Popular YouTube Star Logan Paul Apologizes For Controversial Suicide Upload
YouTube sensation Logan Paul is in hot water. The popular vlogger has come under fire for posting an apparent suicide on the social media site.
Logan's Bad Move
Paul, who has over 15 million YouTube subscribers, was in the middle of a trip to Japan, where he and his friends traveled to the Aokigahara. This region is known to both Japanese residents and tourists as the "Suicide Forest." The budding actor and entrepreneur made a decision that had dire consequences for his brand. Paul posted an image that millions of his young fans might never get out of their heads: a dead body of an apparent suicide victim.
Outcry And Outrage
Reports have circulated that Paul and his team hoped to use the Aokigahara as the backdrop for a video regarding suicide awareness and how to prevent suicide. Before Paul and his team members were forced to remove the video, the controversial piece earned over 6 million views and countless likes. During the first day of 2018, the YouTuber went to Twitter to post a lengthy apology post about this video. Paul stated that he did not perform the controversial stunt for views. He was also adamant that he did not weigh the "possible ramifications" before he posted the eerie video.
Several users weighed in on the conversation and sides were immediately formed that either shamed or defended Paul.
"Did you expect him to cry about it then? If you actually do watch Logan's vlog, you would know that he's all about jokes and just humor. Don't judge him just based on one vlog," wrote one user.
However, actor Aaron Paul wrote a scathing remark to the YouTuber regarding his behavior.
Dear @LoganPaul,
How dare you! You disgust me. I can't believe that so many young people look up to you. So sad. Hopefully this latest video woke them up. You are pure trash. Plain and simple. Suicide is not a joke. Go rot in hell.
Ap
— Aaron Paul (@aaronpaul_8) January 2, 2018
Other Viral Offenders
Paul is not the only viral celebrity who posted controversial videos and received public backlash. YouTuber PewDiePie, whose real name is Felix Arvid Kjellberg, had lost numerous endorsement deals with countless of companies when he posted derogatory remarks towards black people and anti-Semitic comments. Another YouTube user, Juan Luis Lagunas Rosales, a.k.a. “El Pirata de Culiacán” was killed after he insulted Mexican drug lord Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, on Dec. 18, 2017. Also, viral sensation Keaton Jones’ family was bullied by countless unknown social media users when it was revealed that Jones’ mother had a checkered past that involved photos of her family surrounded by Confederate flags.
It is still unknown if Paul will face any serious repercussions from this stunt.
