YouTube star Logan Paul slammed over 'suicide forest' video
Fox411: Blogger Logan Paul has apologized for sharing a video on YouTube that appeared to show a body hanging in a Japanese forest known as a suicide spot.
YouTube personality Logan Paul told his Twitter followers Wednesday night that he needed “time to reflect” following the backlash to a recent controversial video he posted.
“taking time to reflect,” Paul wrote. “no vlog for now see you soon”
The video star, who has millions of Twitter followers and YouTube subscribers, reached out to fans on the page earlier this week twice to apologize. That followed the posting of a video in which Paul made fun of a body which appeared to be hanging in a Japanese forest.
“I should’ve never posted the video. I should’ve put the cameras down and stopped recording what we were going through,” Paul said via video apology on Tuesday. “There’s a lot of things I should’ve done differently but I didn’t and for that, from the bottom of my heart, I am sorry.”
He went on to apologize to a number of people, including those who have been affected by mental illness, depression or suicide and specifically the suicide victim and his family.
In a separate statement on Monday, Paul said he was sorry and that he never meant to “cause a monsoon of negativity” but rather “raise awareness for suicide and suicide prevention.”
“I’m often reminded of how big of a reach I truly have & 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.”
LOGAN PAUL CONTROVERSY: YOUTUBE UNDER FIRE FOR LETTING SHOCKING VIDEO STAY UP
In the controversial video, Paul is shown navigating through the Aokigahara forest, near Mount Fugi, with his friends.
He seems aware that the site is sometimes chosen for suicides, but is surprised to come across what appears to be a hanging victim.
"Yo, are you alive?" he says in the video. "Are you f---ing with us?"
The video has since been taken down but people continued to condemn Paul, saying his giggling and joking about the body was offensive.
Fox News’ Sasha Savitsky and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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