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Here’s everything that happened ever since
YouTuber and beauty influencer Tati Westbrook has returned to YouTube after months of silence. Taking a break from YouTube and social media, Tati went through multiple legal troubles offline. She referenced the beauty scandals she was in as well but added that she would be moving forward and leaving all of that behind. Moreover, the dramas led to her receiving “intense” harassment online which became one of the reasons for her nearly getting a divorce. Here’s everything that happened with Tati Westbrook when she took a YouTube hiatus.
Related: Tati Westbrook Tries on Airbrush Makeup
Tati Westbrook reveals she’s distanced herself from the beauty community
She didn’t name anyone in particular but did mention how her previous videos had had an impact in the beauty community. Tati Westbrook acknowledged how her videos led to further drama and scandals in the community. And ever since posting her last video ‘Breaking My Silence’, she’s distanced herself from the entire beauty community. She informed her viewers that she doesn’t keep in touch with anyone anymore.
A brief timeline of events of her scandals with James Charles, Jeffree Star and Shane Dawson
In May 10th 2019, Tati Westbrook made a video that caused uproar in the beauty community. ‘Bye Sister’, a video uploaded by Tati, made the whole internet turn against James Charles. She detailed how he manipulates straight men into having se*xual relation with him and showcases predatory behavior. Tati also deemed Charles a traitor when he took a sponsorship deal from a competitor of Tati’s company, Halo beauty. In response, Charles posted several video messages. But one YouTube video ‘No More Lies’, detailed how he had not manipulated any straight man into having an inappropriate relation with him.
In late June of 2020, in ‘Breaking My Silence’ video, Tati named Jeffree Star and Shane Dawson as those who manipulated her against her close friend James Charles. She took back everything she said against James and said that she has resolved matters with him offline. The video earned her a lot of criticism and many lost trust in what she was saying. Tati did share that she was going to take a break and take some time off for herself.
Shane, James and Jeffree ended up facing their other controversies
Shortly after, Shane Dawson and Jeffree Star were canceled online due to their past controversial content regarding racism and pedophilia. Though, Star was facing rumors of sexual harassment accusations but no case has been confirmed. Star denied all such claims including the one that Tati made, apologized for his past mistakes and returned to YouTube. Star also revealed that he no longer associates with anyone from the beauty community.
Dawson, on the other hand, came online briefly and simply said that everything Tati was saying is a lie. He also went on a long YouTube hiatus but is hinting a return to the platform on social media. He was facing a lot of backlash when even Jada Pinkett-Smith and Jaden Smith denounced Shane Dawson on the pedophilia joke he made about their family member, Willow Smith.
Related: Is Shane Dawson coming back to YouTube?
And James Charles enjoyed a very successful career by releasing ‘Sister’ merch lines and collaborating with the top TikTokers and influencers. However, all of that came to a halt and he took a YouTube hiatus after multiple underage boys accused of sexual harassment and grooming. Charles denied the claims, says he stopped talking to the guys after their real ages were known. But he did apologize for his mistakes and said he’ll take some time off to ‘self-reflect’ and take accountability.
Related: Morphe ends collaboration with James Charles Amid allegations that he s*xted with minors
In late 2020, Tati and her husband faced a major lawsuit
In late October 2020, Tati Westbrook was sued by her business partner Clark Swanson for a total of thirty million dollars. The reason for the lawsuit was described by Insider as:
The complaint, filed on October 20, 2020, alleges that Westbrook and her husband committed fraud, negligence, and breach of fiduciary duty in their capacities as owners of Halo Beauty, which led to Swanson and the company suffering financially.
The lawsuit soon became a public matter with Swanson often sharing private and confidential documents and information online.
Swanson argues that Tati Westbrook would create beauty care and skincare products under Halo Beauty. Halo Beauty, was originally a vitamin company that was going to include more products. Swanson had a one-third share, the two-third shares were of Tati and her husband James Westbrook. In the lawsuit, the document read as:
“Tati Fragrance is a product line that we contemplated when we formed Halo and again when I gave you and Tati the controlling interest in the business. Even if you are right that Tati Fragrance could be good for Halo, there is no way it is better for Halo than having Halo own and operate the Fragrance piece of the business. As an officer/member/owner of Halo, I don’t think that any of us can in good faith claim that any other course of action would be in the best interests of Halo. Please reconsider in light of Tati and your obligations to Halo.”
However, Tati launched another company Tati Beauty where she released skincare and beauty products. Swanson said that this was a disagreement on Tati and James’ part.
There is more to the story!
Tati Westbrook denied such claims. When the lawsuit first came out, Tati’s team made this statement:
“Clark Swanson’s lawsuit is meritless… his absurd claim that Tati Westbrook granted him one-third of her name, image, and likeness for all time in exchange for a modest initial capital contribution. Swanson’s claim is not only baseless, it is offensive and defies common sense. This is particularly true given that Swanson has received millions in profit distributions from Halo Beauty, almost exclusively due to the Westbrook’ efforts. Tati and James will vigorously defend this lawsuit and are confident that the truth will come out and they will prevail.”
In her new video, Tati shared that the lawsuit was something that totally blindsided her. But she wants to keep fighting the “good fight” and wants justice to prevail. She also explained that she’s always been the CEO of Halo Beauty:
“I never left Halo. I always stayed active as the CEO. And I am still currently, actively today going through litigation — it is overwhelming, but I’m going to keep fighting the good fight for truth and for justice.”
As a result of the expensive costs of the lawsuit, Tati Westbrook shared candidly that she had to downsize her lifestyle and had to sell her house in L.A. She also revealed that it led to a lot of trouble in her marriage.
Tati Westbrook shared that she received intense online harassment
A reason for her marriage straining was because of the online harassment Tati Westbrook received. There were claims and lies being spun around regarding her, her husband and their company. The beauty influencer shared that she received very disturbing messages and emails from her critics. Some blackmailed her, and some even sent her death threats. Some claimed to have had access to her camera and claimed they could see her every move. This led to her having a lot of anxiety, depression and sleepless nights.
Tati then revealed how straining the struggles were for her marriage:
During this very very stressful time in my life, James and I almost got divorced. We could not be around each other. He got his own place. We were separated during the Holidays. It was a sad time. Literally I feel like my life is that of a Lifetime movie.
Then fortunately, the two ended up solving matters out and they are now back together. She said that they’ve together for eleven years and counting.
Moreover, she addressed why she wasn’t wearing a wedding ring in the video. Tati explained that she took the ring off during their bad phase. And she put the ring accidentally in one of the boxes she had put out for donation. So, it seems like she accidentally donated her own wedding ring.
But Tati Westbrook said that she doesn’t mind because what was more important for her is that she got her husband back and now they’re back together.
Tati Westbrook ended the video by saying she doesn’t mind people saying things about her. She doesn’t even get bothered by the tea channels/drama channels. But she had a request for everyone to not read any tarot cards or spiritual readings about her future for their videos.
The beauty influencer believes in the power of prayers and also requested everyone to keep her in their prayers.
