CoverGirl model/makeup artist James Charles has lost over 2.5 million followers and counting in a matter of days after shocking allegations were lodged against him by fellow influencer/YouTuber Tati Westbrook last week.
On Friday, Westbrook posted a video to her channel titled “Bye Sister” in which she alleged that Charles, who she once considered a friend, had made a habit out of coercing straight guys into participating in gay sex acts against their wills.
“You know, it’s really disgusting to manipulate someone’s sexuality,” Westbrook said in the video, which has garnered almost 40 million views in less than a week, “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 favor, even if they’re straight.”
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In response, Charles released his own video, apologizing for his actions and saying, “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,” he added, “and it’s something I should have been far more careful with, bringing into the public eye.”
But this hasn’t stopped folks on Twitter from declaring him officially canceled, with many declaring him a sexual predator with a straight boy fetish.
Here’s what people are saying…
everyone on their way to unfollow #jamescharles pic.twitter.com/9Mr8YB3x3l
— clout (@shiftjose) May 14, 2019
If you sexually harass or manipulate straight boys, or even catfish them in attempt to get dick pics of them, then congrats… you are, by definition, a PREDATOR.
Looking right at you, James Charles. #ByeSister
— ????? ???????? (@MeliMissfit) May 11, 2019
guys: i’m straight
james charles: no you’re not pic.twitter.com/HeZUn2jof0
— chelsea gay (@THlRSTAE) May 14, 2019
James Charles cancelled, Kevin Spacey cancelled. I’m starting to think gay men… are men.
— Justin Randall (@imjustinrandall) May 13, 2019
james charles after trying to make a straight guy gay: pic.twitter.com/xs2j0IxR1H
— alex ? (@_alexreid98) May 14, 2019
IT MUST BE SAID: James Charles makes gays look like slimy insecure hypersexual manipulative predators. we don't claim him anymore. MOST gay men are more "normal" than you think, I swear. I'm sick of people like him being propped up as a symbol for gays. NOPE.
— patrick ? (@goreinfel) May 5, 2019
Yes. Pass the legacy please ??? #jamescharles pic.twitter.com/Li0JAGSl04
— ?? (@eonyeony) May 14, 2019
James Charles is really out here losing followers faster than Elder Price lost his faith in Act 2, wow.
— The Book of Mormon – London (@notbomlondon) May 14, 2019
Me, knowing damn well I never supported #jamescharles and thought he was an annoying, soggy piece of lettuce#jamescharlesisoverparty pic.twitter.com/aU3QWyjF84
— Daniel Painter (@oooo_he_thicc) May 14, 2019
james charles , jeffree star and every other white gay that fetishizes and sexualizes straight men showing up shamelessly to the gates of hell and greeting Satan pic.twitter.com/7dQan1g5DO
— tony stark’s fructose rich cum ++!**? (@triIogggy) May 14, 2019
tati westbrook just grabbed the sexual predator and manipulator james charles by the neck and DRAGGED him and his career straight to the cemetery. we stan pic.twitter.com/u6EvzlAiBH
— vee (@retrokims) May 10, 2019
received this from james charles a few weeks back. funny lookin back in hindsight. feels like i was one of the lucky few who managed to escape the grasp of this sexual predator pic.twitter.com/hnSHWL0eJL
— keithy (@keithy95) May 14, 2019
How I sleep at night knowing I've never followed, subscribed to, or supported James Charles in any way #jamescharles pic.twitter.com/oLcs3Qn0AH
— Chiranga Shalitha (@chirangaaa) May 14, 2019
When a straight guy does this at 19 years old trying to lure women or manipulate or sexually harass others and make them feel slightly uncomfortable, it's a big problem (which it should be) but when #jamescharles does it, he's just a kid and its ok cause he's homosexual… pic.twitter.com/0ChXCoOcgO
— ValentinaoftheLevant (@valentina666__) May 14, 2019
James Charles and his last 3 subscribers pic.twitter.com/Y7PpWXgVmA
— owen (@owennblewitt) May 14, 2019
Can y’all believe james charles has actual fans even though he’s literally a disgusting predator that fakes being a woman for straight men to send him explicit pics………..
— Lindsi (@lindsihcaf) May 8, 2019
James Charles is canceled ? #jamescharlesisoverparty pic.twitter.com/biTUgJPmiV
— Bucky :’) (@steeleyess) May 11, 2019
Literally everyone after the James Charles Scandal pic.twitter.com/BLRkbYhTk4
— ZachPelletier (@ZachPelletier_) May 14, 2019
All James Charles palettes 50% off today, just use code:CANCELLED at checkout
— garrett (@garretttpayne) May 12, 2019
yeah james charles sucks but i hope homophobic people don’t use this situation as an excuse to paint gay people are predators and straight men as victims. reminder that this is about someone using fame and power to manipulate people, has nothing to do with him being gay
— natalie (@accionatalie) May 11, 2019
RIGay
Social Media Influencer?
Good bye.
NEXT!
Brian
It’s almost as if James had read some of the numerous articles Queerty has run trying to convince us that no straight man is 100% straight.
Chrisk
You just know that grahams totally jealous though. Like damn it. All I get to do is write about it and this slut is out there doing it.
Brian
Oh you know Graham has spent his adult life pushing himself onto straight guys. Unfortunately for him, “bad stereotype perpetuator” doesn’t have the same cache as “beauty blogger”.
marion
Grahams too ugly to turn a straight gay, even for a night
PLAYS WELL WITH OTHERS
This very queeny not at all muscular guy “forces” “straight” guys into having sex?
Donston
It probably has more to do with using his power, fame and money to “influence” some straight-identifying guys and also some harassing and clingy behaviors. I’m not really feeling that bad for the couple of supposed “victims”. Once I read the details it was obvious that they were willing to play along for as long as it was convenient for them. It’s still sh*tty behaviors, and at least half of these openly gay/bi/queer/whatever famous men seem to indulge it. I don’t get having money and status and being able to be with an array of different types of people, but you’re looking to be with people who don’t have unabashed romantic, sexual, relationship interests and affections towards you or you’re trying to be with people who make it clear that you are not their overall preference and ambition. Even if you’re more dismissive towards “labels” these continued instincts just hint towards narcissism, megalomania, a lack of practicality and often hints towards a lack of self-respect. It’s a part of the “culture” that does need to be confronted.
I will agree with some of your latter post. I’ve seen far more egregious stuff. It seems people are piling on for the sake of it.
redzebra1
As whimn’s own Edwina Carr-Barraclough pointed out “predatory behaviour thrives when there’s a significant power imbalance”. And there’s no question that the men Charles approached – mostly young, unknown hangers-on who were dazzled by his wealth and celebrity – were victims of a power struggle that they weren’t positioned to win.
TheMarc
Really??? Really, Queerty??? Said with no irony whatsoever, huh? And these gays on Twitter and elsewhere are not attacking him because of his predatory behavior. They finally get to take him down and this is the easiest path in their minds. I get it. He’s pretty easy to dislike. But to pretend like the gay community as a whole does not have a problem when it comes to straight guys and predatory behavior is ridiculous and absurd. It has been a longstanding problem that is continually perpetrated everyday by not only many, many gay men; but also gay media outlets, gay adult film companies, etc.
If we want to actually take this seriously, I, for one, am all for it. For too long, the gay male community has been obsessed with the straight guy fetish for a number of reasons; none of which are healthy. Poor Shawn Mendes seems to be on the verge of a breakdown because of this nonsense. But how dare so many and especially this outlet pretend as though they have the credibility to attack or even point out someone for this type of behavior when it is truly widely practiced and almost encouraged. If it were up to me, there would be a wholesale tear down of this activity. No more straight lusting, worshiping, etc. Not a few months ago, an actor asked for people to stop sending him thirsty messages and the comments on that article on this site were abhorrent. Everything from calling him closeted to ungrateful; just because he, a straight man, did not appreciate/want inappropriate messages directed toward him.
So if you’re REALLY upset about this type of behavior, insure you yourself are not participating in it, for one. That goes for you to, Queerty. Stop perpetuating that it’s perfectly ok to pursue and drool over straight men, just because they are men. They have a right to not like it.
GayNOTQueer
BAM! AMEN!
Doug
I totally agree. The double-standard here is pretty outrageous.
g-sing
totally agreed. i hope other gay celebrities coughguscough is paying attention.
Catholicslutbox
I stopped reading when you mentioned porn. Gay porn companies hire anyone that fits their standards of beauty- gay or straight.
GayNOTQueer
@Catholicslutbox, uh gay porn markets itself as straight men haven, so I don’t know where you’re going with that. And half the blogs, and gay pornstars themselves along with the director will swear till they are blue in the face that their performers are straight.
Straightness is a factor for gay porn.
TheMarc
@Catholicslutbox Hmm…didn’t seem like you actually read it at all since you are referring to something I did NOT address. My comment was not in regard to beauty standards in gay adult film. It was in regard to the “straight boy” fetish that is featured prominently in gay adult film; most relevantly, straight boy seduction/turning.
GayNOTQueer
‘Predatory straight boy fetish’ oh, oh, oh… graham gremore must be shitting himself! What, wasn’t he the author of an article telling straight men why they should go gay?
Careful Queerty, your articles can come back and bite your ass -and sadly not by a straight guy as you’d want- but rather a mob of PC torch bearers…
marion
Yep!
Rocinante
Nonsense, he’s not forcing any boy to have sex. If he is or was wooing them with his words and cute looks into something they decide wasn’t for them, that’s on them. Take some responsibility for your own contributions to an activity that takes two. Tired of hearing everything is predatory. By the way, we are the most dangerous predators to live on this earth. We are all predators to some degree, it’s in our DNA.
redzebra1
“he’s not forcing any boy to have sex” Yes he is! Tati gave one example of him clearly getting a guy drunk to have sex. That’s called rape! He needs to be locked up!
Catholicslutbox
Bryan singer does this kind of stuff too…
redzebra1
Catholicslutbox yeah I want him arrested, the stories are convincing enough for me.
stopyolying
@redzebra1
Not a single point in that Tati video did she even remotely mention the word rape, or getting guys drunk and assulting them. He did not sleep with anyone. He only commented on their looks/ what he would like to do.
You are crafting a whole narrative that was NEVER MENTIONED. Jesus Christ, watch the video again.
To everyone else @redzebra1 is very VERY MISTAKEN and wrong. Please watch to judge for yourself. But at no point did actual sexual assault occur by getting anyone drunk or otherwise. wowwww
redzebra1
Sorry, Anthony Amorim in a Tweet did “2 years ago in a hotel room at playlist live”
PLAYS WELL WITH OTHERS
It’s beyond disgusting, our community is under unprecedented attack from all angles and yet we continue to attack and tear down our own from within…..
He may be somewhat annoying, but this is how he chose to earn a living. To attempt to destroy his career is despicable and plays right into the wishes of the far right who’s life missions are to destroy our lives, family, community, and culture…
GayNOTQueer
I’ll agree with you on one part: this is not sexual harassment. These guys went into their meetings with James Charles with the FULL KNOWLEDGE that James Charles thought them attractive. The waiter story for example, HE DMed James Charles after everyone in the restaurant told him that James Charles thought them cute. The guy he took to Coachella was definitely using James Charles. So no, it is NOT predatory behaviour from James Charles’ part.
However, it is STUPID behaviour from both parties. James Charles babbles on and on about how he’s into straight boys, like a lot of idiot gay men. Including the writers for Queerty. What do gay men actually think will happen when they pursue a relationship with a ‘straight’ man? Seriously.
And because these little weenie closeted bitches probably saw that their lives would be catapulted into the spotlight by being lovers with Coverboy there, they backtracked on everything. It’s easier to save face and say ‘I’m bicurious’ and no longer interested after I got a concert ticket, free food and first class flights and bow out, than it is to commit to a long term relationship or any kind of relationship with someone as embarrassing as James Charles. Because he is a joke that seems to appeal to tween girls.
Both gay men and opportunistic ‘bicurious’ ‘straight’ men create the grounds for this nonsense. And you can bet that in the world of #metoo ‘straight’ opportunistic men will find a way to capitalize on that.
Your outrage is misdirected. Why don’t you take it up against loser homos that pant like pathetic dogs at the altar is straightness. That’s who throw us under the bus. Nothing to say of all these ‘fluidity’ bullshit stories and ‘gay-4-payers’ and ‘straight’ escorts and the pathetic Queers that feed the lie to beat off.
TheMarc
You raise a valid point. This incident has unleashed all the hate that everyone seems to bear this kid. But I don’t believe this provides a free pass for his behavior and the behavior of so many other gay men and gay media outlets that are tearing him apart for doing exactly what a lot of them do on a regular basis. He’s 19 and has obviously been affected by gay culture; and a rather large and significant part of that culture is hitting on and lusting after straight men; with no context or discussion around healthy sexual attitudes, appropriate behavior, etc. He’s a product of our culture, not some outsider who is doing something that’s never been done by another gay man. People want to hate him, and this gives them a reason, a very hypocritical one, but a reason nonetheless to do so.
But as GayNOTQueer points out, I believe the focus of your frustration should be more with the perpetrators of this culture that made this kid think it was okay to do this in the first place. We have whole adult websites dedicated to the very premise for which he is being accused and no one bats an eye. And I don’t doubt that an accuser or two knew exactly what they were in for with James; but that doesn’t excuse his behavior. But if not wanting to be called a sexual predator is not enough for some to drop this straight worshiping behavior; that fact should. There may be plenty of straight men willing to use gay men for all types of gains and the minute the opportunity arises, turn around and cry foul. No matter where you stand, you should be able to admit that this type of behavior is abhorrent, mutually exploitative and potentially, dangerous.
ShiningSex
MAKING SEXUAL ADVANCES IS DIFFERENT FROM GETTING ALLEGED STRAIGHT GUYS TO HAVE SEX WITH YOU. THEY’RE NOT THE SAME AND IF A GUY IS GOING TO LET YOU GIVE HIM HEAD, HE’S NOT STRAIGHT. DUH!!!
redzebra1
Yes they are. Just like with closeted gay men having sex with women before they came out. Are you telling us they’re really straight and their ‘coming out’ is fake? Wake up
patricklee5150
Looks like a curcular firing squad to me. I wish my fellow gay men would stand up for each other, not jump on the hate bandwagon with the Reich Wingers. I actually don’t know this young man who was accused (by one of his professional competitors) of “tricking” (pardon the pun, my darlings) straight men into having sex with him. I’m not even sure how that is done or that it’s even possible.
GayNOTQueer
Why don’t you ask the Queerty writers? They have TONS of articles about ‘straight’ men dabbling in gay sex and retaining their heterosexuality. As matter of fact, just today they ran a story a man bearing off with his friend and his wife going into hysterics.
Go on, ask Queerty how that’s possible. Ask gay-4-pay pornstars the same.
Black Pegasus
I didn’t know who this clown was until 2 days ago. Apparently two of the straight guys upload videos to social media essentially confirming the accusations against James Charles.
James flew (straight) Instagram model Gage Gomez to Coachella for the weekend with expectations of something physical maturing. It didn’t happen and James got messy on twitter.
James also threw himself at a (straight) restaurant waiter in Seattle.
Both of these guys seem very credible in their accounts of the story. They also have the same phenotype. White, young and heterosexual.
stopyolying
The restaurant waiter DM’d him and asked to meet up. He said he was exploring his sexuality and they talked for months before he said he was straight which set James off.
He’s really not the best at picking them but the first guy was also exploring his sexuality when talking to james. For the waiter, he made a whole ass video of him talking to james on facetime- honestly, probably for the clout.
Everyone was messy in this sitch.
GayNOTQueer
@stopyolying exactly
Prax07
Not that I Ever liked James Charles at all, but yeah, really pretty male “victims” that seemed to be using him. One even tagged along with him to Coachella as his guest, claiming to be “questioning” his sexuality but not really interested in hooking up with the 19yo. Both guys seem to be just using the horny “influencer”, and when called on their bull crap suddenly Charles is a teen predator for trying to get their dick. Charles may be a completely imature prick, which seems to be the case from everything I’ve seen, but it also seems to be cases of mutual users. The guys come across as the same type of guy using Grindr looking for “gifts” for use of their bodies.
artguy1000
Isn’t this kid like 19 or something? Where the hell are his parents? His “fame” was never based on anything in the first place. Maybe take a step back from the limelight, get some therapy and go to school.
Doctor Benway
What do you gey when you mix money, sex and social media stars (hint : influencer is not a job, get a real life please) : dramas, cheap ridiculous dramas.
HankHarris
Why is a 37 year old woman catfighting with a 19 year old in the first place?
EliottlovesLucas
Margo Channing gets revenge on Eve Harrington!!!
Brian
They are peers in an arena that requires all personal drama must be publicly confronted.
Apolodorus
Vitamins I think. He supported a rival brand.
IWantAFullBeard
How do you coerce a straight guy to do gay sexual acts? Did he rape someone? Or did he play “truth or dare” with a questioning guy?
redzebra1
He harasses them in person or online after they tell him they’re straight, or not interested. That’s sexual harassment at least, if not more.
IWantAFullBeard
Oh. I see. It’s definitely harassment but that’s far different than forcing someone to have sex with you, aka rape.
redzebra1
He tried at least once in trying to get one guy drunk on a couch, Tati intervened to stop it.
Hdtex
Stop making stupid people famous.
Apolodorus
Welcome to earth! That’s what we do here 🙂
redzebra1
He isn’t stupid, as Tati explain in her video. She said what his strengths are that made her immediately interested in collaboration when they first met.
LARRY
@redzebra1 …please do not infer that this question has any malice or infer anything nefarious in its asking…your responses seem to have a different “tone” about them and as we all have our thoughts on this situation I feel perhaps some pain here that I sincerely want to validate and perhaps a platform to release something? I mean absolutely no disrespect i just wanted to reach out a hand if that was something you might want. Peace my fellow soul and have a lovely night!
redzebra1
Just disagreement with whom I reply to in this thread. Tati gave one example of him trying to get a guy drunk on a couch. Getting someone drunk & then sex; that’s rape. Right? It’s not just DMs wit him harassing guys after they tell him they don’t want to see him again. There’s at least 1 instance of him apparently trying to get a guy drunk. IWantAFullBeard asked “How do you coerce a straight guy to do gay sexual acts? Did he rape someone?” There’s 1 instance where he seemed to be trying that, yeah.
stopyolying
@redzebra1
Tati did not give that example. He did not get anyone drunk. HE DID NOT HAVE SEX WITH ANY OF THESE BOYS. The most he did was make out with one.
Tati made no mention of his late night affairs in the long expose she did. You are adding a lot of information that did not exist in the original narrative. He never raped anyone or tried to rape anyone.
One guy DM’d him, they met up and made out. Another the same thing happened but at Coachella. Jesus, hate on him all you want but saying someone tried to rape someone when that didn’t happen is a whole other situation.
Brian
So you are really saying that trying to get someone drunk, which means it didn’t work or it would just be called getting someone drunk, and rape are the same thing? That is the dumbest thing I’ve read in ages.
redzebra1
Brian both are crimes, whichever happened.
Polaro
I don’t understand this. Once again, I have to disagree with all this nonsense. I don’t like this James Charles person for everything he represents with this influencer malarkey, but these attacks are way overblown. He forced no one to do anything. People need to grow up.
iluvcakes
The hypocrisy of you all is stunning.. half of the gay porn is themed off of this.. furthermore, i keep hear people speak on power, money and influence if it turns you into a mindless zombie,incapable of any self responsibility. The minute a “celebrity” enters your path you cant say no? We are so eager to jump on a bandwagon that we fail to actually analyze the situation. He maybe an asshole but if we cancel people for this ALOT of people are getting cancelled. Most sexual encounters occur as a result of persuasion, your trying to impress,, charm, sweet talk however you can, as long as these men were adults of sound mind, whats the scandal?
Also this whole controversy started because some woman was angry he promoted products she competed with, umm hello??
Apolodorus
All of this because of vitamins?
Brian
I believe it. Once I took a Wilma and the next day I woke up in an alley covered with jizz.
QJ201
I’m Straight
Next
is that so difficult?
PinkoOfTheGange
This is just stupid.
Do millennials and post millennials have no agency?
When did the power shift to the star fckrz?
Did this guy lock the door and hold a gun to their heads.
Regret isn’t rape. Saying stop and the action continuing is rape.
redzebra1
Harassment is a crime!
GayNOTQueer
@redzebra1 just because you keep saying it, is doesn’t make it true. And these cases would be thrown out of court in the blink of an eye. All Charles James did, is hold these guys up to their words. All of this is nothing more than dates ending sour.
redzebra1
It is a crime. It’s not just afterwards but even before, such as workplace harassment towards a waiter in Seattle. They would produce conviction because the details are public, including DMs. James would at least get say community service and banned from being a few meters from guy A, etc, if not jail a few years.
PinkoOfTheGange
Red…go to law school before you spout what is criminal or a tort.