YouTube Star Logan Paul Apologizes for Sharing Video of Apparent Suicide Victim

YouTube personality Logan Paul is apologizing after facing outrage over a controversial video shared to his page that appeared to show the body of an alleged suicide victim in Japan.

The 22-year-old social media star — who boasts 15 million followers on YouTube, has endorsement deals with HBO and Pepsi, and appeared on a recent episode of Top Chef — came under fire Sunday for posting a graphic video filmed in Aokigahara, a forest at Mount Fuji’s base that is often referred to as “suicide forest” due to the high number of suicides that occur there.

Titled “We found a dead boy in the Japanese Suicide Forest,” the since-deleted 15-minute clip reportedly began with an intro from Paul boasting about the disturbing content before showing footage of what appeared to be a dead body with its face blurred out.

“This is not clickbait. This is the most real vlog I’ve ever posted to this channel,” Paul said, New York Magazine reported. “I think this definitely marks a moment in YouTube history because I’m pretty sure this has never hopefully happened to anyone on YouTube ever. Now with that said: Buckle the f— up, because you’re never gonna see a video like this again!”

While Paul later made reference to the seriousness of suicide, depression and mental illness in his video — even linking to the American Society for Suicide Prevention in the clip’s description — criticism from his audience, who are mostly teens, came swiftly, many asking YouTube to suspend his account.

“Suicide is not a joke. Suicide is not a way to gain views. Suicide is not to be taken lightly. What Logan Paul did is not acceptable,” one user wrote. “If you’re struggling, please take your health seriously and please seek help. Your life is worth so much. You are worth so much.”

suicide is not a joke.
suicide is not a way to gain views.
suicide is not to be taken lightly.
what logan paul did is not acceptable.
if you’re struggling, please take your health seriously and please seek help. your life is worth so much. you are worth so much.

— ariona,, 12 + 72 (@httpariona) January 2, 2018

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It is important to discuss mental illness, suicide awareness, and suicide prevention in a way that can help & educate people. Logan Paul is a disrespectful piece of garbage who further glorified something horrible under the guise of "there's help for you." Take action, @YouTube.

— PushingUpRoses (@PushinUpRoses) January 2, 2018

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logan paul exploited a persons suicide and FILMED the body after knowing the person was actually dead. if you stan that, youre disgusting. logan paul is disgusting.

— ً (@GUCCIFlNN) January 2, 2018

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Celebrities like Aaron Paul and Sophie Turner also spoke out, as did Paul’s fellow YouTubers.

“You disgust me,” Breaking Bad star Paul said. “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.”

“You’re an idiot,” added Turner, of Game of Thrones fame. “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. I pray to God you never have to experience anything like that man did.”

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

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@LoganPaul 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. I pray to God you never have to experience anything like that man did.

— Sophie Turner (@SophieT) January 2, 2018

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Dear @LoganPaul,

When my brother found my sister’s body, he screamed with horror & confusion & grief & tried to save her. That body was a person someone loved.

You do not walk into a suicide forest with a camera and claim mental health awareness.

— Anna Akana (@AnnaAkana) January 2, 2018

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The amount of personal + social unawareness Logan Paul has displayed in THAT video is mind blowing to me. 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.

— Rebecca Black (@MsRebeccaBlack) January 2, 2018

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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.
No amount of demonetizing or "like if you feel sad" can excuse what he did.
Really disappointing

— Joey (@TheAn1meMan) January 2, 2018

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Suicide is serious. People have lost loved ones, idols, hero’s, fans to suicide. Filming a video and mocking a victim is not raising suicide awareness. Laughing at the body of a poor depressed soul. I can’t believe the disrespect of the victim, their family, and your YOUNG fans.

— Grayson Dolan (@GraysonDolan) January 2, 2018

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if you really care logan paul then donate your 2018 youtube revenue to suicide prevention charities, @afspnational is a great one https://t.co/Jl3AQcsfyB

— Nate Garner (@natekgarner) January 2, 2018

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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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All eyes on you, @YouTube. What Logan Paul did was unacceptable and deserves decisive action. There is no place on YouTube for that kind of content.

— Meg Turney (@megturney) January 2, 2018

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Paul issued an apology to his 3.9 million Twitter followers on Monday, claiming the intention of his video was to raise awareness for suicide prevention.

“Let’s start with this — I’m sorry,” he wrote. “This is a first for me. I’ve never faced criticism like this before, because 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.”

“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,” he continued. “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.”

Dear Internet, pic.twitter.com/42OCDBhiWg

— Logan Paul (@LoganPaul) January 2, 2018

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He ended his apology by asking his fans to understand his mistake, and assuring them it wouldn’t happen again.

“I do this s— every day. I’ve made a 15 minute TV show EVERY SINGLE DAY for the past 460+ days. One may understand that it’s easy to get caught up in the moment without fully weighing the possible ramifications,” he said.

The statement concluded: “I’m often reminded of how big of a reach I truly have and with great power comes great responsibility… for the first time in my life I’m regretful to say I handled that power incorrectly. It won’t happen again. I love everyone. I believe in people. I’m out here. Peace.”

RELATED VIDEO: How Many People Live There?! Inside Jake Paul’s Hollywood Home

This isn’t the first time a member of the Paul family has fallen under controversy. Logan’s younger brother Jake Paul made headlines over the summer when his neighbors began complaining about the noise and dangers created by him and his team of digital creators, all of whom shared his home in West Hollywood.

In the wake of the drama, the former Vine star turned musician was let go from his Disney Channel show, Bizaardvark. 

If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).