NikkieTutorials fans boycott Too Faced after transphobic remarks from co-founder's sister

14 January 2020, 17:25

By Sam Prance

The sister of Too Faced Cosmetics' co-founder (Jerrod Blandino) has been accused of making transphobic remarks about Nikkie de Jager.

NikkieTutorials fans are boycotting the makeup brand after the co-founder's sister made transphobic remarks on Instagram.

Fans of Nikkie will already know that the YouTube MUA has a long and complicated history with Too Faced. In 2016, she collaborated with Too Faced on a makeup palette but faced backlash after customers complained about its quality. In 2019, Nikkie claimed that "they changed the palette’s quality behind [her] back" and explained that they paid her poorly for it.

READ MORE: YouTuber NikkieTutorials comes out as trans

Now, Nikkie fans are calling out Too Faced, after Jerrod Blandino's (Too Faced co-founder) sister, using the name Dani California on Instagram, appeared to make a transphobic dig at Nikkie. Dani works regularly with Too Faced and people now want no part in supporting it.

Yesterday (Jan 14), Nikkie came out as trans in a powerful YouTube video. "I can't believe I'm saying this today to all of you for the entire world to see but damn it feels good to finally do it. When I was younger I was born in the wrong body, which means that I am transgender." Nikkie ended the new video stating: "Today is the day I am free. I get to be me finally."

Nikkie also explained that she wasn't able to come out on her own terms. She said: "I have been blackmailed by people that wanted to leak my story to the press. It was frightening to know that there are people out there that are so evil they can't respect someone's true identity." She added that the people threatening her said she was "lying" by not being out.

The video was met with widespread praise from the internet. Fans commended Nikkie for her bravery and began calling out her blackmailers. However, Dani seemed to make a transphobic dig at Nikkie. Following the release of the video, she reportedly changed her Instagram bio to: "Transgender huh? That's not the only thing she's been lying about".

Fans immediately picked up on it and started criticising Dani for her remarks. Trans people who don't publicly state they are trans are not lying. Trans women are women. Given Dani's involvement with Too Faced, people began stating that they will no longer be using Too Faced products and started calling on others to do the same.

One fan tweeted: "This is why I don't wear @TooFaced. I didn't think Jerrod's sister could sink any lower. Yeah I know she's not an owner but she's a huge part of it and he doesn't encourage her to stop being like this. #TooFacedIsOverParty" and another added: "This is absolutely disgusting. I stand with #NikkieTutorials".

Following the backlash, Dani changed her Instagram bio to: "Let's be clear, I love trans people & dislike anyone who lies to hurt others! Period!"

What Dani fails to understand though is that her remarks were transphobic and completely out of line, regardless of context.

What do you think? Will you be boycotting Too Faced?