massive obstacles, not many could.

"Here in America people are different, we care." America: tons of mass shooting, Racism (like you perhaps?), Karens, Drugs, Domestic violence. Yeah good one Ethan, you almost made me laugh.

I can see that she's trying not to cry. This is sad. What's sadder is people are so jealous and bored that they start hating her for no reason

Her parents just apologized for her money.glad she didn’t accept it she’s smart to not accept/give a f abt it

My tears are falling in my sinigang. I also didnt realize I was abused until my friends heard my story and I thought it was normal being beaten by the family who adopts you.

Bella mastered communication and she's authentic. Bella is the epitome of "what doesn't kill you makes you stronger." She bided her time until she could escape her situation and was humble enough to appreciate her times in the Navy of all places.

Her parents treated her like garbage and expected her to be their servant. I’m so happy she moved to the USA, otherwise who knows where she would be now.

When Bella said that "I also have PTSD but I don't go around hurting people or take advantage." I really really want to tell that to somebody.

I see why she's blessed now because of her patience in hard times, God is just fair.

"I have PTSD too but I don't choose to hurt people." ..wow.👏 Both of my parents fought in our country's civil war and they have bad ptsd too. They abused my brother and I. Now that they're older they try to act like it never happened but i didn't realize i missed out on life till i met my best friend and he showed me how much i missed out on it made me so depressed honestly. I'm glad i came to Canada and i get help for my mental health because i never want to pass on my pain from my past to my daughters.

Some people ask why she acts like a child sometimes. And the answer is: she never had a childhood. It’s a thing called Age Regression. It’s when you have been traumatized at a young age, and use your inner child to try an cope. Not everyone uses it, some are just awful, or view themselves as grown adults even if they aren’t. I personally do what she does, and majority of the time I don’t even mean to do it. And sometimes she’s just doing a anime thing, gotta know the difference!

part of the reason she acts like a kid is probably because she never got a real childhood. it’s heartbreaking

The way it looked like she almost cried broke my heart. Tears are not our weakness, they just show that we are passionate about what we are talking about. As the interviewer pushes on and on, Bella looks really uncomfortable, but she stays strong and shares about her traumatic experiences. She obviously believes that what happened to her was wrong, but she did not once say that Filipino culture in general was bad. The interviewer made it seem like "America is a much better, safer place to live" but if you look around right now, he will have to rethink that. Bella is such an inspiring girl for sharing her story, and I hope her courier continues to flourish:)

I grew up in an insanely abusive household. My brother used to force himself on me (I'm a boy, btw) when I was 5 to when I was 10, when I told my parents, my dad beat the shit out of me & made me sleep outside that night. I've never been to a theme park, or had a birthday party, or anything like a normal child. My mental state is absolutely wrecked for life. My relationships will never be normal. The way Ethan is asking these questions is how a lot of people question me about my past, & it makes me EXTREMELY uncomfortable. It's as if you said someone "roped" you, & instead of being there for you, someone asked you to "explain every little detail & exactly what they did". It's VERY anxiety-inducing & makes me feel like I'm a "thing" they're looking at & not an actual person.

I think they only adopted her as a maid not adopted as their own child because in the Phillippines it is very common for children from the slums that had no money for education to be taken in by rich families for education, like labor exchange for education.

The fact that she's trying so hard not to cry. She's so strong, if that was me I would literally cry my soul out, she's so brave and strong. She deserves her success

Next time you guys call her " childish " remember this. She didnt have a childhood she a rough life and parents who were SHIT she is just trying to enjoy the life she never had and healing her inner child.

You can see the sadness in her eyes.. I have so much sympathy for her. I hope she has some happiness in her life, I really do. 💗

You can tell she’s trying not to cry

I see. Her stepdad is an American. Really hate hearing about American retirees in the Philippines who are microagressive towards Filipinos. Some will try to hide it but they're still pretty obvious.

Stepdad is an American who mainly gave her the bad childhood experiences .Filipino aunt and grandma really cares. ❤️❤️

I take back everything I said about this girl. She deserves all the fame, love and support bless her. No one deserves to be treated like she was her all life.

I'm kind of depressed on the fact that child labor disguised as adoption is highly common here in the philippines

whatever fame and money she is getting from tik tok or whatever, she deserves it. she deserves everything in the world. she is so strong

The interviewer seemed to attatch the abuse with the Filipino culture. He was shocked to know that the stepdad was White, however he still continued with saying “American culture is different because THEY CARE” because the AUNT was protecting Bella when they flew to the states, but then found out that the Aunt was a Filipina. So yes, its not the culture, it was about a sick White stepfather.

This type of trauma sticks for life. Never judge anyone as being privileged or had a good life you minimize and dismiss their pain causing more pain in their hearts. We’re all in this together love everyone.

I hate how foreigners romantisize the Philippines because stuff like this happens on a daily basis. Filipinos just really care about other peoples perseption of them that's why it may seems we are happy on the outside. Today's filipino youth are f*ckin depressed because of all this generational trauma

She sounds like she has a good therapist. She understands what happened to her. How to cope. What a beautiful emotionally intelligent person..

Taking care of your mental health is very important especially when you have unresolved childhood traumas. It'll show up in adulthood and can still trigger others if not dealt with. I hope Bella is getting the help she needs because it shows her. Unresolved traumas especially from abuse have lasting effects on children.

When the interviewer was in disbelief when he learnt that her dad was an american and her aunt was a filipino HAHAHAHA

Now i understand why she acts like a child. And people gets mad when she do that. She never have a good childhood. She missed a part of her childhood. She deserves all the success she has.

Bella : Speaks about her parents Interviewer : judges filipino culture and says American culture is the best Bella: My step father is an American Interviewer : disbelief Bella: Aunt treated well Interviewer: In America people care Bella : My Aunt is an filipino Interviewer: disbelief to the power infinity.

"Culture is mind your business." Works the same way here in America. There are some people that are just assholes like my mom's side of the family. They were so horribly abusive to each other.

Pretty cringe that he judged Bella's culture and race, only to find the abuser is an American, then proceeds to compliment America, only to find out that the Aunt that cared for her is a Filipino.

That Awkward moment when the interviewer finally understood that it was the American stepdad who abused Bella in her own country.

She sounds like she’s on the edge of crying, it must have been so hard for her. I’m so proud of her for being so strong, she was literally a child…. Nobody deserves to experience something like that.

I was born in America and I can relate to her so much. Minus having to move to a different country, I went through the same exact things she has gone through. I also have PTSD and I do not act like her father or even my father did. Sad thing is that I was dealing with being treated like shit by my actual "dad". Another crazy thing is I was 14 when I finally got away from my "dad".

I had the same childhood as Bella here in the Philippines as well. At some point when I was 10, I had to stay at my uncle's farm because my family hit rock bottom. They would order me around the house and farm doing heavy stuff for a skinny kid. When my uncle was drunk, he would call me and they would verbally abuse me all the time, talking shit about my mom and my dad in front of other people. Realizing it now, I was in front of adult relatives and NOT one of them defended me. Abuse is normal in this country. So fcked up.

Oof, when she said that she liked being at school because it was better than being at home, I felt that. This video is about Bella's story, so I won't share mine. But I can relate to that statement 100%.

It makes more sense knowing her dad is American, because most retired american soldiers/navy usually go and hunt younger women in Asia mostly in the slums, then live a comfortable life there because of the currency and those marriages usually don’t end up well. I would know because a majority of my classmates before their dad/stepdad is american. you will usually find a lot of americans living close to military bases.

after listening bella story, I can really relate to it. Mine was taking care of my young cousins who are 3years old 2 years old and 6 months old. Apparently according to my uncle and auntie they adopted me and always tell me that i should be grateful, at night when my cousins cried I woke up to make milk for them eventhough they sleep with their parents, wash their poops, feed them food until they turned 4 and when they play and get hurt My aunt would scold me sayin where do you keep your eyes and all the other horrible things. my uncle got transfered to another city and we all had to follow him they told our relatives they would send me to good school, but when we reach the new city I was abused and used as their maid and no school for me. I would wake up before them and prepare their breakfast and uniforms, and then drop them to school and when i get back I had to clean the house and cook lunch and do laundry and then pick them up from school. And i was 15 at the time.

Honestly im really happy for her now, I hope she has the best life and gets everything shes never had 💜 she deserves it💜

Her tiktok contents mostly about cute things, anime or any child would enjoy and we know now the reason. She was robbed of her childhood. She didn’t experience what a normal child should experience. And now that she can finally afford to do things she can’t do in the past, some idiots would comment hateful and malicious speech. Let her live.

Sometimes being called "Cinderella" is not a compliment.

She isn't Cinderella, because she saved herself. No prince was needed. She is a very tough young woman. Greatest respect! 🫶

I feel bad because I can see when they’re asking Bella all these questions about her abusive childhood, She’s trying to avoid them. And her voice is cracky as she try’s not to cry.

This is why we shouldn't judge a person by their looks or their actions because we don't know what's going on inside their home.

She deserves every bit of success more than any other ungrateful tiktoker.

I could pretty much relate to her since I am also adopted. I have had a vast share of such experiences of being treated in a non-biological family setup. Thank you for putting this out to the world.

Bella, you were abused in the exact same ways as me, it was shocking to hear it coming from someone else and also kind of a relief that someone else knows/understands what that is like. Although I wish nobody ever understood, because it just shouldn't happen... I was annoyed that the interviewer kept thinking her situation was *because* of being in the Philippines. Like no dude, it was *because* someone decided to be abusive. The thing I will say about international differences is that after being active duty military fir 10 years and serving worldwide, I would regularly see men do *exactly* what her step dad did. They specifically choose places with cultural differences where women are less supported to speak up or have financial options. So the women are in a situation where silence=survival from having food, shelter, etc. And the man in power will abuse and prevent her from helping herself or her kids, so her way to cope is to let it happen. Not that that's an excuse, just saying that abusers look for people (in thier own country or abroad) where a woman is in a severe disadvantage to stand up to him.

people only hate her bc she got famous so quickly and easily- Jealousy is a hell of a disease

She's the living Cinderella but doesn't need a Prince

I can relate, i was also a loner in my high school days.. i felt indifference.. i thought i was the only one experiencing this things, im happy i found this,, i am motivated

Poor thing. She had to relive all that because of the interview, you can tell she was holding her tears back and oh my gosh her shaky voice...I'm so happy for her, she's come a long way. May Allah bless her 💜

she sounds like she’s trying so hard not to cry :(

She wasn't adopted, they took her for child labor

Shes so beautiful ❤ ive loved her since i heard her song "living hell". Someone in a different interview asked her what is "living hell" about, she said her childhood... i didnt even imagine it this bad. And despite all that she turned out to be a well put together unproblematic lady. I hope she gets everything she wants in this life ❤

I really relate to this. My situation wasn't as bad because I wasn't forced to do manual labor like that but I was singled out by my father and step mother. Constantly grounded, belittled, having things taken away and having my own family spread lies about me to justify the mistreatment. I have no contact with them now and they aren't allowed around my children.

The tears she’s hiding when she was speaking just prove that she’s a super strong young woman. But crying doesn’t make you weak. I love that she’s speaking her truth

When your abused you don’t know your being abused. It took me along time to realize kids don’t get yarded up by your hair or verbally abused being called lazy bitches. She is a strong girl. God bless you!!! My mother never stood up for us either.

I really think this story needs to be written and be published 😢❤😢

I am glad Bella decided to overcome the negativity in her life and do what she loves. Her album means a lot to me.

And people wonder why she's so quiet in public. Look at what she's gone through. She's had the shit end of everything for half her life (or more). She's always got to be wondering who actually likes her or if people are just trying to talk to her to bully or try to troll when she's walking down the street. I see all these videos titled " Bella being rude to her fans" and it's really just a reporter or photographer following her around asking her crap! And she's not even being rude, she just looks scared or awkward.

This was sad but when the host kept generalizing the abuse as a cultural thing was so weird. Abuse is abuse. It was interesting when he found out the dad was American and the aunt was Filipino.

omfg i had no idea she had a childhood like this… that’s so sad!! i was always kinda indifferent towards bella poarch (didn’t like her or dislike her either) but now i suddenly feel so happy for her that she’s so rich and famous now and has a chance to live the childhood she never could!!

Bella i am so sorry for you, you did not deserve none of that.

“I have PTSD but I don’t go around hurting people.” 🥺

She'd clearly suffered enough that she isn't crying with it anymore, when life gets tough it's ur choice to ve tougher or to be weaker. Bella just got tougher, every success she had is what she deserves.

I really admira bella for surviving all of that, she is so strong.

Bella happened to be in the US because her stepdad brought her and her brother because they were still young that time to be migrated. It's actually karma. The step parents treated Bella and her brother worse when they were young and the 2 eldest sisters were treated good. Now, thos 2 eldest sisters were left in the Philippines because they were too old to be migrated to the US. Bella's story will come to closure. The stepdad might eventually realize one day that he is a bad parent and will ask for Bella and her brother's forgiveness. Everything always comes with closure at the end.

The fact that her older siblings didn’t protect them hurts my fucking heart. I have 5 younger siblings and I can never imagine not protecting them. Damn, poor babies 💔

damn i never realized our paths were so similar. shes done an amazing job growing from her experience and turned it into her energy

Bella is an angel to us

This really humanizes Bella! People were so quick to tear her down for no reason without knowing her story!! She seems lovely- such a strong person!!!

Honestly she is so wholesome and the least problematic tiktoker idk why she gets hate

As being someone who is half Asian (Fiilpino, Hawaiian and like 7 other ethnicites). I relate to what Bella went through as a kid when it comes to getting mentally, verbally, physical abuse as a kid in the home being the youngest in my family with me and my older brother. I went through allot of that back in the 1990's as a kid. That's one of the things I really hated about how the Asian culture treat there own even in the same family. Allot of my asian friends who were the youngest in their families got treated like shit 💩 by everyone else in the family. Don't know why it was like in every Asian household back then. I can remember being 7, 8, 9, 10 years old and at the house I grew up all alone by myself for hours while all the adults in the house and my older brother were out and about doing whatever throughout the day, week, month, year. There were times when my mom would come home late at night on the weekends or late nights in the weekdays in the (1980's /1990's) on the day she wasn't working and just hope that I was sleeping when she got home so she wouldn't have to feed me that night. Wasn't allowed to use the microwave, stove or oven in the home until I was 11. If no adult was home from 6 to 8pm that night I just didn't eat that night. Remember being told to go with other family members to go out to eat but wasn't given money to buy food as a kid (a majority of the time) with no one telling me if I can order something off the menu at the restaurant and someone would pay for it for me? I would be sitting around at the restaurant watching others eat there meals while my stomach is growling because I haven't ate since early in the afternoon or so. Whenever I got gifts as a child from people/family , if my older brother liked what I got. He would continue to bug my mom until I gave him my gift. If I ever got something new, if he liked it I had to give it to him and get the gift he didn't like or get hand me down clothes as a gift or something. I had a time when I ask my mom if can I spend the night at my friends house from school. She said yes, but you have to walk there I'm not driving you to there house. I said ok I'll walk to there house. The day I was gonna come back home I called her job on my friends home phone as asked her if she could pick me up on her way home. She told me no and began to get mad at me over the phone for asking her. I'm 10 years old (4", 80 lbs) at the time walking uphill for about 60 minutes with a heavy backpack on my back of my clothes in it and carrying a sleeping bag with one hand. A walk that would take about 20 minutes was an hour because all the things I had to carry up the hill. Finally I get home on that day and my older brother gets there too at the same time. As soon as I get in the door he asked my mom "can you drive me to this event across town, which is like 30 minutes away". She tells him no at first but my brother keeps asking until my mom said yes and drove him across town. That whole night I'm thinking to myself that my mom didn't want to drive me like 10 minutes away from home but she'll drive my older brother 30 minutes away. I have noticed instances like this happen allot in the Asian culture with the younger siblings get treated differently than there older siblings allot. If you have a parent that is like 55+ and up. They dont believe in supporting their kids dreams (careers) if its not what they want you to do, allot of Asian parents neglect there kids and only believe in supporting the kids financially and making sure your safe during the day. Being emotionally, mentally, morally supportive toward their kids is something that is just not shown enough in Asian households. As long as the kids has a roof over there heads at night, clothes to wear and food to eat that's all that matters. Being part Asian and 1980's baby. I spent a majority of my childhood raising myself (mentally, morally, physically walking myself to kindergarten at 7 years old in 1989). I heard interviews from former NBA player Jeremy Lin, Actor/Comedian Ali Wong, Actor Daniel Dae Kim that thier parents neglected them allot to as kids growing up too. Having to raise themselves (mentally, morally, etc...) with both parents just focusing on providing financially for the household at that's it. Not having any significant impact in your child's upbringing , teaching them anything or showing support toward anything they were trying to do. That's what I hope changes in the Asian culture that we learn to be more supportive toward each other and stop being so much about competition and who is doing what better than so and so or who had more than that other Asian guy or girl. Also allot of Asain people need to learn toward to have a heart toward your fellow Asain in the same culture. Actually show that you care about that person and that you want what is best for them in the long run of life.

Beautiful soul and heart, hopefully she heals from most of the trauma, I know it ain’t easy but she deserves every blessing

As a Filipino, it hurts to see how she was treated here. The Philippines isn't a bad place, it's just that it's not the most developed country. Abuse is definitely one of the problems in the country, and Bella was one of the victims of it. People should've helped her with what she was going through but sometimes, people are just ignorant/scared to get involved in other people's business. I'm so proud of her though. She earned every single bit of success that she has now.

she sounds like such a sweet person, i don’t get why she receives so much hate…

This reminds me of Jordan Turpin. The horrors and abuse she and her siblings endured. They also had to save themselves, and nobody spoke up or did anything to help them. I hope they are OK and can overcome their abuse.

This made me cry man😥 the fact I can relate so much to her is fkd. As the middle child I was constantly struck( HDMI cable,belt,dragged,hair pulled out ect. ) My siblings & cousins were on pedestals , they got phone's,gold jewelry,food while I got socks n cards( most of the time nothing ) I got punished for my elder siblings mistakes( no social mediea,parties ECT ) they barley got punished, me thou 😧 I felt like my family just tolerated me but not wanted, I was constantly ganged up on by cousins, being raised in CPS/ ( D.o.c.s Aus call it ) from 9mnths untill 9yrs old all I wanted was family acceptance 😔 my older bro ( 4 1/2yr apart ) went throu it with me making us close asf but he was golden compared to me in there eyes. As teens n being home I felt belittled to him,beaten around while he was catered for, he could of HELPED ME instead of just watching the abuse, so yea we kinda drifted🥺 we still talk but I miss when there was just love no envy and anger, my family just call me a liar n my mum was a bystander n instagater ( idk how to spell that ) I was a human Puching bag to my dad when he was drunk n they just acted like it's eryday life! I ran way 3 days before my 15 birthday ( after being belted with the Xbox cord ), Got addicted to drugs,fucked my life more and was depressed. Now I'm 21, applied for Tafe, have 2 kids,a man,a house, 2 dogs, small circle of real one's I love, a cafè dream n omw to success 😁 seriously thou fk man every detail she said besides the farm,shower n immigration was to a T I felt like I was listening to a podcast of my life. I want to write a book about my life aswell, if I ever do I'm Gunna dedicate to her coz holy shit! I won't lie as a child I was more hurt more than angry but now it's that anger that drives me to work for my worth! I literally feel for her so much. I'm sorry U went throu this Bella U are not alone sis x but fking oath for making it, truly inspirational ✨ Also here's 2 lil quotes I live by - " If the relationship is not reciprocated , then the relationship must be annihilated " ( idk who by ) " The only thing holding you back is your self, succession is not defined but all your in you mind " - myself

Looking at all the comments about their personal stories on how they got abused breaks my heart. I pray for all of you.

I’m Filipino and it’s true that people here “respect” how other families raise their kids unless they see actual abuse in front of them, then they’ll step in. Oftentimes, people will help in subtle ways like giving the kids food / clothes. My mom and I do it for the kids next door who have an alcoholic father as their solo parent. Bella’s case is just an American taking advantage of a Filipino woman’s and children’s vulnerability. Period.

There is o such thing as mind your own business in the Philippines unless the subject is a strong, terrible family or an American (which seemed awkward to approach). Everyone is so chismosa and pakeelamera, but they really do care. Also if you're living in a farmland, a neighbor will just appear on your yard with a bowl of their viand (just a normal sharing thing). We moved may 4x times already and that's true to every place we moved to. I lived alone in our house in 2019 to mid 2020. My neighbors who are not my family nor close friend sometimes approach me and say if I'm short with money, I can tell them. A lady said whenever I feel anything strange at night, call her right away and she would be sleeping nearthe sala of their house. An old granda also put their grocery store store barriers on our gate, adding extra hight to my fence. Now I lived in an apartmend and working on a graveyard shift. Neighbors, who I really don't know sometimes give small talks with 'take care' whenever I leave the apartment. Bella's Amercan step dad is an exceptional case.

As someone who didnt have a childhood either and suffered a lot of abuse I can relate to why she acts younger age regression is insanely common in these situations and it's not always like what you see on social media people that regress can go back one year they could go back 20 it's what ever calms them and makes them feel safe happy etc I've got a lot of respect for where she has been and what she went through and how far she has come 💜💙💜💙

i could hear that she wanted to cry so bad talking about her past, just her voice omg girl....sens love Edit :omg thanks for the likes!!! Very grateful

They just like brushed off the fact that the abuser is an american and like kept blaming the "culture " in the Philippines

WOW!! Bella you had it bad as a child. I'm glad you're away from the negativity! As an American woman, I'm glad you were able to come America and make a name of yourself, as well as escape from that brutality! You get to be yourself through your music and express your personality, as well as channel your pain through your art. And that's amazing, that is the best GLO UP! Wish nothing but the best for you in this new year!

awwww dear ❤ she deserves nothing but love, i wish i could give her a big hug 😥 you can literally read her pain in her eyes

Makes me cringe how Ethan said ‘It’s different in America, we care’ or how he assumed the dad was Filipino and the aunt who helped was the dad’s sister bc he couldn’t entertain the possibility that the abuse might have been perpetuated by an American and the one who cared might have been a Filipino.