Does anybody remember what life was like before an internet brawl between two beauty influencers over vitamins became all the world talked about?
Up until a few days ago, we didn’t even know what a “James Charles” or a “Tati Westbrook” was and we like to think our lives were fine. Now, we know the minute intricacies of their friendship and while we did not ask for this, We. Are. Invested.
Here's the lowdown: James and Tati are beauty bloggers who were once great friends, until James endorsed a sleep vitamins company that was in direct competition with Tati's vitamins brand. James claimed he only posted the endorsement because the company saved him from a terrifying gang of flower-crowned 20-somethings at Coachella by handing him a backstage pass to safety.
Tati, 37, then posted a video "cancelling" their friendship, claiming James was flat-out lying, that she was sick of justifying his actions, and accusing the 19-year-old of predatory behaviour towards straight men. James apologised, but the pile on had already begun, with many celebrities, including Kylie Jenner, weighing in by unfollowing James. He's now lost upwards of three million followers (and counting) across his social media platforms.
But hold the phone. A mystery witness has just entered the courtroom, and she has receipts.
Enter: Nikita Dragun and her screenshots.
The latest in the ~saga~ is a series of screenshots from a friend of James' which seemingly support his claim that he did not go out of his way to endorse Tati's rival company. No, he only agreed to post the paid sponsorship after SugarBearHair saved him from drowning in a sea of sweaty, glittery bodies at the music festival.
Behold:
In one of the screenshots, James asked his pal if she could text someone from SugarBearHair for emergency artist passes because the VIP area at Coachella WAS NOT SAFE.
The next shows a group conversation in which Nikita passes on James' number so they can get the pass to him.
BUT WAIT.
Gossip site Tea Spill then posted a DIFFERENT screenshot from James himself, in which he says that SugarBearHair reached out to HIM to offer the pass after hearing he was in ~grave danger~.
They followed it up with a text thread where James explains he asked to endorse their product in exchange for the pass.
WE DON'T KNOW WHAT TO BELIEVE OR WHY WE CARE OR WHY WE ARE YELLING.
Members of the jury (ahem, the internet) were also quick to point out that the time stamps on Nikita's texts didn't quite add up.
Why?
Well.
In the offending Instagram post that triggered Tati's friendship cancellation, James apparently said that he'd received security help from SugarBearHair during weekend one of Coachella (April 12-14), which many people assumed meant James was given the artist passes then. But, Nikita's texts were dated the following weekend.
They also show the company's PR reps were suspiciously quick to respond.
Phew, we need a lie down.
This feud has more layers than Inception and it's making our brains hurt.
At least we'll have plenty to tell the grankids when they ask about the great influencer war of 2019.
For more on this topic:
- Everything you need to know about Tati Westbrook, the woman who 'cancelled' James Charles.
- From transphobia to predatory behaviour: What we know of the allegations against James Charles.
- A global pile on: James Charles may have done some horrible things, but he's 19.
- James Charles has lost nearly three million followers in three days. Here's how it happened.
Top Comments
I never comment on online stories, but I have to say something here... this site has really gone downhill. I’ve been reading since it was Mia alone with her laptop, and it used to be thoughtful and considered and posted articles that made you think, or made you look at something in a different way.
I now read merely out of habit. But I’m going to have to stop because the writing and ‘journalism’ are very poor, the topics are re-run so many times and it’s just catering for a small sub-set of people with the same narrow interests as the writers.
I really wish it was like it used to be. I’m sure you can do better than this.
Look, if you did not like the latest Bachelor, you could have just said so ;o)
So my mum texted me to tell me that we're buying a gift together and then my sister texted me to say we're all buying separate gifts and so then I bought a separate gift and then my mum got all upset about it and she posted it on twitter and everyone agreed that I should have bought a gift with everyone else and so they unfollowed me and so I had to return the gift and then no one followed me again so I had to make up some sob video..