ICYMI: Kayla Malec Deserves Online Justice, Too

Slate News

Slate Podcasts

News, News Commentary, Politics

4.6 • 6K Ratings

🗓️ 14 May 2025

⏱️ 26 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Kate Lindsay and Candice Lim explain the situation surrounding influencer Kayla Malec and beauty YouTuber James Charles. Malec is a 19-year-old TikToker who was in a 9-month relationship with a content creator named Evan Johnson. After their breakup, Malec posted a YouTube video accusing her ex-boyfriend of domestic abuse and violence. Days later, Johnson was charged by officials in Tennessee with domestic assault, and last week, he pled guilty to those charges and was sentenced to 18 months in jail. While Malec did win this case, somehow, the controversial makeup influencer James Charles entered the scene and caused more drama than necessary. ICYMI will explain how Malec’s story got sabotaged and overshadowed by influencers who may be trying to get clout off of her trauma, and why James Charles is somehow always involved in internet drama. This podcast is produced by Vic Whitley-Berry, Daisy Rosario, Candice Lim, and Kate Lindsay. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:30.2	The weather. Tomorrow, expect a biting cold front. Hmm, how naughty. I wonder what I'll be
0:36.9	wearing or taking off.
0:39.3	The night will be wild and untamed.
0:41.4	Expect heavy, lashing rain that'll soak you to the skin.
0:45.2	By Monday, temperatures will rise slowly but surely reaching their peak in the afternoon.
0:51.3	Not in the mood for miserable weather?
0:53.5	Fly cheaply to Turkey with Sun Express.
0:56.4	Sun Express, nonstop sunshine.
1:14.7	Hey, I'm Candace Lim. And I'm Kate Lindsay, and you're listening to I-C-Y-M-I.
1:18.5	In case you missed it, Slate's podcast about internet culture.
1:22.4	And before we dive in today, how are our weekends?
1:26.1	You know, it was good.
1:27.2	Went outside, enjoyed the sun.
1:29.1	Did watch Goodwill hunting for the first time.
1:31.3	And guess what, Kate?
1:32.2	Good movie.
1:33.1	I enjoyed it.
	...

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