Beauty vlogger James Charles turned up 1.5 hours late for an Australian meet-and-greet appearance in Australia amid a massive scandal breaking on YouTube.
The teenage makeup artist, 19, took to YouTube with a tearful apology to fellow YouTube star Tati Westbrook on Saturday morning – the same time he was due to appear at Pacific Fair shopping centre at 10am.
James emotionally apologised to Tati and his followers in the eight-minute makeup-free video: ‘I owe everybody an explanation and I owe two people an apology. I’m sorry for everything that is going on everything and I’ve put you through over the past three weeks.’
Beauty vlogger James Charles arrives 1.5 hours LATE to Australian meet-and-greet after posting teary apology to YouTube star Tati Westbrook amid scandalous feud breaking online
James is one of the most popular personalities on YouTube, who has previously collaborated with the likes of Iggy Azalea, Kylie Jenner and Katy Perry.
Since posting his apology video, he has lost 100,000 Instagram followers and more dropped from 16.1 million YouTube subscribers to 15 million – with the numbers continuing to drop.
In Tati’s 40-minute video, she claimed James made up lies about her, takes advantage of others, and once made inappropriate comments about wanting to hook up with a straight waiter while disregarding the waiter’s sexual orientation.
Tati said: ‘Fame, power, and a fat bank account will change almost anyone. And if you don’t have people that will tell you to your face that you’re doing the wrong things, you will change. I tried to be that person for you James, I really tried. I don’t think there’s any getting through to you, and I don’t want to be friends with you. I don’t want to be associated with you.’
‘There’s so much going on with James Charles right now that I do not support. I do not agree with,’ she added.
‘I don’t want to be friends with you. I don’t want to be associated with you’: Tati cut ties with James in her viral video, claiming ‘fame, power, and a fat bank account’ changed him
‘I wish I could say this was the last time I’d make a mistake, but I have a long way to go’: James said in his YouTube video, as his follower rates continue to drop in the thousands per second
Responding to his followers, James said: ‘I hate knowing I disappointed not only them, but people who have been role models to me – I wish I could say this was the last time I’d make a mistake, but I will continue to as I learn and grow I have a long way to go.’
‘Throughout all of this there’s nothing I can say or do to earn that trust back (from Tati and her husband) but I don’t blame them for it,’ he continued.
James also apologised for ‘the boy situation’ – referencing Tati’s claims he made inappropriate sexual comments over dinner with her family present.
‘I’ve learned the hard way about the ways I can interact with boys this is a conversation I should have been far more careful bringing into the public eye. She (Tati) told me how it looked from the outside, she said talking to these boys might get you in trouble one day, and she was right.’
James is in the country for his first Australian pop-up store on the Gold Coast, where he is selling items from his Sisters clothing range.
A concierge at Gold Coast’s Pacific Fair confirmed to Daily Mail Australia that the star was late for his Saturday appearance, but was unable to give an explanation.
Fans were clearly left out of the loop, as comments on the shopping centre’s Facebook page complained about the long wait times, and questioned if he was even coming.
One concerned mother said: ‘James Charles, you have kids standing out here in the sun. Not enough shade, and the people handing out water have forgotten about everyone in line for the meet and greet. Hopefully no one passes out!
James rose to fame in 2015 after becoming the first male ambassador for American cosmetics company CoverGirl.
Thanks to his clothing line and lucrative YouTube channel, he has reportedly amassed an $11million fortune.
He recently created his own makeup line, The James Charles Palette, in collaboration with U.S. brand Morphe.
Makeup artist to the stars! James is one of the most popular personalities on YouTube, and has has collaborated with the likes of Iggy Azalea (left), Kylie Jenner and Katy Perry
A star is born! James rose to fame in 2015 after becoming the first male ambassador for American cosmetics company CoverGirl