You’ve probably seen the memes. Or maybe you just finished a late-night binge and your jaw is still on the floor because of that chainsaw scene. Either way, if you’re looking into Charles Malik Whitfield and the absolute madness that is Beauty in Black, you aren't alone. There is a specific kind of chaos that only a Tyler Perry production can deliver, and this Netflix series has it in spades.
But here’s where things get a little confusing for the casual viewer.
When people search for "Charles Beauty in Black," they’re usually looking for one of two things: the legendary actor Charles Malik Whitfield, who plays the villainous Jules, or the character Charles Bellarie, played by Steven G. Norfleet, who spends most of the second season covered in someone else's DNA. It’s a messy world. Let’s break down why this show is dominating the conversation and what’s actually going on with these two very different "Charles" figures.
The Villain We Love to Hate: Charles Malik Whitfield as Jules
Honestly, Charles Malik Whitfield is a pro. You might remember him as Otis Williams from The Temptations or from his work on Chicago Med, but in Beauty in Black, he’s operating on a different frequency. He plays Jules, the head of security for the Bellarie beauty empire.
Except he’s not just "security."
Jules is the secondary antagonist, and "problematic" doesn't even begin to cover it. He’s the bridge between the high-fashion world of the Bellarie family and the gritty, dangerous underbelly of the strip club scene. He’s a pimp. He’s a trafficker. He’s the guy who ensures that Kimmie (Taylor Polidore Williams) and the other women stay in line.
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What makes Whitfield’s performance so chilling is the duality. On one hand, Jules is presented as a "family man"—a proud husband and father. On the other, he’s a cold-blooded enforcer who will kill or blackmail anyone to protect the Bellarie interests. It’s that "suit and tie" villainy that feels more dangerous than a street-level thug.
Why Charles Bellarie Is the Character Everyone Is Texting About
Now, if we’re talking about the character named Charles—Charles Bellarie—things get weird. Really weird.
For the first half of the series, Charles (played by Steven G. Norfleet) is the "quiet" brother. He’s Horace and Olivia’s son, and he’s largely seen as the sensitive, closeted member of a deeply toxic family. He’s struggling with his sexuality, dealing with a father who despises him for the very things the father himself is hiding, and trying to find a modicum of peace.
Then came Season 2, Part 1.
If you haven't seen it, brace yourself. Charles finds himself in a situation where three men from the strip club attempt to rob him. In a moment of drug-fueled adrenaline and "crime of passion" energy, he ends up killing all three of them.
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Does he call the police? No.
Does he call his family’s high-powered lawyers? Also no.
Instead, he decides the most logical way to handle the situation is to buy a chainsaw and start dismembering the bodies in his living room. It is, without exaggeration, one of the most "unhinged" sequences in modern soap opera history. When his boyfriend, Varney, walks in, he finds Charles covered in blood and viscera, halfway through the "clean-up."
Why the "Two Charles" Dynamic Matters
The confusion between the actor Charles Malik Whitfield and the character Charles Bellarie actually highlights the core theme of the show: the collision of two worlds.
- The Corporate/Criminal World (Jules): This is where the actor Charles lives. It’s calculated. It’s about power and trafficking.
- The Fragile Elite (Charles Bellarie): This is where the character lives. It’s about people with too much money and zero coping skills who snap under pressure.
Fans on Reddit and Twitter have been losing their minds over the chainsaw scene specifically because it felt so out of character for the "sensitive" Charles Bellarie. But as many viewers pointed out, he’s a Bellarie. Violence and cover-ups are in his blood. He might have been trying to "distance himself from the drama," but when the walls closed in, he reverted to the family’s darkest instincts.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Plot
There’s a massive misconception that the explosion in Season 1 was the end for Charles Bellarie. For months, fans debated who blew up his car and why. Many suspected Norman (the legendary Richard Lawson) was seeking revenge for his wife’s hit-and-run.
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But in a classic Tyler Perry twist, Charles survived. Well, sort of. It’s hinted that he wasn't even in the car—perhaps a thief like Salvo had stolen the keys. The fact that he’s alive only to end up as a chainsaw-wielding amateur butcher is the kind of narrative whiplash that keeps the show trending.
The Expert Take: Why Beauty in Black Works
Look, this isn't Succession. It’s a soapy, high-octane thriller that leans into the "sicko mode" of storytelling. The reason it ranks so well and stays in the Google Discover feed is that it triggers a "did that really just happen?" response.
The performances of seasoned vets like Debbi Morgan (Olivia) and Charles Malik Whitfield ground the show just enough so that when the younger characters—like Charles Bellarie—go off the deep end, it feels shocking rather than just cartoonish.
Whitfield, in particular, brings a level of gravitas to Jules that makes the human trafficking subplot feel genuinely heavy. He isn't playing a caricature; he’s playing a man who believes his actions are justified by his loyalty to his "tribe."
Practical Steps for Fans and New Viewers
If you’re trying to keep up with the Bellarie family body count, here is what you need to do:
- Watch for the "Shadow" Characters: Don't just focus on Kimmie. Pay attention to Jules (Charles Malik Whitfield) and how he manipulates the legal system. He’s the one pulling the strings that lead to the "snapping" points of other characters.
- Rewatch the Season 2 Part 1 Finale: The arrival of the "police" at the end isn't what it seems. They aren't in uniform. This suggests that Charles’s chainsaw antics were caught by someone much more dangerous than the law.
- Follow the Cast’s Real-Life Insights: Actors like Steven G. Norfleet have spoken openly about the "hardest parts" of being comfortable with sexuality in the Black community, which adds a layer of depth to Charles Bellarie’s internal struggle that you might miss if you’re just looking at the gore.
The show is currently streaming on Netflix, and with Part 2 looming, the stakes for both the actor Charles and the character Charles couldn't be higher. One is trying to keep a criminal empire afloat; the other is literally trying to wash blood out of the carpet. Either way, it’s a wild ride.
To truly understand the narrative trajectory, keep a close eye on the "Will" subplot. The Bellarie family is fighting over shares and power, and as the bodies pile up, the legal ramifications—led by the lawyer Lena—are going to be the undoing of them all. Don't expect a happy ending; expect a messy one.