A new Manchester beauty store has been forced to cancel a meet and greet with a huge American YouTube star and make-up influencer just hours before the event.
Irish brand BPerfect had been due to open their new premises at the Manchester Arndale this afternoon (October 8) with an event featuring James Charles. It was expected to draw in big crowds for the exclusive opportunity.
The meet and greet, which also coincides with the launch of his line of Painted by James Charles products at the brand’s stores, was part of a tour of events across the UK and Ireland at other BPerfect stores.
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The 25-year-old influencer had already been to events at stores in Glasgow, London and Dublin, where large crowds had gathered for a chance to meet and get photos with the influencer, and to get their hands on some of his beauty products - which are to be officially available in the UK for the first time.
However, the opening of the Manchester store has now been delayed with staff ‘working around the clock’ to provide a new date as soon as they can.
The free opening event, which had also been due to feature Love Island star Ekin-Su, had been due to get underway from 5.30pm tonight, but a representative for BPerfect has told the Manchester Evening News that the store is not structurally ready to open yet with the health and safety of customers and staff at the forefront of the decision.
In an update on Instagram on Monday evening (October 7), BPerfect posted: “Update: We have had to make the decision to cancel our Manchester store grand opening. We are working around the clock and will update you all as soon as we have a revised opening date. We're so sorry for any inconvenience caused."
James also took to social media to provide fans who were hoping to meet him in Manchester with an update. Posting on Instagram, he wrote: “Manchester. I'm so upset to let you guys know that the event tomorrow has been cancelled. This mini lil tour has been SO INCREDIBLE and I was really looking forward to celebrating this grand finale with you all.
“I've tried literally everything to make it work, but the team is stuck in Ireland because of cancelled flights and the store just isn't ready to open so it seems like the universe just doesn't want it to happen this time. I have to head back home to LA to rest up and get back to work, but I'm sending all of my love to everyone for making this trip unforgettable."
James, who hails from New York, has garnered a loyal online following since posting videos weekly on YouTube for almost ten years now. In 2016, at the age of 17, he became the first male brand ambassador for cosmetics brand CoverGirl.
