Logan Paul: The YouTuber Looking for Redemption

On December 31st, 2017, Logan Paul, the famous YouTube star, posted a video titled "We Found a Dead Body." From that point on, the social world would shift. Logan Paul would lose fans offended by the video's content and gain another audience that is attracted to the Logan Paul controversy.

In the video, Logan Paul and a few friends entered the infamous "Suicide Forest" in Fujikawaguchiko, Japan. This forest earned its name by being one of the most well-known places for people to take their lives. No one knows how many people have walked into the forest with the intent of taking their own lives, since the forest covers 14 square miles of land densely populated by a vast variety of Evergreen Needleleaf trees.

While in the forest, the video shows Paul and his friends walking in the forest talking, until they come across a suicide victim. In response to the discovery of the man who had committed suicide, Paul says to the camera, "We came here with the intent to focus on the 'haunted' aspect of the forest." Paul then continues to talk about how serious suicide is and how no one should ever do it. He discusses how he's never seen a dead body before and how in shock he is. It all seems like the exact response a person would have to finding a person who had hung themselves, until one of Paul's friends says "I don't feel so well," to which Paul jokingly replies, "What, you've never stood next to a dead guy." Paul can then be seen laughing in the video, which really kills the sincerity of his sorrow for the suicide victim that he had expressed earlier in the video.

Since posting the "Suicide Forest Video," Paul has faced a backlash of disapproval from the public, celebrities, and other YouTube stars. Twitter has become a popular media platform to express their disgust with the video. Sophie Turner, actress from Game of Thrones, accused Paul of "mocking" suicide victims (tweet pictured above). She also states, "I can't believe how self-praising your 'apology' is," referring to the video he posted on January 2nd of this year, titled "So Sorry." He talks about his "lapse of judgement" and how he "will be better."

Since the release of his "So Sorry" video, Paul has not posted on his YouTube channel. He has remained silent up until yesterday, when he posted his newest video "Suicide: Be Here Tomorrow." In the seven minute video, he interviews Kevin Hines—the man who survived jumping off of the Golden Gate Bridge as attempt of suicide in 2000. Paul also talked to a suicide prevention specialist and gave tips that people can do to help someone who is suicidal.

Although the video is well put together and contains a message that is intended to help possible suicide victims, many people viewed this video as Logan Paul's attempt to get back on the public's good side. So far, as of January 25th of this year, the suicide prevention video has reached 14 million views and is still growing. The video is also number one on YouTube's Trending List. Will his future videos be genuine as Paul attempts to develop a deeper understanding of suicide so he can better himself? Or will the next videos to come be more attempts to fix his image and win back the advertising agents and company endorsements that he lost following the scandal?

Furthermore, people are still outraged that Logan Paul posted the video in the first place. Even though Paul blurred out the face of the man found hanging in the forest, people are furious at the fact that the video was posted on YouTube.

Will Logan Paul and his social empire be able to come back from all that has happened? Only time will tell.

If you or someone you know is contemplating suicide, please do not hesitate to reach out. You may feel alone, but I promise you that you are not. Reach out to family. Reach out to friends or community members. Reach out to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, or reach out to me.