Logan Paul: I'm sorry for 'dead body' video on YouTube
The YouTuber says he published the video to raise awareness for suicide prevention.
Logan Paul's YouTube channel has more than 15 million subscribers.
YouTuber Logan Paul posted an apology on Monday for uploading a video that included footage of a dead body.
The video was filmed during a trip to Aokigahara forest at the base of Mt. Fuji in Japan, a site where a high number of suicides take place. The video showed Paul and his friends reacting with shock and making jokes after discovering an apparent suicide. The video, posted Sunday, featured shots of the dead body and had millions of views before being removed from YouTube.
In an apology on Twitter, the vlogger said he didn't post the video for attention or views. "I did it because I thought I could make a positive ripple on the internet, not cause a monsoon of negativity," he wrote.
Dear Internet, pic.twitter.com/42OCDBhiWg
— Logan Paul (@LoganPaul) January 2, 2018
An apology video posted Tuesday to Paul's YouTube channel reached No. 1 on YouTube's trending list within an hour of its upload as fans flooded the comments section with supportive messages.
In a statement, YouTube said it prohibits violent or gory content that isn't supported by "appropriate educational" information:
"Our hearts go out to the family of the person featured in the video. YouTube prohibits violent or gory content posted in a shocking, sensational or disrespectful manner. If a video is graphic, it can only remain on the site when supported by appropriate educational or documentary information and in some cases it will be age-gated. We partner with safety groups such as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline to provide educational resources that are incorporated in our YouTube Safety Center."
Paul's original video drew widespread criticism from fans, celebrities and other YouTubers, with Paul's name trending globally on YouTube on Monday.
Dear @LoganPaul,
— Anna Akana (@AnnaAkana) January 2, 2018
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.
Dear @LoganPaul,
— Aaron Paul (@aaronpaul_8) January 2, 2018
How dare you! You disgust me. I can't believe that so many young people look up to you. So sad. Hopefully this latest video woke them up. You are pure trash. Plain and simple. Suicide is not a joke. Go rot in hell.
Ap
First published, Jan. 2, 3:30 a.m. PT.
Update, 9:03 a.m. PT: Adds comment from YouTube.
Update, January 3 at 7:51 a.m. PT: Adds apology video.