Earlier this week, the infamous and controversial YouTuber published a video addressing the various instances of offensive behaviour in his past, including but not limited to, skits involving Blackface, use of the N-word, references to child abuse and a disturbing clip of Dawson allegedly pretending to masturbate to a poster of Willow Smith when she was 11 years old. As this was happening, Tati Westbrook released a video claiming that he and Jeffree Star had “weaponised” her and fed her “poisonous lies” to sabotage James Charles’s career.
As a result, according to NBC News, YouTube has removed all monetising features on his three YouTube channels—shane, Shane Dawson TV and ShaneGlossin. In the U.S., Target has removed all of Shane Dawson’s books from their stores, Insider reports. And, according to the Social Blade (via NBC News), Dawson has lost 600,000 followers since Friday.
In a conversation with The New York Times, 15-year-old YouTube beauty drama commentator Will Larkins (@OhMyGodExposeU) said that the backlash towards Shane Dawson and Jeffree Star marks a change within the YouTube beauty community, one that demands for a new generation of beauty influencers.
“For the longest time Jeffree and Shane have been untouchable,” he told the outlet. “They’ve gotten away with everything. I think people are finally fed up and realising that we can’t just keep giving people like this a platform.”
“This pyramid system where Shane and Jeffree are kings and everyone else is below them is over. The next generation of beauty influencers, it’s going to be about artistry and not just drama.”
“People are realising we need more representation of people of colour, Asians and every minority. The beauty world is a place to express yourself. The younger generation understands that better than the older beauty gurus.”
