You’ve probably seen the TikTok clips. It’s usually late at night, the ring lights are on full blast, and there they are—Jeffree Star and Eugenia Cooney—beaming at the camera while thousands of viewers flood the chat with a mix of heart emojis and genuine panic. It’s a pairing that, on the surface, feels like a fever dream from 2016 YouTube. But in 2026, it has become one of the most polarizing and persistent alliances in the influencer world.
Honestly, the internet doesn't know what to do with them.
One side of the fence sees a genuinely lonely woman finally finding a mentor and a friend who treats her like a human being rather than a "case study." The other side? They see a master of PR and "clout" potentially enabling a health crisis for engagement. There isn't much middle ground here.
The Wyoming Trip That Changed Everything
The friendship moved from digital screens to real life when Jeffree invited Eugenia to his massive Star Yak Ranch in Casper, Wyoming. This wasn't just a quick lunch. It was a multi-day event that was documented across every social platform imaginable.
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They did it all. They went to his retail store, Makeup & Meat. They sat in his neon-colored Rolls Royces. Jeffree even did her makeup using his latest palettes, a moment that felt like a throwback to the "beauty guru" golden era.
For Eugenia, the trip seemed like a massive breath of fresh air. She’s spent years mostly confined to her room in Connecticut, filming "outfit hauls" and battling a relentless stream of "welfare check" calls from concerned (and sometimes malicious) viewers. In Wyoming, she was out in the world. Jeffree was taking her to his favorite restaurants and introducing her to his circle.
- The "Normalcy" Factor: Jeffree’s main defense has always been that he treats Eugenia "normally." He doesn't spend the whole time talking about her weight or her health. He talks about makeup, business, and gossip.
- The Protective Shield: During their lives, Jeffree has been known to snap at the chat. He’s told viewers to "shut up" and "worry about their own lives."
But this is where things get complicated. Critics argue that by "treating her normally," Jeffree is ignoring the elephant in the room—an elephant that has led to Eugenia being demonetized and age-restricted on several platforms over the years.
Is it Mentorship or Just Good Business?
Let’s be real: Jeffree Star is a shark. He didn’t build a multi-million dollar empire by accident. People often question the "why" behind this bond. Is Jeffree being a "good person," or is he aware that Eugenia’s massive, dedicated, and often concerned audience brings in a specific type of high-intensity traffic?
When they go live together, the viewer counts skyrocket. The "gifts" on TikTok—those digital lions and universes that translate to actual cash—pour in.
Jeffree has gone on record saying they talk about "real life things" off-camera. He claims he knows more about her situation than any random person in the comments section. "We talk about real life things and what we're going through," he said in one of his defensive TikTok rants. It’s a classic "us against the world" narrative that Jeffree has used many times throughout his career.
The Crisis Team and the Conflict
The tension reached a boiling point when Eugenia had a run-in with a crisis team in late 2023 and early 2024. The internet was in a frenzy. Jeffree, true to form, didn't back down. He continued to host her on his lives, even as petitions circulated to have her banned for "promoting an unhealthy lifestyle."
This is the core of the Jeffree Star and Eugenia Cooney debate. Where does friendship end and "enabling" begin?
If you ask Jeffree, he's the only one actually being a friend. He argues that the constant harassment and "fake" concern from the public actually makes people with mental health struggles retreat further into their shells. He positions himself as the safe harbor.
However, medical experts and recovery advocates often point out that "enabling" isn't always about being mean. Sometimes it’s about providing a platform where the person feels they don't need to change because they are being celebrated exactly as they are.
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Why This Connection Persists in 2026
It’s been a couple of years since they first started popping up on TikTok Live together, and they haven't drifted apart. If anything, the bond seems tighter. Jeffree has integrated Eugenia into the Jeffree Star Cosmetics ecosystem, often featuring her as a primary "influencer" for his new launches.
For Eugenia, Jeffree represents a level of power and protection she’s never had. He’s one of the few people who can stand up to the "cancel culture" mobs and win.
For Jeffree, Eugenia is a loyalist. In an industry where people jump ship the moment a scandal hits, Eugenia has remained a steadfast supporter of Jeffree, even during his most controversial periods.
What You Should Take Away
This isn't a black-and-white story. It's a messy, complicated look at how two people who have been "villainized" by different corners of the internet found common ground.
If you're following this story, here's the reality:
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- Engagement is the currency. Both creators benefit from the controversy, whether they admit it or not.
- Offline vs. Online. We only see what the ring light illuminates. We don't know the private conversations or the actual health updates.
- The Role of the Audience. If the "concern" feels like it's making things worse, it might be time to step back. Engagement—even "hate-watching"—keeps these cycles moving.
If you genuinely care about the well-being of creators like Eugenia, the most actionable thing you can do is support recovery-focused content and stop engaging with the "shock value" streams. Pushing for platform-wide changes regarding how health crises are handled is often more effective than shouting in a TikTok chat that moves at a thousand miles per hour.
Keep a critical eye on the content you consume. Understand that in the world of high-tier influencers, every "friendship" is also a brand partnership.