Allow Jeffree Star To Clear Everything Up
Jeffree Star reckons he's trying to leave the world of beauty YouTube drama behind, despite playing a key role in its many, many controversies.
In a new interview with Us Weekly, Jeffree Star talks about the James Charles and Tati Westbrook controversy that unfolded back in 2019 and 2020, the chaotic world of beauty YouTube and the car crash that recently left him hospitalised.
When asked about his relationship with James Charles, Star revealed they no longer speak.
"Honestly we don’t have a relationship. Since a lot of that drama [referring to Dramageddon], happened we really never spoke since so I haven’t seen him. I just don't really know what’s going on – I know that’s kind of crazy but I just kind of keep to myself," Jeffree Star said, adding that he "doesn't really mingle with the beauty world anymore".
The interviewer, Joe Drake, asks whether a step back from the beauty community is good for Star's mental health, to which he replies a resounding yes. "Absolutely. I think it's totally okay to admit that my mental [health] last year was very low, and so now that I'm in a really good place, I just kind of stay away from anything negative that I was dealing with in the past or any old friends," he said.
It's no secret that the world of YouTube, particularly beauty YouTube, is known for being chaotic, dramatic and at times, seriously horrific, which Drake presses on. "People that like yourself, James Charles – and the list goes on – where did all of that drama come from?" Drake asks.
"There’s no handbook for any of this," Star answers. "So I think when so many of us are getting so many millions of new people, new views, new money – it kind of makes people go a little crazy. Including myself," he said.
Jeffree Star also spoke about the wild Kanye West dating rumours, stating that it was "bizarre" to wake up to. "This was just a really funny rumour that I woke up to and even my own mom was texting me, like ‘what is going on?!’" Star said.
"It’s hilarious – I see why it happened... He’s probably two miles down the road, or maybe he’s in Wyoming at the moment, I have no idea. Being in hidden hills and being in the Kardashian-West realm, I guess I was on the radar? I don’t know!" he laughed.
Star was a central player in the explosive 'Dramageddon' involving Tati Westbrook, James Charles and (sigh) Shane Dawson that unfurled from 2019, stemming from the 'Bye Sister' video from Tati Westbrook. The video put forward many accusations against James Charles, both about their relationship fallout over Westbrook's brand Halo Beauty, and more seriously, supposed predatory behaviour from Charles. Jeffree Star and Shane Dawson both took this moment to speak out against Charles publicly. In early 2020, though, Tati Westbrook released another explosive video, walking back her comments on James Charles being predatory and alleging that she had been manipulated into making 'Bye Sister' by Shane Dawson and Jeffree Star. (Deep dive on this here.) Since Westbrook’s second video was released, further allegations of this nature about James Charles have since emerged in recent months.
As for Star, Dramageddon doesn't even scratch the surface of the many controversies and disturbing allegations levelled against the YouTuber. They include accusations of sexual and physical abuse; offering hush money to silence his alleged victims (Star's lawyers deny all of these claims) and a history of racist and problematic comments. He's also closely connected to Shane Dawson, who has faced his own reckoning with his past.
Earlier this year, a situation played out involving Shane Dawson, Trisha Paytas and Jeffree Star that involved allegations of serious bullying against Star. Paytas publicly called Jeffree Star "evil" as the saga unfolded.
Of course. it makes sense that Star would like to distance himself from this endless spray of bad publicity. Just this morning, Jeffree Star uploaded a video to YouTube where he announced he'd be moving away from California and focusing on his mental health.
"What I want to let you guys know is that I don't want to entertain drama, I haven’t in months and months and I’ve been attacked 20 times and I just ignore it now and do me. I can’t clap back at everyone, I can’t make sit down videos letting people know ‘the truth’ but I really used to think that’s what I had to do," Star said.
Watch the full interview with Jeffree Star below.
Written by Dani Leever, a writer and homosexual pop culture enthusiast. Find their words at @danileever or catch their gay DJ drag adventures at @djgaydad.
