James Charles was once the golden boy of the beauty community, but after a series of scandals that would make any celebrity cringe, his life has spiraled into chaos.

“I was getting really uncomfortable,” one alleged victim recalls, shedding light on the troubling patterns that have haunted him.

How did the first male CoverGirl end up losing millions of followers and facing serious allegations? Let’s unravel the tangled web of James’ rise and fall, where each misstep led him deeper into the abyss of controversy.“’I’m desperate,’ James admitted, but it was too little, too late.”
James Charles, once a beauty icon and one of the most successful influencers of his generation, has found himself in the eye of a storm that seems to have no end.

What began as a meteoric rise to fame has now devolved into a series of damaging allegations, public backlash, and career missteps.

In this article, we’ll explore how James went from Covergirl’s first-ever male ambassador to one of the most controversial figures in the beauty industry.

From Viral Fame to Drama: James’ Rise to Stardom
James Charles made waves in the beauty industry at a young age, becoming the first male spokesperson for Covergirl at just 17 years old.

His social media success came quickly, with viral moments on Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.

His rise was nothing short of spectacular, and within a year of starting his YouTube channel, he had millions of followers.

Yet, James’ path to fame wasn’t just about makeup tutorials; it was his personality that truly set him apart.

James wasn’t afraid to joke around or embrace his goofy side on camera, making him more relatable to his audience.

His early collaborations with other YouTubers like Kylie Jenner and Colleen Ballinger helped propel him further into the limelight.

However, the world’s obsession with his success would soon turn into scrutiny, and James would learn the hard way that fame often comes with a darker side.

The Sister Squad Era: James at His Peak
In 2019, James reached the pinnacle of his YouTube career with the rise of the Sister Squad, a collaborative group that included Emma Chamberlain, the Dolan twins, and James himself.

Their joint videos were a massive hit, amassing millions of views.

These collaborations allowed James to expand his reach beyond the beauty community, entering mainstream pop culture.

His YouTube channel saw explosive growth, with subscriber counts skyrocketing and his collaborations becoming even more prestigious.

However, just as quickly as James rose to stardom, his fall from grace began.

It all started with a controversial tweet where James revealed his preference for straight men.

While this in itself wasn’t problematic, it set off a chain of events that would change the course of his career forever.

The Allegations Begin: The First Major Drama
It wasn’t long before James faced his first public controversy.

After his public confession about preferring straight men, the internet exploded with accusations.

A man named Gage Gomez came forward, accusing James of pressuring him into sєxual situations despite knowing that he was straight.

The fallout was immediate.

James, who had always been vocal about his preferences, found himself under intense scrutiny.

His initial response was to tweet angrily, dismissing Gage’s claims.

However, this only made matters worse.

When a video from James’ mentor, Tati Westbrook, surfaced, accusing him of similar behavior with a waiter, the backlash reached new heights.

In her viral video, Tati accused James of trying to manipulate and coerce straight men into interactions they didn’t want.

For the first time, the public turned against him.

The Fallout: Losing Millions of Subscribers
James’ once-thriving YouTube channel quickly became a battleground.

The video from Tati, combined with other revelations, led to James losing over 3.

1 million subscribers in a single week.

His reputation was shattered, and the beauty community, once enamored with him, turned their backs.

Despite offering a calm response video titled “No More Lies,” the damage was done.

His subscribers did return slowly over time, but his career would never be the same.

As James attempted to make a comeback, he found himself at odds with his past actions.

He gained some followers back, but with every new allegation, his fanbase grew more divided.

Every time he seemed to be recovering, a new controversy would drag him back into the limelight.

It was clear that the redemption story he hoped for was slipping further out of reach.

The Desperate Comeback and Controversial Behavior
Despite the damage to his career, James’ desperation for relevance continued to fuel his actions.

His attempts at making a full comeback were met with mixed reactions.

In a famous interview with Logan Paul, James made a comment that would haunt him for years.

“I would date like the absolute youngest,” he said, sparking outrage from viewers.

Critics pointed out how inappropriate this comment was, considering James’ history of controversial interactions with minors.

Soon after, in 2021, another TikTok star, Isaiah, accused James of trying to coerce him into sending inappropriate pictures.

Although James initially denied the allegations, more accusations followed.

Each time, James attempted to deflect by posting lengthy responses and accusing his accusers of lying.

But this pattern of behavior only made him appear more guilty in the eyes of the public.

The controversy around his relationships and alleged manipulation of straight men continued to grow, and the internet began to turn on him once again.

The Final Nail in the Coffin: The Kayla Malik Scandal
In April 2025, the final blow came.

Kayla Malik, a fellow influencer, dropped a two-part video series detailing her emotional and physical abuse at the hands of her ex-boyfriend, Evan Johnson.

As the details of the abuse came to light, it was revealed that James had been closely involved with Evan during the investigation.

He had allegedly coached him through the situation, even downplaying Kayla’s story.

When confronted with this, James initially denied the allegations, but Kayla soon exposed the truth, sharing proof of James’ involvement.

The backlash was swift, and James’ career took another nosedive.

This final scandal left James with few defenders, and his reputation was irreparably tarnished.

The apology videos and public statements he made only seemed to make things worse, as the internet saw through his attempts to manipulate the narrative.

His numbers continued to drop, and his position as a beauty influencer seemed to be slipping away for good.