- Jeffree Star recently spoke with Women’s Wear Daily to promote his upcoming skin-care line.
- He told the publication that “beauty was a trend” for many and that the influencer space “is dead.”
- He also cited the pandemic as the reason why makeup sales and YouTube views “slowed down.”
Jeffree Star is sharing his thoughts on influencers and their place in the beauty industry.
The controversial makeup mogul recently spoke with Women’s Wear Daily to promote his upcoming skin-care line, Jeffree Star Skin. Star talked about the inspiration behind the brand, the ingredients in his new products, and the line’s aesthetic.
But when asked about the influencer side of the cosmetics industry, according to WWD, Star said that “it’s dead.”
He proceeded to call beauty a “trend,” and said the influencer makeup space is now “a graveyard.”
“Obviously I was a piece of the beauty puzzle, but I think overall beauty was a trend, right?” he told WWD. “I think the internet pushed beauty into this huge thing, but COVID-19 kind of took that out. YouTube slowed down, makeup sales slowed down for the whole industry. Influencer culture has definitely shifted.”
Star then went on to say that he’s a fan of TikTok beauty influencers like Mikayla Nogueira, particularly because he feels they “genuinely love makeup” and aren’t “into drama.”
“I know that might sound a little funny coming from me, but it’s nice to see normal cool reviews from people again without all the craziness,” he said.
The drama Star referred to occurred over the recent years when influencers dominated the makeup industry, largely on YouTube, and many makeup artists were turned into millionaires.
James Charles became embroiled in multiple controversies — namely, a feud with Tati Westbrook dubbed “Dramageddon” — and Jaclyn Hill was widely criticized for selling lipsticks that some say caused swelling and bumps.
Star has also been involved in a slew of scandals. Multiple people previously told Insider that Star physically and sexually abused others, and offered hush-money payments to silence them. Star’s attorney denied the allegations at the time. Representatives for Jeffree Star and Jeffree Star Cosmetics did not immediately respond to Insider’s recent request for comment.
While Star himself has never publicly addressed the latter allegations, he said he will eventually share more details about controversies like “Dramageddon” in a book he says he’s writing.
“I think there was a pinnacle moment of the ‘Dramageddon’ moments and all of these things that just made the beauty industry weird,” he told WWD. “I don’t know how it all happened. I’m writing a book right now, so I’m deciphering through my version.”