A complete timeline of every controversy Nikita Dragun has been in since her ascension to YouTube fame in 2014

Nikita Dragun at an event

Nikita Dragun
Morgan Lieberman/Getty Images
  • Nikita Dragun has been on YouTube for 8 years. She beginning joined in 2013.
  • In that fourth dimension, she's grown an audience of millions and launched a brand.
  • She has as well been at the center of numerous controversies, from blackfishing to pandemic partying.
  • Visit Insider's homepage for more than stories.

Nikita Nguyen, better known as Nikita Dragun, began her YouTube career in 2014 by posting makeup tutorials. She found success on the platform around 2015 afterwards she came out every bit transgender.

Dragun has grown her platform on YouTube to 3 million subscribers. She'south worked on a number of brand deals and business ventures, including launching her own cosmetics line, Dragun Beauty, in 2019.

Dragun joined TikTok in May 2020, and has since amassed 13 million followers — more than she has on any other platform. She is currently a fellow member of the Hype House, a TikTok creator collective starring in an upcoming Netflix show.

Despite her success as an influencer, the 25-year-sometime has since become the subject area of multiple controversies including accusations of "blackfishing" — a practice which involves artificially darkening the skin in order to appear a dissimilar race, or racially cryptic — along with partying during the coronavirus pandemic and feuding with other YouTubers online.

Here are all the controversies Dragun has been involved in since 2014.

May 2019: Dragun faced criticism for speaking out in favor of James Charles as he lost millions of subscribers following Tati Westbrook'south "Bye Sister" video.

Nikita Dragun (left) and James Charles (correct)
James Charles/YouTube

The very public feud between beauty YouTubers Tati Westbrook, James Charles, and Jeffree Star — which has was dubbed Dramageddon 2.0 — kicked off after Charles promoted the vitamin supplement visitor Sugar Bear Hair on an Instagram story. The brand is a direct competitor of Westbrook's Halo Beauty, so she said she saw his endorsement equally a expose.

Westbrook posted a video titled "Bye Sis" on May x, 2019, which featured explosive allegations confronting Charles accusing him of, among other things, predatory behavior towards direct men. Star claimed a stake in the drama and endorsed Westbrook's claims while adding that he felt Charles was a "danger to society."

Charles lost over ane meg subscribers and Westbrook gained over 4 million after the video was posted, co-ordinate to Social Blade, a website that tracks YouTuber's subscriber counts.

In his rebuttal video, "No More Lies," Charles said the endorsement was a function of an exchange for an "Artist" laissez passer at Coachella. He said the pass gave him access to a VIP section that had extra security which helped him avoid existence "mobbed" by fans.

Dragun came to Charles' defense saying she was the person who continued him with the brand.

"Heard a situation needed some clarification," Dragun tweeted amid the drama. "My friend was in an emergency and texted me in the moment... unfortunately since @dragunbeauty used all of our marketing budget on the fantasy, I connected him with Saccharide Bear Hair. Nothing shady."

Although Dragun provided screenshots, social media users still said they idea Charles was lying. In the screenshots, Charles can be seen asking Dragun for a few actress passes from Sugar Carry Hair in exchange for a post on his Instagram story, withal now-deleted screenshots of Twitter messages purportedly between Charles and anonymous YouTube drama aqueduct Tea Spill saw Charles say that the brand reached out to him first.

Many YouTube viewers said they thought Dragun was lying and had created fake screenshots of text messages. She replied back with a tweet that said, "[Yous] really retrieve I have the time to simulated texts? The only thing I edit is my waist on facetune sister. They have the screen recording of the messages."

Baronial 2019: Dragun faced backlash for putting a Black man on a canis familiaris leash at the MTV Video Music Awards.

A mail shared past Female parent of Draguns (@nikitadragun)

In 2019, Dragun attended the MTV Video Music Awards with three men on leashes. One of the men was Black, which Dragun immediately faced backlash for.

"Blackness men on chains is NEVER a proficient look," 1 person wrote on Twitter.

Another person commented that the outfit was inappropriate, "because the current news wheel almost a Black homo led by rope, by police, through a town and of course the long history of treating Black people like livestock. @NikitaDragun this is absolute trash."

The Twitter user was referring to a viral incident in Gavelston, Texas that occurred earlier that month. In a video shared widely on social media, 2 police on horses were seen leading a Black man on a rope.

According to Seventeen, Dragun wrote on her Instagram story in Baronial 2020 that she only knew she was going to the awards show 3 days prior. The publication reported that Dragun as well mentioned that the outfit was inspired past a look that Snoop Dogg arrived at the 2003 VMAs in — in which he walked with two women on a ternion.

She also said the outfit took inspiration from her ex-boyfriend, whom she said one time spread a rumor that she "hired" him to be her boyfriend. Dragun reportedly added that she "ended upward making the most controversial and talked virtually moments of the 2019 MTV VMAs and will forever exist known every bit the daughter who walked men on diamond leashes."

September 2019: Dragun was defendant of cultural appropriation and called out for wearing box braids.

A post shared by Female parent of Draguns (@nikitadragun)

In September 2019, Dragun faced criticism after she was photographed attending New York Fashion Week wearing box braids — a hairstyle that is typically worn by Blackness women — and was accused of cultural cribbing. Dragun is half-Mexican and half-Vietnamese.

Subsequently she was chosen out, she posted a photo of herself in the braids on Instagram and claimed that she wore the hairstyle to "prove my love and appreciation for all the gorgeous black women in my life" in a lengthy post defending her use of the hairstyle.

"I was inspired to do this box braid wig because I find it then beautiful," she wrote in the caption. "Too often there'south a double standard when another person takes inspiration from black civilisation. suddenly it'due south a new trend or information technology's renamed to be something else."

She went on to say that hearing stories of Black women getting sent dwelling house from school or work considering of their hairstyle was "beyond disheartening." She finished by saying that she would continue to use her platform "to spread awareness and equality for all simply particularly for women."

Some plant the statement to be satisfactory, with one person commenting, "Thanks, credit is all we want," while others went on to telephone call her "anti-Black." Some people felt the response did non do much to rectify the situation. "I don't get why people think this is a way to "capeesh" our culture," an Instagram user commented on her photograph. "information technology just makes y'all look ignorant and stupid considering information technology's not made for your type of hair, your hair is going to fall out."

June 2020: A Twitter feud broke out with influencer Daisy Keech, who was on vacation with Dragun's ex-boyfriend.

A mail service shared by Daisy Keech (@daisykeech)

On June 14, erstwhile Hype House fellow member Daisy Keech posted a photo of herself on vacation in Mexico with Dragun's ex-young man, model and reality Tv set star Michael Yerger.

The following day, Dragun tweeted, "I ain't even mad when I see my ex with another girl. Like you 'bout to exist just equally embarrassed as I was when y'all observe out what he's really about."

Keech quote-tweeted Dragun's tweet saying, "Nikita, whatever happened is in the past. There'south no demand to tear others down. I hope you tin move on and be happy. Nosotros truly wish you lot the best."

Yerger also responded to the tweet, saying, "You still love using that give-and-take 'ex.' Lmfao, it'south been far also long to keep bugging about an onetime hoax. Wish y'all the best Nikita."

In an October 2018 video titled "I Hired a Boyfriend," Dragun said she hired Yerger to exist her boyfriend and found him on "Craigslist." Only in a March 2019 video, she claimed it was a joke. "It was just a actually smashing video title," she said.

She confirmed the 2 broke up in July 2019. She said in a video announcing their breakdown that he was using her to advance his own career.

StylesRant.com reported that Yerger confirmed this by writing in an Instagram story, "Permit it be known that my life was changing for the improve at this point. A few tags from her and she was opening doors for me left and right. I pretty much got brought out of the woodwork from her 'fake swain thought."

After the back and forth betwixt Keech, Yerger, and Dragun, the Dragun Beauty founder asked her followers not to tag her in things relating to her ex-boyfriend. "I'm going to inquire only one time, really nicely, if you lot see anything with my ex, or whatsoever, merely don't tag me, just don't," the 25-year-old influencer wrote. "Don't collaborate ... I'm so far past all of that situation. I'm genuinely so happy. I know anybody can tell."

A post shared by Kickoff Ever Tiktok Shaderoom (@tiktokroom)

July 2020: Dragun was accused of being disrespectful to Catholicism over candle merch.

A post shared by Dragun Beauty (@dragunbeauty)

On July 13, Dragun'southward cosmetic line Dragun Dazzler posted a video on Instagram promoting a product called "Saint Pu---stunt Candle." The candle featured a motion picture of Dragun stylized to look similar a saint. It was part of a trend which saw independent businesses and Etsy shops supervene upon the faces of saints with those of celebrities similar Kim Kardashian — which she got backfire for promoting — Jonathan Van Ness from "Queer Centre," and the "Golden Girls" characters.

A post shared past Angie Quintanilla Coates (@thefive15)

Some people argued that the trend was disrespectful to Catholicism. Dragun'due south post was filled with comments like "the fact that she overlooked everybody'south feelings and still posting this disrespectful shit to our religion speaks volumes," and, "To everyone who bought them… wtf do yall not care if an influencer disrespects a whole ass religion???? Like whaat??"

Dragun never addressed the controversy.

July 2020: Dragun was accused of attending a Hype House party during the pandemic.

A mail service shared by Phil Shaw (@p.hil)

During the coronavirus pandemic, some social media influencers defied public-health guidelines and threw large parties. On July 21, the Hype House threw a party for friend and housemate Larri "Larray"  Merrit's 22nd birthday.

The party was attended past a scattering of notable influencers including Dragun, James Charles, Tana Mongeau, Charli, Dixie D'Amelio, and Emma Chamberlain.

YouTuber Tyler Oakley chosen out the famous partygoers including Dragun on Twitter and urged them to use their platforms to "encourage responsibleness during a worldwide pandemic."

Merritt responded and vowed to do meliorate. "I understand 100% where [you're] coming from and it was a dumb thing to do," Merrit replied to Oakley. "I volition practise better and will actually take this shit seriously. Capeesh you Tyler, much love."

Dragun faced backlash for being 1 of the creators that attended the party and never addressed the controversy.

July 2020: Dragun was accused of attention yet another pandemic party.

Less than a week later on Dragun and multiple influencers were called out for the maskless party at the Hype House, Dragun attended a political party for erstwhile Hype House member Mia Hayward.

Social media users were quick to transport criticism Dragun'south way. One commenter tweeted, "Nikita Dragun girl you Take a platform. Employ it for good & telling people to article of clothing masks & stay dwelling in quarantine & six feet apart when in public. Not for throwing a party and showing it off all on your Instagram story during a earth pandemic."

Defnoodles, an influencer watchdog account on Twitter, reported that she responded to the criticism saying "I just busy the top floor of the Hype House. The simply people that came already lived there."

October 2020: She tweeted out 'What race should I be?' and garnered a ton of backlash.

Nikita Dragun was accused of digital blackface after appearing in a 2017 Jeffree Star Cosmetics campaign.
Instagram/@nikitadragun

In October 2020, Dragun asked her followers "what race" she should be that solar day in a since-deleted tweet. This followed previous accusations of blackfishing and cultural appropriation.

The tweet was immediately met with blackash from her followers and fellow YouTubers including Black dazzler YouTuber Nyma Tang who  quote-tweeted her, saying, "This sh-- is not funny."

Dragun after responded to the criticism she received for her tweet saying she was "tired of having to defend myself on every post" because she is mixed-race. "My mom is mexican. My dad is asian. I'chiliad mixed. The finish. Bye."

Social media users then posted photos in which she looked paler in May 2020 than in September of the same year, when her skin appeared to be much darker.

Dragun responded to one of the tweets with a side-by-side of her ain with the caption, "wintertime vs. summer," sharing pictures of her before she transitioned in which she appeared to exist paler in the winter and darker in the summer.

On multiple occasions during the pandemic, Dragun was pictured without wearing a mask.

Dragun did not wearable a mask at many of the gatherings she attended during the pandemic.

In a September 2020 interview with influencer paparazzo Hollywood Fix at Saddle Ranch eating house, a popular influencer hotspot in Los Angeles, she approached the camera without a mask and was asked by an employee multiple times to put a mask on.

Dragun likewise joined the large number of influencers and celebrities that traveled for New year's day's Eve in 2020. She vacationed in Miami and was spotted maskless in a hotel elevator.

"Everyone's gonna yell at me considering I'chiliad not wearing a mask," Dragun can be heard proverb.

In February 2021, Dragun used a small face shield as a mask, but was criticized for not wearing information technology correctly and constantly moving it abroad from her face for pictures.

Near recently, on ii occasions less than a week apart, Dragun was seen using her easily equally a mask.

February 2021: Dragun was called out for blackfishing in one case over again

Dragun posted a photo of herself on Instagram promoting a face powder from her Dragun Cosmetics line in February 2021.

She was again met with accusations of blackfishing. "Waiting for Nikita Dragun to get cancelled for the 100000th fourth dimension for the aforementioned affair," 1 person wrote on Twitter.

Another social media user defendant her of doing blackface. "Tin't believe Nikita Dragun is still getting abroad with doing Blackface in the year of our lord 2021," they said.

Dragun did not comment on this controversy.

February 2021: Dragun threw a birthday party in which people appeared to be maskless.

A post shared past Mother of Draguns (@nikitadragun)

For her 25th birthday, Dragun threw a party with notable guests including Hype Firm members Thomas Petrou and Merrit, YouTuber Patrick Starr, and influencer Tana Mongeau. The political party likewise featured Dragun coming out of a vagina-shaped door.

Videos of the night were shared across social media and featured the influencers getting very shut to each other without wearing masks. One video showed Starr and Mongeau kissing and then Mongeau can be heard saying, "And what the fu-- near it?"

YouTuber Chris Klemens called Dragun "lame and sh----" in a tweet the day after the party.

Following criticism, Dragun posted a photograph of COVID-19 tests with text that read, "All my guests were tested."

March 2021: Dragun became embroiled in a feud with Trisha Paytas.

MEGA / Getty Images, Trisha Paytas / YouTube

Equally the second season of Dragun'southward Snapchat prove "Nikita Unfiltered" premiered, she posted an Instagram story that said, "cancel me as many times every bit u desire... my show is nonetheless running."

YouTuber Trisha Paytas mocked Dragun's show, replying to a DefNoodles tweet that captured Dragun'due south Instagram story post and using the quote-tweet function to say, "On Snapchat" with a laughing emoji.

Dragun then responded to Paytas' tweet proverb that her show had "30 million viewers" and a billboard on Sunset Boulevard. She then claimed Paytas was trying to negate the success of a transgender woman.

Dragun referenced a 2019 video in which Paytas said they identified as a transgender man when she tweeted back, "Trisha haven't u done enough to the Trans community? There'southward no need to downplay mine or any Trans adult female's accomplishments. Happy #TransDayOfVisibility @trishapaytas." Paytas has since come out as non-binary.

The ii entered a back-and-forth Twitter spat in which Paytas brought up Dragun's pandemic partying and silence on controversies surrounding Charles and the Lopez brothers — all of whom have been accused of inappropriate actions with underage fans.

The drama continued for hours and other YouTubers became involved including Jackie Aina, Dustin Dailey, and Paytas' H3 podcast co-host Ethan Klein.

April 2021: A Hype House Netflix show was announced, leading to backlash.

A mail service shared past Mother of Draguns (@nikitadragun)

Netflix appear on April 22 that it volition be releasing a new reality tv bear witness centered around the TikTok creators in the Hype House.

The creator collective was co-founded in 2019 by Thomas Petrou, Daisy Keech, Alex Warren, and Chase Hudson (aka Lil Huddy) — who was rumored to appointment Charli D'Amelio and has recently begun his musical career with ii singles. Notable members included both of the D'Amelio sisters and the Lopez brothers, who are since no longer a role of the commonage.

The TikTokers who are currently a part of the Hype House include Dragun, Merrit, Alex Warren, Hudson, Kouvr Annon, Sienna Mae Gomez, Petrou, and Jack Wright.

Later the show was announced, Netflix faced pushback and criticism for giving the Hype House a show but canceling some of their favorite shows similar "The Lodge." Social media users claimed they would be canceling their subscriptions.

Dragun responded to the pushback saying, "You can't get mad at people for winning and succeeding, and if you lot practice, y'all're literally just similar a hater."

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