UNVEILING: In his five part video series, “The Secret World of Jeffree Star,” YouTube influencer, Shane Dawson, reveals a portion of Jeffree Star’s life.
By Clare O’Brien, Staff Writer
Beginning in mid-October, influencer Shane Dawson uploaded a variety of videos on his channel that have a deeper meaning compared to many of the other superficial topics on the YouTube platform. When Dawson began creating these series involving other YouTube influencers and their stories, he built a reputation as a channel that was a safe place for others to express themselves. “I really want to get into it. And see for myself if this person really is the monster that so many people claim he is,” Dawson said in “The Secret World of Jeffree Star.” Jeffree Star’s past is filled with controversy, due to his allegations of racism, multiple scandals involving his boyfriend, and a tendency to go through friends quickly. Despite this, Dawson was able to uncover the life Star always hid.
Dawson begins his series with a car ride to Star’s house, making humorous jokes and repeatedly saying how he is unable to comprehend the amount of money Star clearly has. Once Dawson and his cameraman, Andrew Siwicki, reach Star’s house, they are warmly welcomed and are given a tour tour Star’s house. In the second video of the series, Dawson receives a complete makeover, “becoming” Star in all aspects, from Star’s wig to wardrobe. While Dawson goes under the makeup brush, they discuss Star’s past; how he always upheld an aggressive front and mannequin-esque pictures. Star’s rarely discussed yet successful music career also made an appearance. Part three of the series truly captures the expanse of Star’s industry: his makeup shipments, fulfillment center, merchandise company. In the warehouse, Star discusses how his million dollar salary led to the loss of relationships with family and friends. “It’s friends assuming you’re always paying for dinner. It’s friends assuming you’re gonna buy their plane ticket…everyone assumes it’s theirs now,” Star said in “Switching Lives with Jeffree Star.” Star reveals how wealth can be mentally draining, the hardest part being his inability to show his deceased family members. In the finale of the five part series Star focuses on the severity of his depression ten years ago and throughout high school. He explains how he treated himself, covering his body in scars, and subsequently covering those with tattoos. The series concludes with Dawson telling Star that he does not want Star to close himself off from the world for fear of being judged, and that underneath the “queen persona” Star puts up he is really just a normal person.
Dawson’s video series is full of humor and maintains the relaxed feeling of his channel, but deals with real problems people face. It breaks the persona Star spent years maintaining and unveils the true essence what he chooses to show. “People just see the Gucci and the bulls**t and they don’t see past it, which is half my doing,” Star explained. Throughout the videos, viewers heard about the harsh childhood Star experienced growing up and the unconventional things he did in order to support himself. Star’s audience can now see him as a “real” person and can understand him on a deeper level than ever before.
This series shows the viewers how hardships can be overcome, and although the world can feel vast and lonely no one ever truly is alone.“The Secret World of Jeffree Star” allows an open discussion about mental illness and self-harm that is sometimes glazed over. By seeing a man who lives a life people crave, a life a pure wealth and fame, and seeing the darkness he still possesses and the fact that underneath the wealth and fame he is the same as anyone else is important for fans to see. Although the series resides on a “lower” platform than the big screen it tells a meaningful story of hardship. Shane Dawson shattered the mannequin Jeffree Star and gave him new life while constructing a much needed platform to discuss harmful issues plaguing society.