Popular true crime storyteller and professional makeup artist Bailey Sarian issued a raw, emotional call to action to her ~8 million subscribers this week, questioning the viability of modern economic and social systems.
The Los Angeles-based creator, known for pioneering the “Murder, Mystery and Makeup” genre, abandoned her usual highly-produced format to address what she describes as a “board game” played by the global elite at the expense of everyday people.
Sarian argued that current political and financial structures have dehumanized the public and left them in a state of “crippling debt” and constant surveillance.
The creator expressed profound frustration with the speed of political change, stating that traditional methods of reform are no longer adequate for the pressures facing the modern workforce.
She specifically noted that voting is “too slow” to address the immediate needs of citizens who are struggling with basic housing and healthcare.
For many aspiring creators, Sarian’s commentary touches on the concept of the “algorithm” and how it can be used to keep audiences distracted by “petty” conflicts rather than systemic issues.
Sarian highlighted the pervasive nature of data collection, noting that major corporations and governing bodies now possess intimate details ranging from bank numbers to shopping habits.
She described a “hostage” situation where individuals are fully dependent on their devices while being squeezed by rising costs and shifting “goalposts” in the housing market.
The creator also touched upon the mental toll of the digital age, urging her audience to look past partisan labels, be it political, racial, or social, to recognize their shared interests as “pawns” in a larger financial game.
The video marks a significant departure for Sarian, who has built a massive digital empire since launching her channel in 2013. According to recent industry data, Sarian is among the highest-paid creators globally, with an estimated annual income exceeding $10 million.
Despite her personal financial success, she emphasized that her message was not for “views or clicks” but born from a place of genuine concern for the future of her generation, particularly millennials.
Sarian’s rise to stardom began in 2019, when she combined true-crime narration with makeup tutorials, a format that saw her subscriber count jump from 700K to 3.5 million in a single year during the pandemic. She has since expanded into the “Dark History” podcast and collaborated with major brands like Netflix.
Known for her openness regarding mental health, Sarian acknowledged in the video that critics might dismiss her concerns as a “mental breakdown,” yet she insisted the conversation about systemic failure is one that cannot be shut down.
