James Charles is back in hot water—and judging by the reaction online, many people seem to be losing patience.
The beauty influencer, who famously lost more than three million subscribers during the explosive Bye Sister drama in 2019, is once again watching his follower count drop after a viral rant sparked major backlash online. The latest controversy centres on a laid-off Spirit Airlines employee and a TikTok video that many viewers called tone-deaf.
For longtime internet users, the situation feels oddly familiar. Charles has spent years bouncing between viral success and public controversy. But the latest backlash shows how quickly audiences can turn when influencers appear disconnected from real-world struggles.
Who Is James Charles?
If you were anywhere near YouTube beauty culture in the late 2010s, chances are James Charles was impossible to avoid.
Charles became one of the internet's biggest beauty stars after landing a historic role as CoverGirl's first male ambassador in 2016. His dramatic makeup looks, celebrity collaborations, and energetic personality helped him build a massive audience across YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram.
At his peak, he was one of the most recognisable beauty influencers online. Millions tuned in for makeup tutorials, challenges, and collaborations with fellow creators. Brand deals, merchandise launches, and sponsorships quickly turned his online fame into a business empire reportedly worth millions of dollars.
But alongside the fame came constant controversy. Over the years, Charles has repeatedly found himself trending for public feuds, backlash, and scandals that have followed him far beyond the beauty community.
The 'Bye Sister' Scandal That Changed Everything
The biggest turning point in Charles' career came in 2019, during the now-infamous fallout with fellow beauty creator Tati Westbrook.
Westbrook uploaded a viral video titled Bye Sister, accusing Charles of betraying her friendship by promoting rival brand Sugar Bear Hair despite her own company, Halo Beauty. She also made allegations about his behaviour behind the scenes and criticised the influencer's conduct publicly.
The internet reaction was immediate—and brutal.
Within days, Charles lost more than three million YouTube subscribers. At one point, his subscriber count dropped from 16.5 million to 13.8 million in a single weekend, People reported.
Apparently, this was one of the biggest influencer downfalls YouTube had ever seen. The drama became a defining moment in online creator culture.
Although Charles eventually regained followers and posted response videos defending himself, the controversy permanently shifted public perception around him.
Why Is He Losing Followers Again?
Fast forward six years, and James Charles is facing backlash all over again—with comments many viewers saw as insensitive and out of touch.
The controversy started after Charles posted a TikTok rant about a former Spirit Airlines employee who allegedly sent him a GoFundMe link after losing her job. In the now-deleted video, Charles called the woman a 'lazy piece of s---' and 'entitled'.
The influencer suggested she should spend her time looking for work instead of asking influencers for money. 'You're in a much better position than a lot of other people out here who are trying clearly much harder to make a better life for themselves. Why would I f---- help you?' Charles stated. 'All you did was lost your job ... Welcome to the real world', he added.
The reaction online was swift. Critics accused him of mocking someone struggling financially during a difficult economic period, especially as Spirit Airlines' collapse reportedly impacted around 17,000 workers.
According to social media analytics website Social Blade, Charles has already lost more than 130,000 followers since the backlash began.
Charles later deleted the videos and issued an apology, admitting his comments were 'rude', 'privileged', and 'unnecessary'.
But by then, the damage was already done.
THE FULL JAMES CHARLES DELETED VIDEO pic.twitter.com/CN7ketZLZQ
— richlux713 (@RichLux713) May 9, 2026
The Internet Isn't Buying His Apology
The apology did little to calm the backlash.
Across Reddit, TikTok, and X, users criticised the influencer almost immediately after the statement was posted. Many argued the apology felt more like damage control than genuine accountability.
On Reddit, one user wrote: 'This is like the 50th apology he's given in his career. Another another commented: 'He's never been sorry a day in his life.'
Meanwhile, some commenters described the original rant as 'disgusting' and 'uncalled for'. They pointed out that someone with a multimillion-pound platform publicly shaming a struggling employee did not sit well with audiences already frustrated by influencer culture.
Even influencer commentary accounts joined the criticism. Reactions circulating on X condemned the situation, with users suggesting the apology arrived only after Charles realised the backlash was seriously hurting his image.
For many viewers, the issue is no longer just about one video. Instead, critics argue the latest controversy reflects a much larger pattern surrounding the influencer's online behaviour.
James Charles FULL APOLOGY pic.twitter.com/cjt5yseU9t
— richlux713 (@RichLux713) May 9, 2026
James Charles and His Controversial Reputation
Part of the reason this controversy exploded so quickly is because Charles has spent years dealing with public scandals.
Following the Bye Sister fallout, Charles later faced separate allegations involving inappropriate communication with underage boys in 2021. At the time, YouTube temporarily demonetised his channel, while several business partnerships reportedly distanced themselves from the creator.
Since then, nearly every new controversy has reignited discussions about his past behaviour.
Despite maintaining millions of followers across platforms, the latest situation shows how fragile influencer reputations can become once public trust starts to fade. Six years after losing three million followers during one of YouTube's biggest scandals, James Charles is facing renewed reminder that internet audiences rarely forget.
