James Charles faced backlash over an angry TikTok about a Spirit Airlines worker’s GoFundMe, then posted an apology. Now, an alleged DM response is in the spotlight.
James Charles is back in the spotlight after new details surfaced about his alleged private message to a woman he had targeted publicly in a now-deleted TikTok.
The controversy centers on Amber Lendof Vargas. who was identified as the Spirit Airlines worker James claimed reached out to him with a link to her GoFundMe.. In his original video. he appeared angry and used harsh language toward her for asking for money after losing her job.. That post was later deleted, and James uploaded an apology video afterward.
Now, Amber is sharing what she says is his alleged response to a direct message she sent asking for help. In her latest update, she posted on TikTok that his private apology did not change the impact of what happened when she was publicly criticized.
Amber wrote that James apologized in private only after embarrassing her on the internet, adding that “some damage doesn’t disappear” just because he later expressed guilt. She also included a screenshot of the alleged apology he sent in her DMs.
The alleged message itself, as shared by Amber, frames James’s apology as both personal and reflective.. In the text. he says the original video was “disgraceful and completely unnecessary. ” and he acknowledges that there was “no excuse” for yelling and berating someone in a difficult situation that was “completely out of your control.”
In that same alleged DM. James claims he spent time reading stories about what it’s like to lose a job without notice and the struggle of finding new work while others go through similar experiences.. He also says he donated to the GoFundMe and offers to help further if Amber needs it. while stressing that she doesn’t have to respond if she doesn’t want to.
The situation didn’t end with one apology. The report stated that GoFundMe itself responded, and that many other people also weighed in amid the backlash following James’s original TikTok.
Amber also revealed that her GoFundMe has gained major support. with hundreds of people contributing—including Gypsy Rose Blanchard—after James’s public post brought additional attention to her fundraiser.. For Amber. the attention is not portrayed as purely positive. as she also referenced how getting noticed online can be “scary and overwhelming. ” particularly for someone who said she never asked to be part of the story.
Meanwhile, the case has reignited a familiar conversation around influencer behavior, especially when real people are involved. When a public figure comments on someone else’s financial hardship, the speed of viral exposure can quickly turn into reputational harm—even if an apology follows later.
It also raises questions about accountability in apology cycles: the latest update from Amber suggests that timing matters. and that a private message may not be enough when the initial damage was done publicly.. With GoFundMe support continuing and public scrutiny still lingering, the fallout appears far from over for those following the story.
For James Charles. the episode marks another turn in how quickly internet reactions can escalate. and how a deleted post and a follow-up video may not settle concerns for everyone affected.. As Amber continues to post updates about what she wants to accept—and what she doesn’t—the spotlight remains firmly on the line between remorse and repair.
James Charles Amber Lendof Vargas Spirit Airlines worker GoFundMe backlash TikTok apology influencers controversy