A new year apparently means a new controversy for YouTube star James Charles after he was accused of using a racial slur on social media.
On New Year’s Eve, the beauty vlogger posted an Instagram story of him and friends singing Saweetie’s “My Type” while at a club. Controversy soon erupted over whether Charles used the N-word while singing the song on either late Tuesday night or early Wednesday morning. In the video posted to the @JoacoSevitz Twitter account, it’s difficult to tell what is and what isn’t shouted by Charles in the heat of the moment.
https://twitter.com/JoacoSevitz/status/1212414869619785730
On his Instagram story, James captioned that video with the text, “ew my voice is so loud but at least u know I’m not slipping.”
When asked about it on Twitter on Wednesday, Charles forcefully denied uttering the N-word while singing.
“Turn up the volume & listen, I skip over it,” Charles wrote. “How stupid would I have to be to confidently record a video of me singing the n word and still have it up the next morning?”
no? turn up the volume & listen, I skip over it. how stupid would I have to be to confidently record a video of me singing the n word and still have it up the next morning
— James Charles (@jamescharles) January 1, 2020
Some believed him.
https://twitter.com/lukaszsobolew/status/1212502451431063552
https://twitter.com/akihoseki/status/1212510311078481920
And some did not.
I have watched that video like 15 times and I hear you say it every time….
— kait (@k8linnnx) January 1, 2020
https://twitter.com/anothernormiee/status/1212477699840606209
This isn’t the first time Charles has been accused of being racist—and it’s certainly not the first time he’s been involved in a social media drama.
Last year, a so-called “digital beggar” named Jovan Hill posted a screenshot of a fake Instagram DM from Charles that used the N-word, compelling Charles to write on Twitter, “It’s scary to me that there are actual people on twitter who crave attention so badly that they make fake screenshots to try and ruin other’s careers and lives… it’s not funny.”
Last May, Charles and fellow beauty vlogger Tati Westbrook engaged in a nasty online feud where she accused him of preying on straight men and for betraying her business interests.
Now, thanks to the New Year’s Eve video, the #jamescharlesisoverparty hashtag is trending on Twitter, but at least one person was unimpressed by the online movement.
https://twitter.com/fredsfitzell/status/1212490720021495812
As @fredsfitzell wrote on Twitter, “i feel like this is the 100th time this shit has trended. y’all ended his ass so many times but keep coming back the moment he makes a video shedding his fake tears. y’all some clowns but are we surprised? no. #jamescharlesisoverparty”
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