Fall of beauty influencer culture
Fall of beauty influencer culture
The beauty industry is constantly evolving, and one of the most noticeable trends in recent years is the emergence of celebrity makeup brands. From Rihanna’s Fenty Beauty to Selena Gomez’s Rare Beauty, more and more stars are launching their own lines of cosmetics and skincare products, often with a focus on diversity, inclusivity, and social causes. Another huge reason for the fall of the beauty influencer, is the scandals. Here are some of the biggest scandals that rocked the YouTube beauty community in recent years.
James Charles and Tati Westbrook Feud
In 2019, James Charles and his mentor Tati Westbrook got into a public and very nasty feud. It all began when Tati confronted James about his promotion of a rival beauty brand on social media, an act Tati called “betrayal”. The feud quickly spiraled out of control, with both parties going on social media to air their grievances. The fallout from the feud resulted in James losing millions of followers and sponsorships.
@Youtube
Jeffree Star’s Racism Allegations
Jeffree Star is no stranger to controversy, but in 2017, he found himself at the center of a racism scandal. A video surfaced of Jeffree hurling racial slurs at a group of people, and he was quickly labeled as a racist. Jeffree has since apologized for his comments, but the damage had already been done.
@jefreestar Youtube
Laura Lee
The beauty influencer and makeup artist, faced backlash in 2018 when old tweets resurfaced, revealing racist comments made by her. As a result, she lost a significant number of followers and sponsors. She later uploaded a five-minute apology video on YouTube, which has since been deleted. Within a week, she lost over half a million subscribers and has struggled to fully recover from the scandal.
Jaclyn Hill
In 2019, Jaclyn Hill, a makeup artist and beauty influencer, faced accusations of selling contaminated lipsticks. Hill denied any issues with the quality of the lipsticks and placed blame on customers for mishandling the products. However, she later acknowledged a manufacturing problem and offered a full refund to all customers who had purchased the lipsticks. Additionally, she temporarily deactivated her social media accounts and retreated from the public eye.
@Jacklynhill Youtube
Kat Von D
The beauty influencer, became embroiled in a Nazi scandal in 2018 after posting a controversial video on social media. She defended a man known for his links to Nazi groups, sparking outrage. Although Kat Von D eventually apologized for her actions, the damage had already been done.
@KatVonD Youtube
