YouTuber James Charles Sparks Controversy Over TikTok Ban Comments

Among the millions of TikTok users affected by the shutdown, YouTuber and beauty influencer James Charles shared his unfiltered reaction in an Instagram rant.

Late Saturday night, TikTok’s 170 million American users were hit with an abrupt shutdown as the app went offline, displaying a stark message that read, “A law banning TikTok has been enacted in the U.S. Unfortunately, that means you can’t use TikTok for now.” The app, along with ByteDance-owned Lemon8 and CapCut, was removed from the Apple and Google Play stores, leaving users without access to the popular platforms.

The shutdown left James Charles visibly shaken, prompting him to express frustration.

The move marks a significant disruption for millions of Americans who rely on TikTok for news, entertainment, community, and in many cases, their livelihoods. While TikTok had warned of the potential shutdown in the weeks leading up to the ban, the sudden blackout left users shocked and scrambling for answers, including James Charles.

“I am crashing the f-ck out right now. I don’t know what to do. This is so dystopian!” Charles said in the emotional post. “First of all, I feel pathetic that I’m freaking out like this over an application [becoming] unavailable on my phone. But also, this was a massive part of our lives for the last six years."

"Normally, when something happens, I would get on TikTok and start complaining, and I can’t do that. I feel disconnected. I feel cut off from the world and my community," Charles added. "This is crazy.”

In a surprising turn, Charles ended his rant with a sarcastic remark, “Make America f-cking great again, I guess,” seemingly signaling a shift in his political views as he grappled with the ban’s impact.

After hearing Charles' rant, many X users slammed the beauty influencer. "Nothing will make me support him. Also, why does losing an app make someone this upset like...? It’s really not that serious."

The user added, "Humans DID exist and were fine before TikTok, we’ll be fine after LMFAO."

"Imagine publicly rooting for Trump," another wrote.

"How are you a sassy bottom and a Republican? He’s so embarrassing," a third responded.

Despite the shutdown, the decision may not be final. President-elect Donald Trump suggested during a phone interview on NBC’s Meet the Press that TikTok could receive a 90-day reprieve. Trump stated he would likely extend the deadline for ByteDance, TikTok’s China-based parent company, to sell its U.S. operations to a non-Chinese buyer.

“I think that would be, certainly, an option that we look at. The 90-day extension is something that will be most likely done because it’s appropriate,” Trump said. “If I decide to do that, I’ll probably announce it on Monday.”

Under the current law, the president has the authority to grant a one-time 90-day extension to delay the TikTok ban, but only if three key conditions are met. The president must certify to Congress that there’s a clear path to divestiture, “significant progress” has been made toward executing it, and binding legal agreements are in place to ensure the divestiture can be completed within the extension period.

As of now, no such binding legal agreements have been made public. Even if a last-minute buyer were to emerge, acquiring TikTok’s U.S. operations would likely require a deal worth tens of billions of dollars.

For now, TikTok remains offline in the U.S., leaving creators, businesses, and users in limbo. The app’s shutdown has sparked outrage across social media, with many questioning the motives behind the ban and its broader implications for freedom of expression and digital culture.

As President-elect Trump prepares to take office, all eyes are on his decision regarding TikTok’s future in the U.S. A potential 90-day reprieve could offer a temporary solution, but the app’s long-term fate remains uncertain.

For millions of Americans like James Charles, TikTok’s shutdown represents more than just the loss of a platform—it’s the disruption of a digital community that has become an integral part of their daily lives.