Tana Mongeau used a new podcast episode to criticize James Charles after he apologized for a controversy involving an ex–Spirit Airlines worker and a GoFundMe. Mongeau argued that influencers owe money to the people who support them and took aim at a deleted T
Tana Mongeau didn’t mince words when she returned to her podcast—and the target was James Charles.
In her latest episode. the 27-year-old influencer revisited Charles’ Spirit Airlines GoFundMe controversy. after he had called an ex–Spirit Airlines worker “lazy” for asking him to help support her GoFundMe. Mongeau framed her reaction as personal, tied to what she says she learned growing up without money. Charles has since issued several apologies and launched a charity initiative with his company, Painted.
Mongeau opened by saying she debated whether to speak, but “the demons in my head…they’ve won,” insisting the issue mattered because of what she sees as a deeper conflict about money and responsibility.
She then brought listeners back to her childhood. describing constant fights between her mom and dad and saying their household turmoil was tied to not having money. In her telling. stress and screaming in her home came from financial strain. while her mother. she said. “would refuse to get a job.” Mongeau said her father pushed work ethic into her. even as she criticized his “mindset” that “money is everything. ” adding that he believed people should “do whatever you have to do no matter how immoral it is to get it.”.
From there, she pivoted to creators and their audiences.
“I do personally feel like us as influencers do owe our money to the people,” Mongeau said, explaining that her view—she tied it directly to “the James Charles conversation”—is rooted in the idea that followers help pay creators, so creators should give back.
She referenced Charles’ earlier comments about receiving messages from people and feeling like “a bank. ” calling that framing “awful. ” and argued that influencers’ income depends on the personal connection fans feel. Mongeau said it doesn’t make sense. in her view. for creators to take without returning support to the working people who make that income possible.
She also criticized the makeup industry’s profits and Charles’ earning power. saying his AdSense is “wildly profitable” and arguing he sits “in the 1% when it comes to profitable AdSense.” Mongeau added that the point was “reaffirmed” because Charles had been on TikTok before this scandal “begging for a new employee.”.
Later in the episode, Mongeau zeroed in on Charles’ since-deleted TikTok.
She said the part that hit her hardest was what she described as the video’s meanness. Mongeau said it felt jarring to see him mock someone while wearing a plush terry custom bathrobe, holding his arms out as he laughed and shouted at a person she said was struggling.
Even if, she said, Charles’ version of events had still been wrong, she argued it would have remained “an awful…horrible take.” But she called the situation worse because she described the “cherry on top” as Charles making fun of someone who was struggling deeply.
Mongeau said what disturbed her most was the reaction of people with “that much hoarded wealth,” saying their first thought didn’t seem to be “I can help,” but instead “how annoying are these people?” She called that instinct “so scary and evil and sad.”
She also addressed the specific scale of the financial request. saying $1. 500 to Charles is likely “a penny to the rest of the world. ” and urged listeners to “put yourself in the other person’s shoes.” Mongeau said asking for money never feels good. and she recalled that the experience of admitting. “I’m weak. I’ve tried everything,” is never comfortable.
The episode’s discussion begins around the 33:14 minute mark, and Mongeau directs viewers to watch the full episode. In the description of her YouTube video. she wrote: “The profits from this episode will be used to help the former employees of Spirit Airlines. ” linking to a GoFundMe supporting the former employees.
Charles, meanwhile, has faced backlash over his comments and has since apologized multiple times, launching a charity initiative with Painted.
Tana Mongeau James Charles Spirit Airlines GoFundMe Painted TikTok podcast AdSense influencers charity