Two beauty vloggers are reaching out to Alicia Keys following comments they made.
ICYMI, it was recently announced that Alicia is teaming up with e.l.f. Beauty to launch a new “lifestyle beauty brand.”
“We are beyond thrilled to leverage our strengths to help realize Alicia’s vision, as it not only aligns with our mission to make the best of beauty accessible, but infuses it with an even deeper dimension,” E.L.F.’s chairman and CEO, Tarang Amin, said in a statement to Allure. “As a brand builder, I’m excited and very energized about the opportunities for us to reach new audiences in creative ways and to continue to lead in category innovation.”
“Her perspective on beauty is soulful and timeless,” added Kory Marchisotto, E.L.F.’s chief marketing officer and president of Alicia’s new line. “Together we are painting the highest vision to blaze a new trail in beauty.”
On Wednesday (August 5), two beauty vloggers went on Twitter to criticize Alicia’s new venture.
“people who do not wear makeup should not be coming out with makeup brands but that’s just my opinion,” James Charles tweeted, which he later deleted.
“does anyone else get slightly irritated when celebs come out with entire makeup lines? especially when those celebs don’t even wear makeup… i’m like girl,” Manny MUA wrote in a since-deleted tweet.
On Thursday (August 6), James Charles went on Twitter to apologize to the singer for a “childish” since-deleted subtweet he made about how “some celebrities shouldn’t launch makeup lines.”
In a statement on Twitter, James wrote:
“Yesterday, I posted a subtweet about how I thought some celebrities shouldn’t launch makeup lines. It was about @aliciakeys. A few years ago, she announced that she no longer would wear makeup, so I was bothered because many celebrities come into the beauty space as a cash grab without any actual passion and then leave.
“I deleted the tweet after a few mins because it’s childish to indirect tweet someone & I am not the gatekeeper of makeup. Anyone should be able to secure their bag and it’s not up to me which brands people should or shouldn’t support.”
James added that he was glad he deleted the tweet because he later found out that the beauty line was for skincare.
“This was my mistake and I should’ve read more before tweeting, because literally who BETTER to talk about keeping your skin clear without makeup?” he said. “Regardless of my intention with my tweet, it ended up being a microaggression against someone I respect, so to @aliciakeys I owe a direct apology – I’m sorry.”
“I wasn’t my place to gate keep this industry,” he added. “I can’t wait to support and try out the products and I know the brand will be worth a billion in a few years.”
Manny also sent out an apology to the singer, and explained why he shared the original tweet.
“So yesterday I tweeted that i get slightly irritated when large celebs create cosmetics lines when they don’t wear tons of makeup because I saw the news that Alicia Keys is releasing a beauty line,” he wrote. “I only tweeted because I know that she stopped wearing makeup years ago, but I should have researched more to discover that she is working with elf cosmetics to develop SKINCARE.”
“I get defensive of the beauty community because so many celebrities only come out with cosmetics lines as a cash grab, but I shouldn’t have jumped the gun and regardless I know I am not the end all voice of makeup,” Manny continued. “I apologize to those who I upset with my tweet and to Alicia keys for being so quick to make a judgement – there is room and space for EVERYONE in this community.”
