Aokigahara forest video showing an apparent suicide victim, his apologies, and YouTube's penalties (2018)
BBC News and The Guardian reported that on the last day of 2017 Logan Paul posted a vlog from Japan's Aokigahara forest showing the body of an apparent suicide victim, with jokes made on camera. After widespread criticism he deleted it and apologised. YouTube dropped him from its premium Google Preferred ad programme and in February 2018 temporarily suspended ads on his channels.
Editorial timeline of public reporting, not a legal finding.
- Vlog shows the body of an apparent suicide victim in Aokigahara forest - BBC News reported that Paul posted a vlog from his Japan trip in which he and friends come across a man's body in the Aokigahara forest near Mount Fuji. The body was shown in close-ups with only the face blurred, and Paul was shocked but also made jokes. The video had millions of views before it was taken down. BBC Persian reported critics accused him of violating the victim's privacy and mocking the body. Logan Paul: Outrage over YouTuber's Japan dead man video
- Video apology after the vlog is deleted - BBC News reported that after a barrage of criticism calling the video 'disrespectful' and 'disgusting', Paul took it down and posted a video apology, saying 'I have made a severe and continuous lapse in my judgement, and I don't expect to be forgiven' and asking fans who defended him not to. A YouTube spokesperson told the BBC it prohibits violent or gory content posted in a shocking, sensational or disrespectful manner. Logan Paul: YouTuber apologises over Japan dead man video
- YouTube drops him from Google Preferred and puts his originals on hold - BBC News and The Guardian reported that YouTube removed Paul's channels from Google Preferred, its programme selling premium ads on top creators, and put its original projects with him on hold. The Guardian said he could still earn money through YouTube's general monetisation and that the company apologised for its delayed response. YouTube punishes Logan Paul over Japan suicide video
- YouTube temporarily suspends ads, citing a 'pattern of behavior' - The Verge and TechCrunch reported that YouTube temporarily suspended ads on Paul's channels, saying in a statement that he had shown 'a pattern of behavior' in his videos that made his channel unsuitable for advertisers and potentially damaging to the creator community. The Verge said YouTube cited trying to monetise a video that broke its guidelines, encouraging the Tide Pod challenge, and tasering a dead rat in a recent video. YouTube suspends ads on Logan Paul's channels after "recent pattern" of behavior in videos