Culture

James Charles named one of TIME’s 25 most influential people on the internet

Jul 17 2019
Written by Reem Makari

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)

James Charles has been named one of TIME’s 25 most influential people on the internet following his feud with Tati Westbrook.

The YouTuber has joined fellow first-timer Lil Nas X, who made the list thanks to his viral hit “Old Town Road.”

Other celebrity influencers who ranked include BTS, Ariana Grande, Donald Trump, and Cardi B.

The year marks the firth roundup of the most influential people on the internet and measures people’s “global impact on social media and their overall ability to drive news.”

James Charles-Tati Westbrook feud

In May 2019 former mentor and fellow beauty blogger Tati Westbrook posted a 43 minute YouTube video calling out Charles for a number of alleged transgressions, including promoting a rival vitamin pill to her own on his Instagram Stories and making inappropriate advances towards straight men.

In the video — which has now beed deleted — 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.

The video had more than 50 million views before it was deleted.

Tati Westbrook breaks silence on James Charles, asks for ‘hate to stop’ — Tati Westbrook and James Charles

James Charles responds to Tati Westbrook video

After losing millions of followers, Charles posted a 41-minute video titled “No More Lies,” addressing the claims made by Tati Westbrook.

Charles said that he had experienced “the darkest time” he had ever experienced after Westbrook suggested he had “tried to trick a straight man into thinking he’s gay.”

“The last few weeks of my life have been the most painful time I have ever had to deal with, and my head and brain for a hot minute went to a place so dark I didn’t think I would come back,” Charles said.

The YouTube megastar has since regained millions of followers with almost 16 million subscribers on YouTubers.

Olive branch

Both influencers have since drawn a line under their feud.

Westbrook tweeted on Sunday (May 19):

“I have been in communication with James Charles…and we believe that it is in the best interest of our community, our viewers and our own mental health to put this matter to a rest.

“In my original video, I felt the need to publicly break up with James with a warning call loud enough for him to hear. Although I do not regret raising my concerns, I completely regret the way I went about saying them. I could have and should have found a better way.”