NikkieTutorials addresses backlash surrounding her Jaclyn Hill Morphe palette review
20 February 2020, 16:59
"The number one rule when it comes to my channel is honesty."
NikkieTutorials has addressed the backlash surrounding her review of the Morphe x Jaclyn Hill Volume II eyeshadow palette. Jaclyn released another makeup collaboration with Morphe on 13 February, which included a 35-pan eyeshadow palette and a range of brushes.
After requests from fans, NikkieTutorials – real name Nikkie de Jager – decided to review the palette on her channel. The YouTuber showcased two different makeup looks created with Jaclyn's palette and she gave it a glowing review.
READ MORE: Jaclyn Hill launches new Morphe eyeshadow palette after it leaked online
However, some suggested that Nikkie had been paid to give Jaclyn's palette a positive review because a "sponsored" icon flashed up during the tutorial, despite the video description stating that the video was not sponsored.
Nikkie is also a Morphe affiliate, which allows her fans to use a special discount code, granting them money off of Morphe purchases. In turn, Nikkie would get a percentage of the profits. Nikkie did mention this in her video and said her association with the beauty brand would not affect the reviewing.
Nikkie has now responded to the criticism on both Twitter and YouTube. On Twitter (17 Feb), she said: "If Morphe paid me for the video I would've disclosed. My video was not sponsored." A fan then asked if Morphe had asked her to make the video, and she replied: "No they have not."
Top YT influencer gives the @MorpheBrushes x @jaclynHill Vol 2 palette a great review - AFTER marking it a sponsored video & stating she is a Morphe affiliate. She’s paid (a lot $$$) for the review & receives commision if you purchase using her code. How is this review credible? pic.twitter.com/VyPUyQCmn1
— Kevin James Bennett (@KJBennettBeauty) February 17, 2020
if Morphe paid me for the video I would’ve disclosed. my video was not sponsored ❤️
— NikkieTutorials (@NikkieTutorials) February 17, 2020
no they have not.
— NikkieTutorials (@NikkieTutorials) February 17, 2020
Speaking on YouTube, she went into further detail about the mishap while reviewing. Jeffree Star's Blood Lust palette. She began: "I can't believe I have to say this after I made everything so very clear, but I will repeat myself once more. In the beginning of every tutorial/video, anything I upload where I use products myself, there is a little list of icons. These icons are to give you more clarification on the products that I use.
"Every time that I hold up a product one of those icons will pop up in the corner of the video and they will tell you whether something is sent through PR, whether something is an ad, whether I'm affiliated to the brand with a code or if I bought the product with my own money.
THE TRUTH... JACLYN HILL x Morphe Volume II Palette REVIEW!
"For the Jaclyn video I am affiliated to Morphe but some people think because it's Jaclyn and she's been in hot weather [water] recently that she needed a little extra help and apparently it was a very slow news day because now I was sponsored by Morphe, or Morphe asked me to create this video.
"No, a lot of you guys wanted to see this video from me. I even stated in the video even though I'm affiliated to Morphe I'm going to give you my truth. If you really think Morphe sponsored me or asked me to do the video do you really think they would have allowed me to say that I think the colours are repetitive, that there's fall out in the pan, and with one shade on my face. Do you really think they would accept that?"
READ MORE: Jaclyn Hill opens up about struggle with alcohol following lipstick launch
She added: "So again, that video was made by me in my own conditions, on my own terms. I just had to clarify that I'm an affiliate to Morphe. At the very end of the video, when I found out the palette is very good, I felt comfortable enough to share my code with you. At the end of the day, you decide if you want to get a discount and use someone's code. I'm not pushing it down your throat, I'm just letting you know that the option is there."
She then opened up about the last few months, presumably referencing how she was blackmailed into revealing that she is transgender.
She continued: "Do you really think that in the long haul I want you guys to not trust me? I've been through a lot in the last few months and you think I would want to damage the trust between us? Absolutely not. The number one rule when it comes to my channel is honesty and the same goes for Jeffree today."