By now, if you’re familiar with the beauty community of Youtube, you would have heard about the Tati Westbrook and James Charles scandal that occurred this week. It all started when Tati made a 43 minute video elaborating on how Charles betrayed her. But, she also shed a light on James Charles’ questionable behavior which Jeffree Star and many fans would call ‘predatory’. Now, Westbrook has a follow-up video where she urges everyone to let James Charles heal.
What Went Down With The Two
Okay, a quick recap. Tati Westbrook and James Charles have been close friends ever since the latter helped kick start his YouTube career. She helped him in the early years when it comes to managing and how the YouTube community works. As time went by, things went awry between the two. In her 43 minute video, entitled ‘Bye Sister’, she talked about how Charles promoted the supplement company Sugar Bear Hair Care. That company is a direct competitor of Tati’s company: Halo Beauty. Despite, the 19-year-old YouTuber clarifying things and apologizing for his actions, the audience is still spewing hateful comments towards him.
That may be more due to the fact that Tati Westbrook talked about how he uses his power and fame to manipulate straight men into engaging in sexual activities with him. Whenever they would refuse, he would emotionally manipulate them even further. After Tati talked about this, many straight men, few of whom are notable YouTubers, shared their stories of uncomfortable encounters with James Charles himself.
Extreme Response For All Sides
Tati’s video managed to have such a huge impact that James Charles lost millions of subscribers on YouTube and followers on Instagram, including notable celebrities. All the while, Westbrook gained more subscribers and much more fame than she had anticipated. A lot of mainstream news organizations such as The Independent and even Vanity Fair are covering this story.
Since, Charles was painted as someone who isn’t exactly loyal and someone who exploits his fame to seduce heterosexual and sexually confused men, the audience wasn’t easy on him. Without even wanting to, Westbrook led the internet into choosing sides and ‘cancelling’ James.
Majority seem to be on Tati’s side
Tati Westbrook after ending James Charles career by posting Bye Sister to YouTube. pic.twitter.com/CTcLE5QjWO
— ☾・ﾟ✧ ⋆ (@c0n0r_16) May 11, 2019
instead of destroying my james charles pallete i decided to give it a little makeover… miss tati westbrook is inevitable pic.twitter.com/HAE0sZjv3Y
— jade (@dobrksmendes) May 12, 2019
nah listen ive got MAD RESPECT for tati westbrook tbh she deadass could have left it and let herself rise and rise but she came straight in with the enough is enough and that’s something you gotta respect man i felt her pain through that screen shutup everyone
— yeet (@ladyqueers) May 16, 2019
Some are still supporting James Charles
James charles apologized and honestly he was so honest and amazing with this video. I definitely support him pic.twitter.com/cJ9wQOoqba
— 여상's elisa~ ★ (@yeosanglight) May 11, 2019
No matter what happens I’ll always look up to you and support you @jamescharles pic.twitter.com/qs5XmuBqNp
— Bella Marsh-Tingey (@bella_tingey) May 12, 2019
@jamescharles you mean so so much to me and I’m beyond proud of u, so many people support you never forget that ?
Thank u for being so beautiful pic.twitter.com/AmKbN6Xcla— ?WILLOW? (@heyitsWillowxo) May 11, 2019
Can we just remember that James Charles is literally 19 years old. I don’t condone his actions at all and I do not support him, but we really preach anti-bullying and good mental health until it’s an “influencer” and it’s really gross
— Sara (@adoreswh0re) May 10, 2019
Some Just Support Tati’s Efforts To Help James
I’m glad Tati Westbrook’s acknowledges how hurtful y’all have been to James Charles. He’s made mistakes, but shit the internet has been EVIL to a human being and she’s right. People can learn from lessons, but bullying and harm is such a huge issue and y’all are a part of it.
— sami (@sraihane1) May 16, 2019
I felt a certain way about the James Charles situation but after talking to everyone I see that Tati really didn't mean to hurt James & she only did it to help him. I originally thought she did intend to damage his reputation.
— ᴋᴏᴅᴇᴇʀᴀɴᴛs (@kodeerants) May 17, 2019
tati has her heart in the right place. most of us, probably dont hate james charles as much as we say but do agree with her when she says he does need help. he does need a different friend group, the smallest changes will impact him so. james isn’t cancelled, tati isn’t superior.
— ryan ?? (@ryanfckingross) May 16, 2019
Tati Doesn’t Want To Spread Hate
It seems like the response Tati got from the audience was in extremes. The toxic “cancel” culture of the Internet spread like wildfire with people. Supporters of both Tati and James were bullying the other’s side. This obviously led to Tati having to re-evaluate what had happened.
In an 18-minute follow-up video, she highlighted the fact that she doesn’t hate James Charles. She still loves him and wants to support him. The reason for her making the video was trying to reach him and tell him that he needs to check what his behavior has been like in the recent months. Since, he was not being as receptive to her guidance privately as she had hoped, Tati Westbrook thought this was the only way to make James Charles realize what needs to be done.
In her latest video, she has kept reiterating that she didn’t want anyone to take sides nor incite hatred towards anymore. She even mentioned the fact that she didn’t want to do get any fame from it either; she just wanted to help someone she still loves. In fact, she wants James to heal and evolve.