Benson's life took a radically different path after Wizards of Waverly Place concluded in 2012. Like many young performers who aged out of teen programming, Benson faced a difficult transition in mainstream Hollywood. He booked sporadic roles before stepping back from traditional auditions entirely.
The turning point occurred around 2022. Years after private, sexually explicit photos of him were leaked online without his consent during his twenties, an experience Benson described as traumatic and professionally paralyzing, he decided to reclaim control of his own image. Benson launched an adult content page on OnlyFans, pivoting into full-time adult entertainment. The venture proved financially transformative, but it also placed him far outside the squeaky-clean corporate orbit of modern Disney Channel productions.
When Disney announced early development of Wizards Beyond Waverly Place in January 2024, Benson addressed the news directly on social media, expressing amused disbelief that a reboot materialized right after he committed publicly to adult entertainment. While fans held out hope for a guest cameo, the corporate brand safety guidelines at The Walt Disney Company made his return structurally impossible.
