James Charles has denied allegations that he listed himself as a woman on dating app Tinder, pleading with people to leave him alone.
The YouTube star, who faced widespread outrage earlier this year after his former friend Tati Westbrook uploaded her exposé video Bye Sister, took to social media to shut down the rumours.
Tati previously alleged that James had tried to ‘manipulate people’s sexuality’, by attempting to date straight men – claims which James strongly denied in his own video.
Some viewers then claimed they had found James’ official Tinder profile when they listed that they were only interested in women.
He responded to a fan, who said: ‘If you identify as a gay man do not set your tinder settings to female for straight men to find you if you identify as a gay man do not set your tinder settings to female for straight men to find you that’s all.’
‘I’m so sick of people talking about this,’ he fumed. ‘1. My identity on dating apps was listed as “androgynous” – someone who expresses themselves in both feminine & masculine ways.
‘NOT a female to “trick” anyone. 2. Everytime someone said they were straight, I unmatched right away.’
The 20-year-old added: ‘3. Having simple conversations with people that swipe right on you on dating apps is NOT predatory.
‘4. As a gay man, you know that “curious” men use feminine gays as an outlet to experiment. I stopped allowing myself to take part, but let’s not pretend like it doesn’t happen.’
He went on to say he’s been on ‘awesome’ dates with gay and bisexual man, and has never been on a date with a straight man, but he has now deleted dating apps from his phone.
James continued: ‘Unfortunately I receive a lot of harassment from people who only match to take screenshots or make videos & a spectacle of me, thanks to people like you who will not let these FALSE ACCUSATIONS die down. I have received this treatment from ALL men of ALL sexualities.
‘I’m single and looking for love just like everyone else. I mind my own business and am extremely careful with who I talk to, but people take advantage of me and continue to spread bull*** like this around and it is SO frustrating and makes dating impossible. Leave me ALONE.’
He went on to respond to a follower who asked him to ‘let it go,’ alluding to the claims Tati made in her video.
‘No Maggie, it’s been 7 months and people clearly have NOT let it go so I have a right to stand up for myself when I’m being labeled as a predator,’ he said.
In a recent interview, James said he’s still not ‘mentally recovered’ from his public feud with Tati, which resulted in him facing widespread public backlash and losing millions of followers in a matter of days.
‘I’m not mentally in a place where I want to be,’ he told Paper magazine. ‘What’s even harder to swallow is that it’s been six months since all the drama happened.’
He added: ‘I thought by this time I’d be completely good — back to normal, if you will — and that’s not the case.’
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