The Rise, the Drama, and the cancellations of James Charles...
Who is James Charles?
James Charles is one of the biggest names in the beauty industry, and also one of the most controversial. Since his rise to fame as the first male CoverGirl ambassador in 2016, James has built a huge platform of followers, tutorials, and brand deals. But along with success came many public scandals, and James quickly became the face of what “cancel culture” looks like in the influencer world.
His story isn’t about makeup or YouTube... It’s about what happens when internet fame collides with drama, accountability, and millions of fans watching closely.
This blog post examines the biggest controversies surrounding James Charles, the reactions of his fans, and why he remains relevant despite constant backlash.
From Success to Spotlight-
James Charles’s career started with a viral moment: becoming CoverGirl’s first “CoverBoy", making his debut on the Ellen show. At just 17, he was a new, groundbreaking influencer in the beauty industry. He soon grew his platform with YouTube tutorials, bold makeup looks, and collaborations with big brands and celebrities like Zendaya. His subscriber total went up, making him one of the most influential figures in the beauty world.
But James being so big cost him a lot. James’s fast rise also attracted intense attention, criticism, and eventually drama. While many loved his personality and work, others saw that James had a pattern of controversial behavior. The bigger he got, the more he got hated on.
Major Controversies...
1. Tati Westbrook “Bye Sister” Drama (2019)-
Possibly the most notorious controversy in YouTube history was James’s falling out with mentor Tati Westbrook. After promoting a competing brand, James faced Tati’s explosive “Bye Sister” video, where she accused him of betrayal and manipulative behavior. The video spread all over the internet, and James lost millions of subscribers in just days. YouTube critique channels added to the drama, and hashtags trended worldwide. Although James eventually recovered and even gained sympathy after responding, the situation changed his public image forever.
2. Grooming Allegations (2021)-
James faced serious allegations of inappropriate messaging with underage fans. Multiple screenshots and testimonies spread online, and the hate was immediate. He admitted to having messaged some individuals but pleaded he had been fooled about their ages. Still, the damage to his reputation was significant. Others argued that James had repeated patterns of questionable behavior and failed to learn from past mistakes. This was backed up by his sexuality and it being hard for him to find people who are the same sexuality as him, or even the same age as him. Which is no excuse, but sometimes the LGBTQ+ community can be hard to find people.
3. 3. Other Public Scandals-
James’s career has also been marked by smaller but consistent waves of backlash. From making tone-deaf jokes to drama with other creators to fans accusing him of arrogance, James has stayed at the center of controversy. Even outside the major scandals, his name often trends whenever influencer drama is mentioned. He also just recently had drama with a big creator named Kayla. James did her makeup for a video because the way she blew up on TikTok was due to her bad makeup. Her ex had been abusive towards her, and she expressed that to James, but soon found out that James flew the boy to his house. James then went to TikTok with a "1-minute" apology video debunking all of that as untrue, and that he was unaware of the circumstances. And when you make a 1-minute video on TikTok, you tend to get paid for every view you get. Leaving James still good, financially, even after all he has done.
Apologies & Backlash-
A big part of James Charles’s online history is his apology videos. After nearly every controversy, James posted long, emotional statements or videos to address the backlash. However, many viewers saw his apology as insincere or even perceived that he had been PR-trained to know exactly what to say.
For example, following the grooming allegations, James uploaded a video titled “Holding Myself Accountable.” In it, he acknowledged making mistakes, but it also seemed like he was making excuses, and people saw that. Loyal fans viewed it as a step in the right direction, while others saw it as another cycle of performative apologies with no change.
The internet’s memory is pretty good, and many people still reference old scandals whenever James trends again on their fyp. Now he is known for making a comeback regardless of what people have to say.
Fan Reactions-
Fans' reactions play a big part in James still being relevant.
- Fans that left: Many people unfollowed him for good, mostly after the grooming allegations, feeling they couldn’t support him anymore. For these fans, his mistakes outweighed his skill for makeup.
- Loyal Defenders: James still has millions of followers who defend him online, claiming that cancel culture goes too far. They argue that he’s young, human, and should still be able to post.
- Meme Culture: On platforms like X and TikTok, James often becomes the subject of jokes, memes, and viral edits whenever drama resurfaces. This has made him an internet symbol of influencer scandals. Memes can keep people famous for a little longer.
This divide in fan culture shows how cancel culture doesn’t fully “cancel” someone—it just reshapes how they’re seen. James lost some audiences, but others stuck with him, keeping his career going.
Conclusion-
James Charles’s career is a true study of the highs and lows of influencer culture. From being a groundbreaking face in beauty to being repeatedly “canceled,” he’s lived through some of the internet’s worst hate. Yet, despite everything, James is still online, still posting, and still followed by millions.
Personally, I still find James entertaining and funny at times. I don’t support all of his actions, and I believe he has made serious mistakes. But I also see him as human, flawed, learning, and surviving under a spotlight that most of us could never imagine. He stands up for what is right and uses his platform for good. Cancel culture has shaped his career, but it hasn’t erased him. In a way, that strength is what keeps people watching.
So what do you think about James Charles after this blog drop???
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