YouTuber James Charles is under fire after he was slammed by mentor Tati Westbrook for dishonest and predatory behavior, but Ulta is still carrying his signature palette
- YouTube beauty star James Charles is under fire after falling out with his former mentor, Tati Westbrook.
- In a YouTube video, Westbrook made a number of allegations regarding dishonest or predatory behavior on the part of Charles.
- Charles' YouTube account hemorrhaged millions of followers over the weekend, and plenty of fans took to demolishing or redecorating Charles' signature Morphe Cosmetics eye shadow palette.
- But the product is still available for purchase on the website for Ulta Beauty, which seemingly has not cut ties with Charles.
- Ulta did not immediately respond to Business Insider's request for comment.
Controversial YouTube star James Charles seemingly hasn't gotten the brush-off from the major makeup retailers behind his signature eye shadow palette.
The same can't be said for the millions of fans who unfollowed Charles this weekend, after fellow makeup artist and former mentor Tati Westbrook posted a video accusing the 19-year-old of dishonest and predatory behavior.
Charles' YouTube account currently boasts around 13.5 million followers, down from a pre-controversy audience of around 16 million. Celebrities like Kim Kardashian West, Demi Lovato, and Jeffree Star were also included in the online exodus.
Charles and Westbrook had collaborated numerous times and are both well-known influencers in the beauty YouTube community. But on May 10, Westbrook posted a video titled "BYE SISTER ..." in which she accused Charles of changing for the worse due to "fame, power, and a fat bank account." She also alleged that Charles attempted to "trick a straight man into thinking he's gay" on multiple occasions.
Later that day, Charles posted a video apologizing to Westbrook and her husband. Representatives for Charles didn't immediately respond to Business Insider's request for comment.
Read more: How beauty YouTubers James Charles and Tati Westbrook's relationship crumbled over a single weekend
Fans have postd memes about the situation and taken out their displeasure on Charles' signature Morphe Cosmetics eye shadow palette. Some consumers posted videos of themselves destroying or throwing out the palettes, while others decided to take the less expensive route of painting over Charles' image on the product's packaging.
Morphe Cosmetics didn't immediately respond to Business Insider's request for comment.
At first blush, this all looks disastrous for Charles' career. But the YouTuber's fate when it comes to major makeup retailers is blurry.
Morphe Cosmetics has not dropped Charles from its site. And Ulta Beauty is still selling the Morphe x James Charles Palette for $39. Ulta Beauty didn't immediately respond to Business Insider's request for comment.
Luxury market expert Pam Danziger wrote in Forbes that Ulta Beauty's decision to feature popular influencers like Charles, Kylie Jenner, and Jaclyn Hill makes the company far more "accessible" than its main competitor, Sephora.
But, if this weekend's controversy is any indication, the decision also clearly leaves Ulta exposed to eruptions of influencer-on-influencer drama.