YouTube has decided to cut ties with Logan Paul following a firestorm of criticism over the vlogger's controversial Japan "Suicide Forest" video.
For those unfamiliar with the whole debacle, the YouTuber posted a video on Dec. 31, showing a suicide victim in Japan's Aokigahara Forest, commonly referred to as "Suicide Forest." Paul saw the suicide victim hanging from a tree and filmed it up close, posting the video on YouTube.
Logan Paul's Suicide Video Stirs Controversy
The video stirred a great deal of controversy and people even started a Change.org petition demanding that Paul's YouTube channel be deleted. Google expressed its disapproval and condemned Paul's suicide video, highlighting that suicide should never be seen as a light thing or be exploited as a means to gain more viewers.
On Tuesday, Jan. 9, YouTube said that Paul's channel violated its community guidelines and it will have consequences. However, it did not detail just what those consequences would be at that point.
YouTube also added that it will share more information soon on the measures it plans to implement to ensure that such an appalling YouTube video never makes rounds again.
An open letter to our community:
Many of you have been frustrated with our lack of communication recently. You're right to be. You deserve to know what's going on.
- YouTube (@YouTube) January 9, 2018
Paul, for his part, issued an apology for the controversial suicide video, saying that he just wanted to raise awareness to help with suicide prevention.
YouTuber Logan Paul No Longer On Google Preferred
As expected, YouTube took action to penalize Logan Paul for the gruesome suicide video. Its decision comes more than a week after Paul posted the video, and YouTube received heavy criticism during this time for not removing the channel and not issuing a statement sooner to express its regret to the family of the victim.
The popular video platform has now removed Paul from Google Preferred, a program designed to ensure that brands sell its ads alongside the top 5 percent of YouTube's content creators.
"In light of recent events, we have decided to remove Logan Paul's channels from Google Preferred," a YouTube spokesperson told The Hollywood Reporter in an email statement. "Additionally, we will not feature Logan in season four of 'Foursome' and his new Originals are on hold."
YouTube has been having troubles recently regarding ads displayed alongside inappropriate content, and this incident adds more fuel to the fire. The video platform had assured concerned advertisers that Google Preferred features videos of the highest quality, so Paul's controversial suicide video dealt a heavy blow.
YouTube has declined to offer additional comments besides the official statement. However, concerned parties will likely welcome its decision to cut ties with Logan Paul.
