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Your support makes all the difference.YouTuber Tati Westbrook has spoken out about the “abuse” James Charles has received as a result of their ongoing feud.
The dispute between Charles and Westbrook, who were previously close friends, began in April when Charles promoted Sugar Bear Hair Vitamins – a rival brand to Halo Beauty, Westbrook's own brand of beauty supplements – on Instagram during the first weekend of Coachella.
Following the post, Westbrook posted a clip on Instagram saying she felt “lost” and “betrayed” by an unnamed person, before unfollowing the 19-year-old YouTuber on social media.
The controversy escalated last weekend after Westbrook posted a 45-minute long video about the feud from her perspective, in which she also accused Charles of “manipulating people’s sexuality”.
The reaction to Westbrook’s video, which has since been viewed more than 40m times, has been swift - with Charles losing more than 3m followers as a result.
Among those who unfollowed the beauty blogger are Kylie Jenner, Katy Perry, Demi Lovato, Jeffree Star and Kim Kardashian.
Meanwhile, Westbrook’s follower count has skyrocketed from four to 10.5m.
On Thursday, Westbrook posted a new video titled “Why I did it” in which she revealed she is ready to put an end to the public feud with Charles.
In the 18-minute clip Westbrook explains how she wants supporters for both her and Charles to stop the abusive memes and bad language that is currently circulating on the internet.
Instead, the 37-year-old says she posted the original video as a “last ditch effort to be really loud and vocal” in reaching out to Charles.
“This was really a wakeup call, and it was me trying to reach someone who I found completely unreachable,” she said in the video.
“I had been trying to deliver the same message so many times because this wasn’t just about one thing.”
Westbrook then criticised Charles, saying he had “zero respect” for their friendship but wants him to know that she doesn’t hate him.
“It's painful to watch someone that you have cared for be dragged and to know that this started because of me. I don't think anyone deserves that,” she said.
“I love James Charles. I loved him from the moment I met him.
“I don’t need Team Tati, I don’t need any of that. I want you guys to know there is no celebration to what is happening."
Westbrook went on to say if she could give all of the new success and subscribers back, she would before revealing she is taking a break from YouTube so she can focus on “healing” from the feud.
“I feel like a very public conversation was had between myself and James Charles and he did publicly apologise and I’m hoping we can leave it at that and that people can drop this and move forward,” Westbrook concluded.
“I’m going to take a solid time out and reflect. I hope that James takes the time out too and that he addresses things within himself and understands the power that he has.”
“Yes, I am hurting, but so is James and so is our community and a huge audience and I guess I just pray that we can all just be kind with each other through this."
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