Yahoo Finance TikTok star under fire for using racial and anti-gay slurs: 'It is so hateful'
Isabella Avila, aka OnlyJayus, is being called out after screenshots of her old texts leaked online. In these messages, Avila harassed another creator on Instagram using both racial and anti-gay slurs, which led to fans calling for her to apologize.
On Feb. 13, OnlyJayus finally broke her silence and issued an apology, but many Black creators have deemed the apology inauthentic and are calling for her to be canceled.
Who is OnlyJayus?
Isabella Avila is a 21-year-old TikToker known for her humorous videos about science and psychology. Many people online refer to her as the “Psychology Facts” girl because of all the information she shares with her 9.9 million followers. She’s been making videos online since 2016, and she started on YouTube before moving to TikTok in 2019.
Some of OnlyJayus’ old texts leaked online, which showed her using racial and anti-gay slurs.
In early February 2021, screenshots of OnlyJayus’ old conversations from August 2016 leaked online. In these conversations, which were allegedly with another white creator, she used both racial and anti-gay slurs, including the n-word, the f-word and the c-word. She also wished harm on the person on the other side of the conversation and said things like “I hope your parents get cancer” and “I hope everyone you love dies.”
As soon as fans caught wind of the conversation, they demanded that Avila apologize for using such heinous slurs. Some people pointed out that Avila is part of the LGBTQIA+ community, but most agreed that that didn’t excuse her use of the f-word as an insult.
On Feb. 13, OnlyJayus finally apologized for her old texts.
On Saturday, Feb. 13, OnlyJayus finally addressed the controversy on her various social media channels and apologized for the “disgusting” comments she made.
“In my past, I said disgusting things to people, and I am so ashamed of myself for using racist rhetoric and derogatory language to hurt others because I knew what that word meant and I understood the power behind it but I said it anyway because it was the meanest thing that I could think of and I’m so sorry to everyone, but especially to those in the Black community because only you guys can forgive me for this,” she said. “You guys deserve better.”
“When I first saw the screenshots, I didn’t even think that they were real because I forgot how hateful and how angry of a person I used to be,” she continued. “The screenshots and the things I’ve said in the past are not a reflection of who I am today.”
In the second part of her apology, Avila revealed that she would be taking some time to “take a step back” and give her platform to Black creators so they can “educate others on the trauma that happens when we use this kind of language.”
OnlyJayus’ apology did not go over well with Black creators.
Several Black creators have called out OnlyJayus for what they see as a weak, half-hearted, calculated apology.
TikToker and activist @morgan.thecreator made a video explaining “everything I hated about OnlyJayus’ apology.” Some of the things she listed included Avila’s “fake crying,” her “scripted” apology, and the fact that she thought that using the n-word was the best jab to make at someone.
TikToker @sietesays felt similarly. They noted that OnlyJayus didn’t just say the n-word — she intentionally used the word to insult someone for loving and appreciating Black people.
“There are levels to it,” they explained. “A slur is a slur, but to insult someone for being in a relationship with a Black person […] it does not get any worse than that. It is so hateful and it is so violent.”
no no but you said you knew what the n word meant so why did you say it because ik damn well you shouldn’t have said it if you knew what it meant what a lame excuse
— madison😏⛓ (@madisonabadbit1) February 13, 2021
“You said you knew what the n-word meant so why did you say it?” one fan asked. “I know damn well you shouldn’t have said it if you knew what it meant. What a lame excuse.”
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