Beauty influencer James Charles has recently found himself drawn into a high-profile domestic assault case involving fellow content creators Kayla Malec and Evan Johnson. While Charles was not involved in the relationship or the legal proceedings, his name surfaced through a viral video that stirred public speculation.
Who is James Charles?
James Charles is a well-known makeup artist and digital creator who rose to fame via YouTube for his makeup tutorials and beauty collaborations. Despite his professional success, his career has been punctuated by controversies, including public feuds and serious allegations of inappropriate messaging with underage boys in 2021.
The Story of Kayla Malec and Evan Johnson
Kayla Malec, a TikTok star with over 16 million followers and more than 1.8 million YouTube subscribers, made headlines after publicly accusing her former boyfriend, Evan Johnson, of physical abuse during their nine-month relationship. Her two-part video series, titled “he doesn’t love you”, was posted in early April and ran for over four hours in total. The videos detailed her alleged experience of domestic violence and included images of visible bruising.
The first video dropped on 4 April, followed by a second on 9 April. Johnson was charged with domestic assault on 6 April and pleaded guilty last week, according to NBC News. He is currently in custody and under a no-contact order, which also prohibits him from using social media platforms like TikTok, YouTube, and Facebook.
Malec’s Response
Following the court’s decision, Malec posted a viral TikTok video in which she lip-syncs to Kanye West’s “Jail” with the caption “I WON”. The post has amassed over 102.9 million views. Support poured in from fans and celebrities alike, including singer Kesha, who commented: “I’m so proud of you. A win for one is a win for all of us.”
How James Charles Became Involved
James Charles became a point of discussion after Zach Sellers, a former friend of Johnson’s, appeared in a video interview with content creator Bee Better (Markos Bitsakakis) titled “Investigating James Charles”, uploaded on 29 April. In the interview, Sellers accused Charles of being romantically involved with Johnson and claimed Charles supported him during the fallout with Malec. None of the claims were independently verified or fact-checked.
A disclaimer later appeared in the video description: “The views and allegations expressed in this interview are solely those of the interviewee… This content is intended for public interest and discussion, not as a statement of fact.”
Charles Responds
Facing public pressure, Charles initially stayed silent, citing concerns that speaking publicly during the court proceedings might influence the outcome. However, on 7 May, he posted a TikTok video denying any substantial connection to Johnson but admitting they had a “brief friendship.”
“I do not support Evan Johnson in any way, shape, or form, let me make that fucking clear,” Charles stated. “I don’t support him, I don’t support violence against women, and I sure as hell do not support the disgusting, deplorable, heinous acts he [allegedly] committed against Kayla Malec behind closed doors.”
Charles went on to say that Johnson had manipulated him into seeing him as a trustworthy person. He added that he had attempted to reach out to Malec directly but she declined to speak with him.
Legal Action on the Horizon?
Charles also announced in the same video that he intends to pursue legal action against Sellers and potentially others for defamation. “I am starting the process of suing Sellers… for the sake of views, likes, engagement, and galaxies,” he said, accusing Sellers of exploiting the case to gain fame.
He also claimed that Sellers was monetising the situation by asking for donations and suggesting plans for a tour and merchandise line tied to the case: “Every single night, Zach has been live, asking for galaxies in exchange for showing ‘receipts’… He’s even been asking for donations on PayPal to fund a merch line.”
Since Charles’s video, Sellers’ online presence appears to have diminished, and his account may have been deactivated. It is unclear whether any formal legal proceedings have been initiated by Charles, as no further updates have emerged since his statement.
