Jeffree Star defends 'Cremated' makeup palette after backlash

Star says both his father and two dogs were previously cremated

Jeffree Star has addressed the backlash surrounding the launch of his new makeup collection Cremated.

The makeup artist first sparked controversy with the collection when he announced the name of the new palette, before unveiling the colours on YouTube on Saturday.

“This is a smokey eye dream,” the YouTuber said, while showing off the new palette, which includes colours in shades of grey and black with names such as “Grave Digger,” “The Morgue,” “Hearse,” and “Casket Ready”.

According to Star, the collection was inspired by his fascination with death, as well as his favourite phrase – “I’m deceased”.

However, many of Star’s fans found it offensive that the makeup artist decided to release a new collection called Cremated amid the coronavirus pandemic, which has killed more than 300,000 people around the world, and called for the Jeffree Star Cosmetics founder to be “cancelled”.

“Jeffree Star’s new palette is tone-deaf in a level that I can’t even wrap my head around,” one person wrote. “Cremated with the slogan ‘get ready to be deceased’, during a health pandemic of proportions never seen in the history of humanity? Thanks, but no thanks.”

Another said: “Idk how y’all continue to support Jeffree Star. He just came out with a palette called Cremated that is all death/ funeral inspired in the wake of a f***ing pandemic where almost a hundred thousand people have died, and funeral homes are overrun and bodies are stacking up.”

Others suggested Star should have tried to change the name of the palette, as many fans have lost relatives to coronavirus.

“My grandma had to be cremated after she died from Covid. This seems like bad timing for such a product,” one fan wrote.

In response to the controversy, Star defended the palette on the basis that it is his “art”.

Speaking on his Instagram Stories, Star said: “There’s a lot of talk on Twitter. Now listen, Cremated, and any palette I’ve ever created, it’s my art. To me, it’s not just an eyeshadow palette, it’s way more than that. There’s always so many meetings with my art and that’s what it is, it’s mine. I created it for the world and it is allowed to be interpreted any way that anyone wants to take it, but I always come from a good place.”

Star then added that his father was cremated when he died, as were two of his dogs.

“On a real level you guys, my own father was cremated,” Star continued. “My two dogs that passed away last year were cremated, so nothing ever comes from a negative place in my life.”

The Independent has contacted Jeffree Star Cosmetics for comment.