YouTube star Logan Paul has apologized for uploading a graphic video of himself and his team walking through Japan’s Aokigahara — also known as the “Suicide Forest” — and appearing to make light of a body hanging from a tree. But many YouTube and social media stars did not accept the apology.
Fellow YouTuber Grayson Dolan spoke out about the incident on Twitter, saying, “I’m not gonna stay silent I’m gonna stand up for what’s right right now. 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. You’re 22 there’s no excuse.”
Dolan is among the many YouTube and internet stars who have called out Paul for the controversial clip. Vlogger iJustine called YouTube to take action, tweeting, “@YouTube you CANNOT ignore this. You have so many incredibly talented content creators who strive to make this platform a better place. Stop promoting the trash that makes us all look bad.”
Paul has since posted an apology tweet and video, but many more stars have taken to Twitter to criticize his behavior. See some of the reactions below:
The horrible measures people will go to in order to have content to stay relevant is absolutely disgusting. Being blinded by your ego so much so that thinking it is okay to make insensitive remarks about suicide, and broadcasting it for millions of CHILDREN to see is sickening.
— Ethan Dolan (@EthanDolan) January 2, 2018
Your hustle ends when you start using inhumane, sick and immoral topics to pull your views. As a creator on @YouTube, I’m not going to sit silent as others try to pass off triggering content as entertainment. Twisted and wrong.
— lauren ? (@laurDIY) January 2, 2018
One of my 2018 goals was to speak up & use my platform more:
Support whoever you want..but be careful. I love @YouTube but I don’t support all of their creators …suicide is serious. I hope the apology is real but then again it started with “i get views” so hmm
— AlishaMarie (@ALISHAMARIE) January 2, 2018
Suicide is not a joke. It’s extremely frustrating & upsetting to see someone with so much influence over millions of children taint the horrifying reality that suicide is.
— Olivia Jade (@oliviajadee) January 2, 2018
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
The state of Youtube is breaking my heart. Youtube is a place where mostly young people are watching and looking up to people creating content. Everything we see & hear affects us. Kids should NOT be learning to behave, speak or act like some of the videos they are watching.
— Kandee Johnson (@kandeejohnson) January 2, 2018
With each new year, we all strive to do better and be better. I hope this (absolutely disgusting) act committed today on Youtube provides you with the perfect test to stand up and say “no, this isn’t okay with me and i will fight for action.” Here’s Gods test to do better.
— new year new Eva Gutowski (@lifeaseva) January 2, 2018
The fact that a human could ever think that it’s morally correct to not only joke about suicide, but to exploit it for personal gain is frightening. Suicide is NEVER funny. The topic is sensitive and vulnerable and should be treated with absolute respect. Spread love.
— Jessie Paege (@jessiepaege) January 2, 2018
Logan Paul needs to get it together ——————–?–
— Teala Dunn (@TTLYTEALA) January 2, 2018
He filmed the body up close thats….very wrong. Young viewers that are accustomed to light hearted comedy vlogs shouldn’t be randomly watching something so serious as that, like his vlogs just aren’t the place to randomly show something as heavy as that https://t.co/Lr6b30FHLh
— Ricky Dillon (@RickyPDillon) January 2, 2018
There are so many of us that use our personal stories and struggles with mental illness to help raise awareness & help others. This is not that. Yet this is what succeeds as “content”. It’s a shame.
— Lauren Elizabeth (@LaurenElizabeth) January 2, 2018
The fact that a human could ever think that it’s morally correct to not only joke about suicide, but to exploit it for personal gain is frightening. Suicide is NEVER funny. The topic is sensitive and vulnerable and should be treated with absolute respect. Spread love.
— Jessie Paege (@jessiepaege) January 2, 2018