YouTube cuts ties with Logan Paul, dropping him from Google Preferred ad platform over 'suicide forest' video
Updated
YouTube has dropped blogger Logan Paul from its premium Google ad service and cut him from a starring role in a web series following continued outcry over a video he posted showing the body of a dead man in Japan's so-called 'suicide forest'.
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The streaming giant said Paul's channels would no longer feature in Google Preferred — a service that gives advertisers access to top YouTube channels to target 18 to 24 year olds.
It also dropped Paul from Foursome, a romantic comedy available on YouTube's subscription service on which the vlogger had been a main cast member for three seasons.
The company said in a statement on Thursday that Paul's new video blogs were also on hold after he shared a video that appeared to show a dead body in Japan's Aokigahara Forest, a place known for its high number of suicides.
YouTube prohibits violent or gory content posted in a shocking, sensational or disrespectful manner, the company said.
It issued a "strike" against Paul's channel for violating its community guidelines after the posting.
The video was viewed some 6 million times before being removed from Paul's YouTube channel, a verified account with more than 15 million subscribers.
A storm of criticism followed despite two apologies from Paul, with commenters saying the YouTube star seemed disrespectful and that his initial apology was inadequate.
In his apology, Paul said the video was a "huge mistake".
"I've made a severe and continuous lapse in my judgement and I don't expect to be forgiven. I'm simply here to apologise," he said in a YouTube video called So Sorry.
Paul said the original video showed a "raw and unfiltered" reaction to the situation, but said the video should never have been posted or even filmed.
AP
Topics: social-media, suicide, united-states, japan
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