James Charles Billboard Resurfaces Allegations in LA
A new billboard has emerged in Los Angeles, bringing back the grooming and sexual misconduct allegations surrounding beauty influencer James Charles that first surfaced in 2021.
This past Saturday, a billboard appeared near Olympic Boulevard and Colby Street featuring the message, “James, I hear you texting young people,” accompanied by a photo of the makeup influencer.
The billboard was funded by Ted Entertainment, co-owned by comedian and podcaster Ethan Klein, who has been outspoken against Charles, who is attempting to recover his career after previous controversies and an apology.
Klein mentioned in an Instagram video that the billboard cost $10,000 and included a search bar labeled “James Charles Allegations.” He referenced a BBC article detailing Charles’ admitted interactions with a 16-year-old boy, linked to a previously deleted apology on YouTube.
“This is the only good idea I’ve had to try and do something,” Klein explained in his video. “I feel like I have a responsibility, along with others who have influence, to remind not just Los Angeles but the world of what’s going on with James Charles.” He added, “It’s time to start calling him out. I hope you enjoy it, except for you, James.”
In 2021, Charles faced intense scrutiny after accusations from two teenagers, Isaiah and Robert, claiming he groomed them and engaged in inappropriate communication.
The allegations originated on TikTok and involved explicit interactions on Snapchat as well as the sharing of sexually suggestive images.
Initially, Charles denied the accusations, claiming he believed the individuals to be adults. However, he later posted a 14-minute video titled “Holding Accountability,” where he described his behavior as “reckless” and acknowledged having had explicit conversations with minors.
Klein continues to be a vocal critic of Charles. He noted that the renewed attention on figures like Jeffrey Epstein and Harvey Weinstein raises questions about how such individuals evade accountability, suggesting that the billboard serves as part of the answer.
Professionally, the fallout for Charles was swift. He lost his partnership with Morphe Cosmetics and was removed as the host of the YouTube series “Instant Influencer.” YouTube also temporarily halted monetization on his channel, citing concerns about his off-platform behavior.
Monetization resumed in February, but Charles has not yet commented on the billboard, and his management team has not responded to inquiries about it.
