Tati's 43-min long YouTube video made to #cancel James detailed a time James allegedly tried to hit on a waiter named Sam Cooke at Tati's birthday dinner one year.
While the world was on the hate-train toward James, the waiter in question came out with his own video that backed Tati's claims... HOWEVER, it didn't take long for him to backtrack and say that he was only making those accusations for the clout... meaning James was telling the truth all along.
"The reality is that the 'hook-up' was completely consensual," James said to Paper. "[The waiter] told me that he was bisexual and later on told the world he was bisexual. There's nothing wrong with that."
James discussed how the accusations were highly damaging to the LGBTQ+ community.
"What that statement implies is that gay men are all predatory, which is disgusting, not true and very dangerous to put out there. The whole situation was scary for the LGBTQ+ community and paints a really bad picture of gay men."
While James is back on track with his work and personal life, the drama affected his mental health.
"I'm not mentally in a place where I want to be," he continued. "What's even harder to swallow is that it's been six months since all the drama happened. I thought by this time I'd be completely good— back to normal, if you will— and that's not the case."
Being the victim of one of the most drastic examples of cancel culture, he knows first hand how scary it really is, and how it needs to stop.
"We're quickly getting to a point where cyberbullying, hating and cancel culture is getting stronger," James said. "I can say firsthand, they got to me. I was so grateful to be surrounded by close friends and family that were checking on me all day long, every single day, in the middle of the night, every 10 minutes to make sure I didn't do something that I could never take back."
Need help? Call Lifeline on 131 114, visit www.lifeline.org.au/get-help/get-help-home, or call beyondblue on 1300 224 636.
If you would like to talk to someone about mental health, you can call the Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800 or Headspace on 1800 650 890.
