Yesterday, popular makeup guru and YouTuber Nikkie de Jager—more commonly known by her online username NikkieTutorials—came out as trans in an emotional video that made headlines not just in the beauty community, but all over the world IRL.
In the heartfelt clip, Nikkie reveals that she was pressured into coming out because she was being blackmailed, and the reason for creating a coming out video in the first place was to get ahead of the threats and to do it on her own terms.
"I am me. I am still Nikkie," she says. "Nothing changes about that."
Although her message of self-acceptance and wanting to be her most authentic self are inspiring, especially in a situation that involves something as serious as blackmail, there's unfortunately still some negativity being sent her way from internet trolls. According to Insider, the sister of Jerrod Blandino (the co-founder of popular cosmetics brand Too Faced) had some not-so-great comments in response to Nikkie's coming out.
"Transgender huh? That's not the only thing she's been LYING about," said the bio of an Instagram account by the name of @makupprincess, an account associated with Blandino's sister and that he has tagged in some of his own posts.
While the comment is extremely shitty and plays into the harmful stereotype that trans people are lying and deceiving people with their gender identity, many fans were quick to point out the transphobic BS, with some even calling for a boycott of the Too Faced brand and its products.
The news of the Too Faced co-founder's sister and her transphobia comes on the heels of a very complicated history between Nikkie and the makeup brand. According to Nylon, Nikkie collaborated with Too Faced for an eyeshadow palette in 2016, but was severely underpaid for the use of her name and branding.
Although the @makupprincess Instagram account is now private and has changed their bio to "Let's be clear, I love trans people & dislike anyone who lies to hurt others!" following the controversy, Too Faced has yet to comment on the situation, Nylon also reports.
Rewatch Nikkie's coming out video below.
