James Charles is an American beauty YouTuber, makeup artist, and influencer. He first became popular in 2016 when he became CoverGirl’s first male brand ambassador. Over the years, he has been known to repeatedly be involved in controversies regarding relationships with younger boys since  James is Gay.

                 Kayla Malec is a well-known beauty influencer and has collaborated with James on multiple occasions. Recently, they have been embroiled in a public controversy together due to Kayla’s ex, Evan Johnson. In April of 2025, Kayla revealed that she had gone through a nine-month abusive relationship and had suffered so much mentally and physically. A former friend of Evan’s, Zach Sellars, alleged in a podcast interview that James had provided Evan with housing during the investigation and suggested that they may have had a romantic relationship. These accusations have led to widespread criticism and controversy about James Charles.

              In May, James publicly addressed these rumors, stating he does not agree with or support Evan Johnson. He claimed his relationship with Evan was a brief friendship. He had said he felt he was manipulated into believing his lies, and he heavily regrets it. He also stated he just felt sorry for him because James had gone through false accusations at a young age before and understands how hard it can be. The allegations have significantly impacted James’ social media presence. He had lost 700,000 followers between April and May and had also lost multiple brand deals due to the situation. The mass unfollowing was concentrated on his TikTok account, rather than his Snapchat, Twitter, or Instagram. In early May, the legal proceedings between Kayla and Evan were ongoing. She recently announced in Tennessee that she had gone to court and won the case. James claimed that he did not speak out about the situation sooner because he did not want anything he said to be used in court in Evans’ favor.

 Kayla has expressed a lot of gratitude for the support and awareness about girls in domestic abusive relationships. She continues to advocate for young girls who may be going through the same thing. She also went to her TikTok to let her fans know that she is aware of the allegations with James and her ex, and that it was very hurtful that her words were taken so lightheartedly, and she was not believed when she first told James about the situation.

      Since the court date, Kayla has said she has been doing much better mentally and physically. She’s happy that she can be an example to younger girls who may be struggling to see that it’s okay to speak out and that it’s not OK to stay in a dangerous situation with a man. She continues to advocate for all victims in abusive relationships and uses her platform to educate people and give people comfort, knowing that they are not going through anything alone. Anyone in a relationship who experiences similar issues should confide in someone they trust and reach out for help.