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Aaroncarter @aaroncarter Listen Linda @JeffreeStar isn't going to clap back at anything there's nothing to CLAP BACK AT calm down sweetie. I'm sure @JeffreeStar sees right through all the b------- just like I do. BOTS TRYING TO CREATE WARS. BAM! exposed. It's amazing how many INTERNET THIGS THERE ARE. t.van * ** @tvan602 - Dec 1 Replying to @tvan602 @aaroncarter and @JeffreeStar He's gonna clap back Imao 5:39 PM - Dec 1, 2019 · Twitter for iPhone

@aaroncarter · Dec 1 Aaroncarter Hey @JeffreeStar your merch looks a lot like my custom pieces I do by hand? tsk tsk JEFFREE STAK FASHION

Jeffree Star @JeffreeStar Replying to @asantebaemua @FluffyEmmaPie @keetkaats Hahaha preach!! young kids trying to be mad at something always

Replying to @lexieeWABO @FluffyEmmaPie and 4 others It is appropriation. It's my culture. If I have to kill my hair with heat and chemicals to be accepted, but watch people wearing braided hairstyles, that originated from my ancestors, make money off of it and I get rejected for it... Something isn't right.

Replying to @FluffyEmmaPie @keetkaats @JeffreeStar Girl it's not cultural appropriation. I'm black and I don't have an issue with it and neither does anyone in my family or my friends. All see are white people having an issue with it. It's HAIR. There are people dying in other countries and you're mad about HAIR? #cantrelate

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About

Jeffree Star is a American makeup artist, entrepreneur, musician, YouTuber and owner and founder of Jeffree Star Cosmetics.

Online History

Jeffree Star got his start in music and beauty on Myspace in 2006. On the site, Star would share blog posts and songs with fans.

In 2007, his song "Plastic Surgery Slumber Party" reached #1 on the iTunes dance charts.^[1]

On June 19th, 2010, Star posted his first video on YouTuber. The official music video for the song "Beauty Killer" received more than 14 million views in eight years.

Three years later, on November 4th, 2013, Star published a video of his makeup artist applying "Halloween Skull Bandana" makeup. The post (shown below, left) received more than 789,000 views in five years.

The following year, in 2014, Star launched an e-commerce makeup brand called "Jeffree Star Cosmetics." To coincide with the release of the brand, he began posting makeup tutorials as a means of advertising the products.^[2]

On November 5th, he published a "behind the scenes" look at the company and products. The post (shown below, right) received more than 500,000 views in four years.

On June 20th, 2015, star posted a commercial for Velour Liquid Lipstick. The post (shown below) received more than 1.1 million views.

Feud with Gabriel Zamora and Laura Lee

On August 1st, 2018, Shane Dawson released a five-part documentary series on Jeffree Star. In the documentary, Dawson explores Star's releationship with other members of the online beauty community, depicting his former friends as using him for as leverage for their career. Star said, "Half of the people still think I'm the bad guy, when I only loved and cared about all these people, boosted them up and gave them all my connections, but I'm still the fucking bad guy."

The first part of the documentary (shown below, left) received more than 20 million views in less than one month.

Several days later, on August 12th, one of those friends, Gabriel Zamora, another beauty-focused YouTuber, tweeted":/memes/sites/twitter/ a photograph of himself, and fellow YouTubers Laura Lee, Manny MUA and Nikita Dragon holding up their middle fingers. The photograph (shown below, right) was captioned "Bitch is bitter because without him we're doing better."^[3]

Manny MUA liked Gabriel Zamora @gabrielzamora Bitch is bitter because without him we're doing better Laura Lee and 2 others

When Star's fans responded to the tweet, Zamora responded, "Imagine stanning a racist? I could never." The tweet referred to a previous controversy involving racially insensitive tweets by Star, which was discussed in the documentary.^[4]

That day, Twitter user @pettymexicant tweeted^[5] a series of screenshots of Tweets from 2012 by Gabiel Zamora and Laura Lee making racially insensitive jokes and using racial epithets. The tweets (shown below) received more than 380 retweets and 1,700 likes in two weeks.

Gabriel Zamora: "Imagine stanning a racist? i cOuLd nEvEr" Also Gabriel Zamora: Gabriel Zamora @gabrielzamora N---- had nothing better to do than take pictures with MY #fake #glasses #freeloader #charliebrown instagram/ p/QDicfOxNaH/ 9/26/12, 6:28 PM 1 Like 1:54 PM - 12 Aug 2018 idk @pettymexicant Aug 12 his friends: Laura Lee @Laura88Lee Replying to @minor15 @minor15 @AntiJokeTyrone tip for al black people if you pull ur pants up you can run from the police faster #yourwelcome 7/12/12, 8:59 PM When your uber driver doesn't speak Eglishe

That day, Gamora apologized on Twitter.^[6] He captioned the apology, "I’m reposting it because the responses got dark and ignorant. I’m taking a break from twitter. I now remember why I didn’t like it. People want you to be honest but don’t always wanna hear the truth ❤️" The post (shown below, left) received more than 140 retweets and 4,100 likes in less than two weeks.

The following day, Laura Lee also apologized on Twitter,^[7] receiving more than 900 retweets and 13,000 likes.

Gabriel Zamora @gabrielzamora l'm reposting it because the responses got dark and ignorant. I'm taking a break from twitter. I now remember why I didn't like it People want you to be honest but don't always wanna hear the truth old tweet of mine that's recently being brought up. I'm not asking to be forgiven, I just want to apologize to anyone offended by it. Here's some more context to it if anyone would like to read: I made an ignorant tweet when I was younger and used the N word in the way songs and videos used it like talking to my friend There's no excuse for me to use it but I can say no one had ever explained the use of that word until that day to me. I honestly thought because my friend was black that I could use it friend thinking it wasnt serious in the comments. I then had a conversation with my friends about it and I was educated on the fact that it's not a word for me and why and I respect it. Just know I've never used that word in a negative way and never will.I can say that I'm the person that learns from my mistakes. It was an ignorant post and l'm sorry to anyone offended Gabriel

Laura Lee @Laura88Lee apologize from the bottom of my heart to that rm not ony pd anyone affected by them. that I'm not only apologizing for my words but following up with action. I want to in the past not just for me, but for everyone. With that, I will be focusing on getting involved with foundations that I deactivated my Twitter last night because I was mad at myself for the ignorant tweets that I made back in 2012. loc That girl who tweeted that isn't who I am today. I now understand the seriousness an u behind those tweets. As a small town girl from Alabama I wish I had the cultural education six years ago that I have now. Those tweets aren't humorous in any way to me today and I am truly sorry to everyone I have hurt and offended. I feel so disgusted about this and want you to equality and social justice. These "jokes" relate to awful realities so many people face and I want to work with organizations focusing on changing that. I have a few in mind, but if you all have any to recommend, I am all ears and would love to hear what organizations you all love actions accountable to use this as a learning moment. I sincerely apologize to you all and I hope with time, I am able to earn your respect back - Laura

Several days later, Laura Lee published an apology video on YouTuber. Within a week, the since-deleted video has received more than 7.5 million views (mirror below).

On August 23rd, Redditor ^[8] phedre posted a timeline of the controversy in the /r/OutOfTheLoop subreddit. The thread has received more than 850 points (82% upvoted)_ and 140 comments in 24 hours.

Cornrows Controversy

On September 27th, Jeffree Star tweeted^[9] a photograph of himself with "platinum blonde feed-in braids with green tips"^[10] and the caption "Money Honey." The tweet received more than 1,200 retweets and 28,000 likes in two weeks.

Jeffree Star @JeffreeStar MONEY HONEY $- Or

Some users took issue with Star's use of the cornrow hairstyle, accusing him of cultural appropriation. Twitter^[11] user @FluffyEmmaPie tweeted,^[11] "Using others cultures (in this case a hair style) as a makeup look and image that will be used to promote his brand and make sales is cultural appropriation if i have ever seen it. It would be different if it was for appreciation and raising a voice to a community Who gets looked down on and called unprofessional/dirty for having natural hair, wearing dreads, and wearing braids" (shown below, left).

Twitter uyser @Melljoee tweeted,^[13] "It is appropriation. It's my culture. If I have to kill my hair with heat and chemicals to be accepted, but watch people wearing braided hairstyles, that originated from my ancestors, make money off of it and I get rejected for it… Something isn't right." The tweet received more than 90 likes in two weeks (shown below, center).

Others disagreed. Twitter^[12] user @asantebaemua tweeted, "Girl it’s not cultural appropriation. I’m black and I don’t have an issue with it and neither does anyone in my family or my friends. All I see are white people having an issue with it. It’s HAIR. There are people dying in other countries and you’re mad about HAIR? #cantrelate." The tweet received more than 60 retweets and 1,600 likes in two weeks (shown below, right).

The following day, Star responded by agreeing with those that did not feel the style culturally appropriation. He said, "Hahaha preach!!! young kids trying to be mad at something always." The tweet received more than 1,200 likes in two weeks (shown below).

Several media outlets covered the controversy including Teen Vogue, The Daily Dot^[14] and more.

Aaron Carter Merch Controversy

On November 28th, 2019, Jeffree Star Cosmetics launched a five year anniversary line and holiday collection complete with tie-dyed hoodies.^[18] On December 1st, Aaron Carter^[15] tweeted "Hey @JeffreeStar your merch looks a lot like my custom pieces I do by hand? 🤔 tsk tsk" (shown below, left).^[17] The tweet gained 740 likes in five days. After numerous Jeffree Star fans began responded to Carters comment on Twitter Carter^[16] tweeted "Listen Linda @JeffreeStar isn’t going to clap back at anything there’s nothing to CLAP BACK AT calm down sweetie. I’m sure @JeffreeStar sees right through all the bullshit just like I do. BOTS TRYING TO CREATE WARS. BAM!! exposed. It’s amazing how many INTERNET THIGS THERE ARE." (shown below, right).

Along with several other tweets in which he defends himself, Carter posted a video with the caption, "I’m sorry but @JeffreeStar everyone has seen me make this stuf you have two of my colors. Not sure who on your team did that but I’m honered. Love you still 🦁👑" (shown below). The video accumulated over 300 likes in five days. Jeffree Star did not public respond to his accusations.

I’m sorry but JeffreeStar</a> everyone has seen me make this stuf you have two of my colors. Not sure who on your team did that but I’m honered. Love you still 🦁👑 <a href="https://t.co/dmHOPiuQvu">pic.twitter.com/dmHOPiuQvu</a></p>— Aaroncarter (aaroncarter) December 1, 2019

Search Interest

External References

^[1] LA Times – Jeffree Star

^[2] Cosmopolitan – Jeffree Star Talks About Feuds and His Personal Brand

^[3] Clevver – Jeffree Star Disses Gabriel Zamora Apology, Apologizes on Twitter

^[4] The Sun – YOUTUBE FIASCO Who is Laura Lee, what were the YouTube star’s racist tweets and how are Jeffree Star and Gabriel Zamora involved?

^[5] Twitter – @pettymexicant's Tweet

^[6] Twitter – @gabrielzamora's Tweet

^[7] Twitter – @Laura88Lee's Tweet

^[8] Reddit – Jeffree Star, Laura Lee, MannyMUA, Gabriel Zamora, Nikita Dragun, and ALL the drama/updates for those out of the loop.

^[9] Twitter – @JeffreeStar's Tweet

^[10] Vogue – Jeffree Star Responds to Cultural Appropriation Claims After Wearing Cornrows

^[11] Twitter – @FluffyEmmaPie's Tweet

^[12] Twitter – @asantebaemua's Twitter

^[13] Twitter – @Mellijoee's Tweet

^[14] The Daily Dot – Jeffree Star gets slammed for cultural appropriation over cornrow hairstyle

^[15] Twitter – aaroncarter

^[16] Twitter – aaroncarter

^[17] aaroncarter – apparel

^[18] Jeffree Star Cosmetics – Tie Dye Christmas Cooke Sweater

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Jeffree Star

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