Logan Paul Receives Heavy Backlash After Posting Insensitive Content

On December 31st 2017, Logan Paul, a well-known Youtube vlogger known to the internet as @TheOfficialLoganPaul, posted a video onto his Youtube channel of a man who had taken his own life in Aokigahara: one of Japan’s most famous landmarks known as “the suicide forest.” The video showcased the end of a man’s life caused conflict on social media. It also became a topic of conversation between both students and teachers at Arrowhead.

After receiving backlash on Twitter and Youtube, Paul removed the video 24 hours after it was posted. He also apologized on Twitter, from his personal account @LoganPaul, saying, “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 can’t happen again.”

Celebrities, such as Tyler Posey, Chrissy Teigen, and Dylan O’Brien publicly reached out to Paul on Twitter about the highly disputed video. Lilly Singh, a well-known Canadian Youtuber, said in a tweet, “Imagine if everyone who had power and massive influence used it for good? Please don’t let @youtube views alter your values and morals. Common sense over ad sense. Stay woke. Spread love. Encourage growth.”

Ellie Bonk, an AHS junior, says, “Everyone is talking about it, even the people that had no idea who Logan Paul was. I’m not that surprised that people at school are talking about it, but my dad mentioned it to me this morning. This just goes to show that having any type of platform, whether it be in Youtube videos or on stage at a concert, you have an effect on the people who watch, and it is so much easier to do more harm than good.”

Youtube posted an apology on Twitter saying, “Like many others, we were upset by the video that was shared last week. Suicide is not a joke, nor should it ever be a driving force for views.”

A Youtube spokeswoman also said in the article “YouTube star Logan Paul’s upcoming movie has been put on hold because of his dead body video” by Matt Weinberger of Business Insider, “In light of recent events, we have decided to remove Logan Paul’s channels from Google Preferred. Additionally, we will not feature Logan in season four of ‘Foursome’ and his new Originals are on hold.”

“I don’t understand why he would even post the video,” says AHS junior Chris Ollice. “The second he saw the body, he should have stopped filming right away and let the authorities know what happened. All of the backlash he is getting this week is well deserved. People make mistakes with what they post, and I’m sure Logan Paul wishes he could take it all back, but YouTube had to make an example out of him in order to ensure that a video like this would never be posted again.”

Paul posted a video onto his vlog channel on Youtube continuing to apologize for the video one week ago.

The most recent tweet of Paul says, “Taking time to reflect. No vlog for now. See you soon.”