Popular Youtube sensation James Charles has found himself in deep waters yet again due to pedophelia accusations. But this time, will he be able to recover?
Back in February, 16-year-old Isaiyah (@redzai on TikTok) exposed Charles for sending him inappropriate messages via Snapchat. Not long after Isaiyah’s claims went viral, three more minors came forward to share their negative histories with Charles. The public is outraged, but this is not Charles’ first rodeo.
The popular internet personality has found himself in controversy time and time again since the start of his career in 2016. From his participation in the mugshot trend to conflicts with fellow influencers such as Tati Westbrook, the scandals with Charles always seem to blow over. But these allegations regarding criminal activity may face the wrath of “cancel culture” this time around.
In a video entitled “holding myself accountable,” Charles broke his silence and confessed to the claims. Not only did he admit to everything that he is being scrutinized for, he also offered the declaration that he was not aware of the boys’ actual ages during the times of the incidents. After the video was posted on April 1, fans were shocked by the Youtuber’s usage of “desperation” as a justification for grooming minors.
But while Charles has faced public scrutiny in the past, this time just might be different. The public response and backlash he is facing is far more extreme than ever before. Makeup lovers have been boycotting Morphe (a longtime partner of Charles) for remaining silent amidst the scandal, and the consequences of his actions haven’t stopped there. Charles has officially lost the title of host on his popular show “Instant Influencer” and will no longer be a part of it moving forward.
It’s undeniable that “cancel culture” has ruled out the possibility for humans to be humans. Everyone makes mistakes, even social media influencers, but it’s important that everyone is given the opportunity to learn and grow from their mistakes. This time, however, audiences are standing firm to the belief that the same mistakes cannot be repeated and still receive the same forgiveness as before. But even further than extending grace, the controversy with Charles this time around has to do with pedophelia rather than typical influencer drama.
Since the release of his “apology” video, Charles has made no further attempts to reconcile his actions. In an interview with Insider, former Los Angeles attorney Emily D. Baker stated that it’s “unlikely any law enforcement agency would initiate an investigation into Charles without an accuser coming forward to their local agency.”
For years, there has been suspicion surrounding Charles’ relationships with younger boys, but it seems as though this time around is impossible for the public to ignore and fans are fed up with the constant cycle of misconduct, apology, repeat.
Will this scandal merely fall into the box of other past controversies Charles has been involved with, or is partaking in criminal activity officially the last straw for the beauty guru?
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