James Charles loses two million YouTube subscribers after conduct claims

YouTube star James Charles

Gay YouTube star James Charles has shed two million subscribers after a feud brought up allegations of abusive conduct.

The 19-year-old makeup guru has been feuding with fellow beauty YouTuber Tati Westbrook, 37, who uploaded a video on Friday (May 10) calling out his actions.

James Charles sheds 2 million YouTube subscribers

Since the feud began, James Charles has shed more than two million subscribers, dropping from 16.57 million a week ago to just 14.59 million.

The YouTuber has also lost a number of famous friends, with Kylie Jenner unfollowing him on Instagram.

“Don’t Worry About Me” singer Zara Larsson also hit out at James Charles, tweeting: “I’m cackling cause he hit up my boyfriend in the DMs several times knowing damn well he’s straight.”

US internet personality James Charles arrives for the 2019 Met Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 6, 2019, in New York.

US internet personality James Charles arrives for the 2019 Met Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 6, 2019, in New York. (ANGELA WEISS/AFP/Getty)

In her 43-minute long video, Westbrook had attacked her fellow YouTuber for regularly joking about having sex with straight men.

She said: “You tried tricking a straight man into thinking he’s gay yet again, and somehow you’re the victim.

“You know, it’s really disgusting to manipulate someone’s sexuality, especially when they are still emerging into adulthood and don’t have everything quite figured out.

“You are using your fame, your power, your money to play with people’s emotions.

“You’re threatening to ruin them. You’re threatening to embarrass them. And you’re doing that to have them behave sexually in your favour, even if they’re straight.


“And you know what? That’s not okay. That behaviour’s not OK.”

James Charles: I ‘should have been more careful’ with boys

In a response video, James Charles said: “Boys have been a topic that I’ve talked a lot about on my social media journey, and I wish I hadn’t.

“I’ve been involved in a lot of very unique and strange situations that have left people confused or upset, and I learned the hard way about ways I can interact with boys I’m interested in.

“This is a conversation that I know a lot of people are uncomfortable with, and it’s something I should have been far more careful with, bringing into the public eye.”

The row between the two YouTubers started on April 22 when Charles posted an advertised video on Instagram in which he promoted hair and sleep vitamins from a company called Sugar Bear Hair.

Westbrook was upset that he had chosen to advertise the brand as she has her own company which offers a similar product.