James Charles Faces Backlash Over Rant About Woman Who Lost Job
James Charles, a 26-year-old social media influencer with over 80 million followers and an estimated net worth of $22 million, has found himself in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons. The make-up artist recently came under fire after he called a woman who allegedly lost her job at Spirit Airlines “lazy” and “stupid” for asking for help through a GoFundMe link.
In a now-deleted TikTok video, Charles criticized the woman, who was among the 17,000 employees let go when the budget airline shut down. He referred to her as a “lazy piece of shit,” sparking immediate outrage from his audience.
The video began with Charles yelling at the camera, mocking a follower’s message about financial struggles. “You’re entitled and you think that influencers and celebrities should fund your life for you. Why?” he questioned. “You think I’m going to send you money because you lost your job? Welcome to real world sweetheart. People lose their jobs every f–king day.”
Many viewers were shocked by Charles’ response, calling his behavior “disgusting.” One comment read, “Worst thing I’ve seen an influencer willingly say on camera.” Others were puzzled by why Charles felt the need to respond with a video, suggesting he could have simply ignored the message.
Some critics pointed out the hypocrisy in Charles’ stance, noting that he relies on his fans to fund his own lifestyle. “Considering he literally relies on his fans to fund his own lifestyle,” one user wrote.
Following the backlash, Charles posted another deleted apology on TikTok, where he said he “stands by what [he] said ten toes down.” However, he acknowledged that he initially spoke from a “very privileged, obnoxious, ignorant standpoint.”
The make-up artist explained that he had assumed the woman was “copying and pasting the message just asking for a handout.” He admitted the original video was “completely unnecessary” but defended his actions, saying the woman’s message “triggered” him.
Charles revealed that he receives thousands of messages daily asking for money. “It definitely sucks to receive messages from people that don’t follow you and don’t support you, treating you like a personal ATM or bank account,” he said.
Despite his explanation, many remained unsatisfied with his apology, believing he was only “saving face” in response to the backlash. Charles also acknowledged that his comments came across as “super f–king privileged” and that he was essentially shaming anyone who is unemployed for not trying hard enough to get a job.
The controversy highlights the complex relationship between influencers and their audiences. While some argue that influencers should be able to speak freely, others believe they have a responsibility to use their platform for good. As the debate continues, it remains to be seen how Charles will address the fallout from this incident.
