James Charles slammed for 'glamorising' violence in bizarre TikTok Mugshot Challenge

Critics round on social media influencer over his controversial offering to bizarre TikTok trend.
Charles' Mugshot Challenge offering was criticised for being offensive to victims of domestic abuse
@jamescharles
David Child7 April 2020

Social media influencer James Charles has defended sharing photos of himself with fake bruises and a faux-bloody nose for a bizarre beauty challenge.

The TikTok trend has seen people mock up what their mugshot would look like after being arrested for getting into a fight, using makeup to give themselves pretend facial injuries.

But Charles' offering - posted earlier this week - was criticised for being offensive to victims of domestic abuse.

Social media users had accused James of "glamorising abuse for likes" over the incident.

"Imagine thinking being domestically abused is a makeup look," one Twitter user wrote.

Another said: "Shame on you. I spent 7 years waking up fearful I would be to loud, not making his breakfast right, laying out the wrong clothing smile the wrong way. Your making light of men and women Locked in with their abuser…. Not ok at all."

Defending himself on Sunday, the 20-year-old said he had not intended to "trigger anyone" and had deleted the made-up mugshot pictures.

"Despite the fact that hundreds of other influences and artists have done something similar, I deleted the mugshot trend because it was never my intention to trigger anyone & it’s a waste of time trying to have an open discussion with people who hate me regardless," he wrote in a post on Twitter.

Charles also hit back at those who had criticised him online, adding: "Only I could lazily smudge on some purple eyeshadow and fake blood to recreate a dumb tik tok trend and have it twisted into an actual scandal lol."

He also went on to claim there was a "double standard" in the entertainment industry after singer The Weeknd appeared on the front cover of his new album with a bloody nose.

He wrote: "Genuine question, the weeknd’s new album shows him bleeding, with a broken nose, and with bruises, yet I haven’t seen a single tweet about him glorifying violence or abuse? can someone please explain how it’s any different i’m really trying to understand."

He later said: "I love him and his music!!! i’m just pointing out a double standard and trying to ask why it’s ok with him but not with others."

The fallout over the incident has coincided with repeated warnings form anti-domestic violence campaigners that lockdown restrictions rolled out across the world in response to the Covid-19 pandemic could heighten rates of domestic abuse and cut off victims' escape routes.

In the UK alone, The National Domestic Abuse helpline told the BBC this week that they have seen a 25 per cent increase in calls and online requests since the lockdown began.

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