Fashion
Kat Von D Opens Up About Jeffree Star
Oh, snap. If you thought Kim Kardashian came for T-Swift, you haven't seen nothin' yet. Two of the biggest brands in beauty have clashed, and the Internet is blowing up. So what happened? Kat Von D opened up about Jeffree Star in a YouTube video and here's what she had to say.
So here's the low down: Kat Von D and Jeffree Star have been longtime friends, bonding over their love for body art and respective cosmetic lines. But things have turned sour, and the reason isn't entirely clear. On Tuesday morning, Kat Von D posted to her Instagram to say in no uncertain terms that she no longer supports Jeffree, and would "like to disassociate myself from him and his brand from this point on." Von D's friendship with Star was so strong that she named one of her famous Everlasting Liquid Lipstick shades after him, but now it's getting pulled permanently. Apparently, this fall out is over packaging artwork that, according to her, Star never paid for. She goes on in her post to claim the rift is also rooted in Star's "inappropriate behavior (including, promoting drug use, racism, and bullying)."
Von D took to YouTube to clarify, but I'm left with more questions than answers.
One thing she is clear about is that this friendship is all kinds of over.
If you didn't get to watch the full video, or you want the quick rundown, here are the major takeaways:
1. Kat Von D Claims She's The Reason Jeffree Star Cosmetics Exists
Oh boy. In the video, Von D says "Honestly Jeffree, if it wasn't for me you wouldn't be where you are now as far as your makeup line goes." It sounds like she lifted a line from The Life of Pablo, and she may kind of be right. Allegedly, Von D hooked Jeffree up with factories and business connections that began and elevated his brand. "I'm sure the story will be something about how he's so self-created," she says. "I think that's how he wishes his approach to makeup was." She goes on to discuss how Jeffree Star Cosmetics started in her house and how she was the one who allegedly suggested he create a makeup line. "I'm not looking for credit, but at least tell the truth," she says.
2. Kat Von D Questions Why Jeffree Star Uses Products That Are Non-Vegan
According to Von D, Jeffree took to his personal Snapchat to bully a small brand over a false vegan label in packaging, "You're not even f***ing vegan," she says. "You like to put that word on your packaging to bring in the vegan bucks, but you totally eat animal products and not only that, promote [other brands] that actually test on animals." (For the record, L'Oreal has posted on their website that they do not test on animals. According to their FAQ page, "L’Oréal no longer tests on animals, any of its products or any of its ingredients, anywhere in the world. Nor does L’Oréal delegate this task to others. The rare exception allowed is if regulatory authorities demand it for safety or regulatory purposes.")
3. Kat Von D Says Jeffree Star Cosmetics Stole Logo Artwork
Uh oh. According to Kat, Star asked Kat to draw designs for his brand. She politely declined (her artwork is her own brand, after all) but pointed him in the direction of an artist who could help, B.J. Betts. "I introduced Jeffree to B.J., and then BJ drew up his logos. And then Jeffree went forward with them...It's the logos you see now... And then never paid B.J." We're wading in some legal territory here, because stealing artwork is, well, stealing. And using stolen artwork as your own and without permission is illegal.
Kat goes on to say "B.J. would call him and basically Jeffree blocked his phone. So finally BJ called from a landline, and Jeffree answered, and then when he realized it was B.J. asking for payment, he hung up on him and blocked that number. That's just want he does."
"I texted Jeffree and said 'Can you explain to me why you haven't paid B.J.,' and he basically told me to fuck off, or go fuck myself, and then blocked my number...and blocks me on Instagram and on Twitter, as if I follow him anyway. It's obnoxious to constantly promote what fancy car you're renting."
Ouch. In the end, she asks Jeffree to "do the right thing" and pay the artist. She goes on to say Jeffree Star is "this big, attention-seeking, fame-desiring, money-driven monster I want no part of" and regrets being a part of helping someone "become so self-absorbed." Brr, is it cold in here?
Let's hope the two resolve the issue, and the makeup world goes back to blending, contouring, and strobing in peace. However, according to Jeffree Star's Twitter, we can all expect a response in the very near future.