Scarlett Thomas, the 17-year-old daughter of former Coronation Street actors Tina O'Brien and Ryan Thomas, has taken to TikTok to showcase her impressive vocal talents while hitting back at online trolls who accused her of dressing inappropriately. The teenager, who recently signed a record contract, performed one of her own original songs in the video, looking every inch the pop diva in a faux fur coat and diamond necklace as she belted out emotional lyrics.
Addressing Frustrating Online Backlash
Scarlett addressed what she called the "frustrating" online criticism about "growing up too fast" during a recent appearance on her father Ryan's podcast, At Home With The Thomas Brothers. She expressed confusion over the comments, stating: "I'm 17. And I don't know. I think my fan base is a little bit weird. People think I'm a lot younger than I am and I don't think many people are ready that I'm growing up. It's a bit weird."
The young singer-songwriter noted the disparity in how she's treated compared to other influencers her age, saying: "It's so frustrating. But a lot of like influencers my age, which is still the same kind of topic, don't get the same kind of comments as I do. Like 'Why are you growing up so fast?'"
Seeking to Be Taken Seriously as an Adult
Admitting she couldn't wait to turn 18 to be treated like other adults, Scarlett explained: "People have watched me grow up from birth so maybe that's another bit of a thing they have. But it can be a bit frustrating because, you know, I want to be taken seriously. I'm not a child."
Her father Ryan recently revealed exciting developments in Scarlett's music career, announcing that she would be flying to Nashville to record music with Julien Bunetta, the renowned songwriter who has worked with One Direction. Speaking on his podcast, Ryan shared: "What's unbelievable about all this is the guy that she signed to, the boys that she signed to, have two other brothers who own the record label in the States - and this guy is called Julian Bunetta."
Recording in Music Capital Nashville
Ryan continued with evident pride: "In the music industry he's probably the biggest thing right now. And Scarlett is now next month flying out to his house to record in show. And this is in Nashville. In Nashville, she's staying there for a week."
He elaborated on the significance of this opportunity: "How crazy is that? And she said, 'Dad I like about pinch myself, like, what is going on.' And it's just crazy to think that she's going to be in that studio in Nashville, where music is basically originating from, where all the creative music people live, and she's going to be in and around it, just living and breathing and potentially like a song that we're all going to hear on the radio one day. Like, how proud are we as a family?"
Family Celebration of Record Deal
Ryan previously shared a photo of himself and his daughter after she signed her deal with Big Family Music at a restaurant, along with a video of her singing at the same establishment five years earlier when she was just 12 years old. Alongside the nostalgic clip, he wrote: "Today is one of the best days of my life. Watching my little girl sign a record deal is a moment I will cherish forever."
He added: "The stars were all aligned today. As we turned up at the restaurant to sign the deal Scarlett said 'I've been here before dad!!' & then we found this video. Stood on the chair in front of all her family singing A Million Dreams & here we are 5 years later making her dream come true."
Scarlett herself shared a photo of the contract signing moment, writing: "Wow what an experience I have had so far and what an experience I'm about to have, I am beyond grateful for this amazing opportunity. Today was a life changing moment for me, I've been working hard behind the scenes but I can now finally share it with you all. I can't wait for what this year brings, hopefully some amazing music."
Controversy Over Educational Choices
The teenager, who appeared in BBC's Waterloo Road in 2023, recently faced controversy when she revealed she did not sit her GCSE exams. In a TikTok video posted during results season, the caption read: "I'm watching everyone get there [sic] GCSE results today wondering if I could've had good results but I will forever wonder."
The clip sparked considerable online debate, with many criticizing the decision for the teenager to forgo sitting the nationwide exams and attending school to focus on her budding acting and music career. Under one post that criticized the parental decision, her father Ryan weighed in defensively, asking: "Is it even anyone's business or concern though?"
Scarlett Thomas continues to navigate the challenges of growing up in the public eye while pursuing her musical ambitions, balancing public scrutiny with her artistic development and personal growth as she approaches adulthood.
