Beauty influencer James Charles recently ignited controversy with a passionate, profanity-laden tirade directed at former Spirit Airlines employees, labeling them “lazy” while asking for donations.
The 26-year-old internet star vented his frustrations in a now-deleted TikTok after receiving a message from a woman who claimed she lost her job when the budget airline abruptly went under last weekend, along with around 17,000 others.
Charles expressed his anger, suggesting that the airline’s staff should focus on securing new employment instead of sending what he called “shitty messages” during tough times.
“I just got a DM from a girl saying Spirit Airlines just filed for bankruptcy and she lost her job and is really struggling. Here’s her GoFundMe link. Any help would be appreciated,” he laughed dismissively.
He continued, “I’m sure you will, sweetheart. You know what else could help? Finding another job. Seriously, you could have applied for a hundred jobs instead of just sending yourself those same messages.”
Charles criticized the woman further, implying that she believed influencers should financially support her simply because she’d lost her job, stating, “Why would I help you? You don’t even follow me!”
Despite his fortune of around $22 million, he leaned aggressively toward the camera, stating, “Welcome to the real world, sweetheart,” while addressing the broader issue of job loss.
Then, he made a controversial remark regarding her race, insisting she was in a better position than many others trying hard to improve their situations.
“You’re white, beautiful, and able-bodied. You have more opportunities than many trying to better their lives,” he exclaimed.
His comments ended with, “You lost your job, but what you really need to do is find a new one!” This outburst quickly led to widespread backlash online, with many criticizing Charles for being deeply insensitive and out of touch.
After deleting the video, he later offered a strange apology on TikTok, delivering it shirtless and seemingly insincere.
“This video was really stupid,” he acknowledged. “It was rude, offensive, privileged, and completely unnecessary.”
He reflected that he could have simply ignored the message and moved on, but he chose instead to call out a woman who was clearly struggling.
“It was disgusting, and I felt ashamed for the way I reacted. This might have been her last hope,” he admitted, expressing regret for hurting others, particularly those affected at Spirit Airlines.
