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One damaging video cost YouTube star two million followers

YouTube star James Charles' followers have dropped by more than one million. Photo: Getty
YouTube star James Charles' followers have dropped by more than one million. Photo: Getty

YouTube stars James Charles and Tati Westbrook’s vicious feud has captured the Internet’s attention over the past 48 hours, and now the impact it’s had on 19-year-old James’ subscriber count has become even more brutal.

Yesterday the beauty guru had lost hundreds of thousands of followers in mere hours, with 50k lost in just 15 minutes. But the subscribers have kept dropping overnight, and he’s lost two million supporters on his YouTube account.

As of Monday morning he has 14,139,110 subscribers, a dramatic drop from his over 16 million before the feud erupted.

James is a wildly successful beauty vlogger who has made waves internationally; he walked the red carpet at the MET Gala earlier this week, was the first male Covergirl ambassador.

Beauty vlogger Tati Westbrook made some devastating accusations in her 40 minute video. Photo: Youtube/Tati
Beauty vlogger Tati Westbrook made some devastating accusations in her 40 minute video. Photo: Youtube/Tati

He would seem to be on an upward trajectory most can only dream, however that’s all come crumbling down on social media and it’s all down to a feud of epic proportions.

Tati Westbrook, a beauty vlogger in her own right with a more modest 6 million subscribers, was once a mentor to James, but released a video at the weekend slamming her fellow YouTuber with devastating implications for his fan base.

In the 40 minute video she accused her former protege of poor behaviour, disloyalty, and ultimately cut ties with him altogether.

The two vloggers originally had a close bond, but Tati now says fame has changed her former friend.

“You’re using you fame, your power, your money to play with people’s emotions,” she says.

James Charles' followers are dropping like flies. Photo: Instagram/jamescharles
James Charles' followers are dropping like flies. Photo: Instagram/jamescharles

The feud originated over a sponsorship proposal that went sour, but has blown out into an all out war.

James is no stranger to controversy, he was heavily criticised after he tweeted a joke about catching Ebola while visiting Africa in the midst of the epidemic that swept the continent in 2017.

He later issued a public apology and deleted the questionable tweet.

The beauty star is currently in Australia, and has responded to his former-mentor’s take down, issuing an 8 minute apology video.

In the video the star apologises profusely for his actions, but it has done nothing to stem the massive drops in subscribers.

Social Blade numbers show the vlogger lost 500k followers in 24 hours, and has lost a further 50k in just 15 minutes.

Fans have taken to Twitter reacting to the ugly row, and the general consensus is not swinging in the teenager’s favour.

The vlogger has also lost dozens of celebrity followers including Miley Cyrus, Kylie Jenner and Katy Perry.

The original video has continued to rack up views, and has been seen by just under 6 million people.

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