YouTube star Logan Paul was blasted for an insensitive New Year’s Eve video that included footage of a suicide victim.
The 22-year-old vlogger posted a 15-minute video from Japan’s Aokigahara forest, known as the “Suicide Forest” for the number of suicides attempted and committed there.
About six minutes into the video, Paul and his crew came across the body of a young man who appeared to have hung himself from a tree.
“This is the most real vlog I've ever posted on this channel,” Paul said in the video. “I think this definitely marks a moment in YouTube history.”
Paul then proceeded to film closer to the body before apologizing to viewers for what was “supposed to be a fun vlog.”
He also said that the video was supposed to focus on the supernatural aspects of the Suicide Forest, not the suicides.
Paul ended the video by urging viewers to seek help if they are contemplating suicide.
But backlash hit almost immediately from people who blasted the YouTube star for filming the body.
“How dare you! You disgust me. I can't believe that so many young people look up to you. So sad,” “Breaking Bad” alum Aaron Paul tweeted. “Hopefully this latest video woke them up. You are pure trash. Plain and simple. Suicide is not a joke. Go rot in hell.”
“The amount of personal + social unawareness Logan Paul has displayed in THAT video is mind blowing to me,” tweeted Rebecca Black. “How could one w such power and influence have the audacity to put something so thoughtless online? You have potentially intensified an entire family's grief beyond measure.”
"You’re an idiot. You’re not raising awareness. You’re mocking. I can’t believe how self-praising your “apology” is. You don’t deserve the success (views) you have," tweeted "Game of Thrones" star Sophie Turner. "I pray to God you never have to experience anything like that man did."
Paul erased the video and apologized Monday night.
“This is a first for me. I’ve never faced criticism like this before, b ecause I’ve never made a mistake like this before. I’m surrounded by good people and believe I make good decisions, but I’m still a human being. I can be wrong,” he wrote.
“I didn’t do it for views. I get views. I did it because I thought I could make a positive ripple on the internet, not cause a monsoon of negativity. That’s never the intention. I intended to raise awareness for suicide and suicide prevention and while I thought ‘if this video saves just ONE life, it’ll be worth it,’ I was misguided by shock and awe, as portrayed in the video. I still am.”
Logan Paul is trash. This is a fact.
— Blaire White (@MsBlaireWhite) January 2, 2018
I can't even put together a tweet acknowledging the Logan Paul Suicide Forrest video.
— Michael J. Murphy (@MikeyMurphy) January 2, 2018
All I will say is that I think at this point there is an actual disconnect from reality where the Paul brothers have started to only think in terms of viewership, growth, and click bait.
Logan Paul filmed a dead body hanging in the woods & this is who kids are watching? Do u understand how damaging that is for the people involved with the person who died, or for anyone who’s dealing with the same thing, this isn’t how u teach people anout mental health or suicide
— 🤘🏼✨🦄😇🌈💕 (@oshimakesmusic) January 2, 2018
As somebody who lives in Japan, has Japanese family and has filmed a video in the suicide forest, the amount of disrespect Logan Paul showed in his video is honestly sickening.
— Joey (@TheAn1meMan) January 2, 2018
No amount of demonetizing or "like if you feel sad" can excuse what he did.
Really disappointing :(
i’m truly sickened by this logan paul situation. i lost my brother to suicide... my brother took his own life by hanging himself... how insensitive and sick can you be to film someone in that state 😔
— mommy (@CorinnaKopf) January 2, 2018
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