It was late December 2017. Logan Paul was at the absolute peak of his "Maverick" branding, pulling in millions of views per day with high-energy vlogs and neon-colored merch. Then he uploaded a video titled "We found a dead body in the Japanese Suicide Forest." Everything changed. Honestly, it didn't just change for Logan; it fundamentally shifted how YouTube moderated content and how we perceive influencer culture today.
The Logan Paul forest video isn't just a piece of internet history. It's a case study in ego, the "vlogger's lens," and the terrifying speed of a global backlash.
What actually happened in Aokigahara?
Logan and his crew traveled to Japan for a series of "wacky" travel vlogs. They visited Aokigahara, a forest at the base of Mount Fuji known tragically for its high rates of suicide. The plan was to film a "spooky" camping video. Instead, they stumbled upon a deceased individual hanging from a tree.
Most people would have stopped filming. Logan didn't.
He kept the camera rolling. He zoomed in. While he blurred the face of the deceased, the body was clearly visible. Even more jarring to viewers was the reaction of the group. There was laughter. There were jokes about "never seeing a dead body before." In one specific moment, Logan looked at the camera and said, "What, you never stand next to a dead guy?" while wearing a bright green Toy Story alien hat.
The disconnect was jarring.
📖 Related: Gwendoline Butler Dead in a Row: Why This 1957 Mystery Still Packs a Punch
The video stayed up for several hours and reached the Trending page before Logan himself took it down. By then, the damage was done. The internet reacted with a level of vitriol rarely seen. From Aaron Paul (no relation) tweeting "Go rot in hell" to mainstream news outlets like the BBC and CNN picking up the story, the "Maverick" was suddenly a pariah.
The immediate fallout and "The Apology"
The aftermath was a whirlwind of corporate distancing. YouTube eventually removed Logan from their "Google Preferred" ad program, which is basically the VIP club for top-tier creators to make the most money. They also put his YouTube Red projects—remember those?—on indefinite hold.
Logan released two apologies. The first was a written statement on Twitter that felt a bit defensive, claiming he was trying to "raise awareness." People didn't buy it. The second was a black-and-white video where he looked genuinely rattled, admitting he shouldn't have posted the footage and that he didn't expect to be forgiven.
"I should have never posted the video. I should have put the cameras down and stopped recording what we were going through." — Logan Paul, January 2018.
Critics, including mental health professionals and cultural commentators, pointed out that the issue wasn't just the filming. It was the lack of respect for Japanese culture and the sanctity of human life. Aokigahara isn't a prop. It's a place of profound grief.
👉 See also: Why ASAP Rocky F kin Problems Still Runs the Club Over a Decade Later
Why the "vlogger's lens" is dangerous
There is this psychological phenomenon where people behind a camera feel detached from reality. It's like the lens creates a barrier. For someone like Logan, who had been filming every waking second of his life for years, the dead body wasn't a tragedy first—it was "content."
This is the dark side of the creator economy.
When your entire worth is tied to "The Views," your moral compass starts to spin. You stop asking "Is this right?" and start asking "Will people click this?" The Logan Paul forest video remains the ultimate example of what happens when that obsession goes unchecked.
How YouTube changed forever
Before this incident, YouTube was much more of a "Wild West." After the forest video, the platform introduced much stricter "AdSense" requirements and more aggressive manual reviews for trending videos. They had to. Advertisers were terrified of their ads appearing next to, well, a dead body.
This ushered in the era of "Adpocalypse" 2.0. Smaller creators often complain that Logan Paul's mistake made it harder for everyone else to make a living because the algorithm became so sensitive to anything "non-brand friendly."
✨ Don't miss: Ashley My 600 Pound Life Now: What Really Happened to the Show’s Most Memorable Ashleys
The Logan Paul redemption arc (or lack thereof)
Did it kill his career? Not even close.
After a short hiatus, Logan returned with a documentary about suicide prevention, which was met with mixed reviews. Some saw it as a genuine attempt to learn; others saw it as a calculated PR move. Over the years, he successfully pivoted. He went from a "cringe vlogger" to a professional boxer and then a WWE superstar. He even launched Prime Hydration, which became a billion-dollar brand.
But the Logan Paul forest video follows him. Every time he gets into a new controversy—like the CryptoZoo NFT situation—people bring up the forest. It is the permanent stain on his digital footprint.
Lessons for creators and viewers
The internet has a long memory. Even in 2026, the lessons from Aokigahara are relevant because the "attention economy" hasn't slowed down.
- Content is not more important than humanity. If you find yourself in a situation that involves a tragedy, the "record" button should be the last thing you touch.
- Cultural sensitivity matters. Taking "Western" prank culture to places with different social norms (like Japan) is a recipe for disaster.
- The "cancel culture" myth. Logan Paul proves that you can't really be "cancelled" if you have a massive enough fanbase and the sheer will to keep posting, but your reputation will never be "clean" again.
Moving forward with digital ethics
If you're a creator, use this as a cautionary tale. Authenticity is great, but boundaries are better. For viewers, it’s a reminder to hold the people we watch accountable. We are the ones who provide the "views" that fuel these decisions.
If you are interested in the actual history of the Aokigahara forest beyond the YouTube drama, research the work of Karen Nakamura or watch the documentary Aokigahara by Liadulz. It provides the somber, respectful context that the 2017 vlog so desperately lacked. Understanding the "why" behind the location's history is the first step in moving past the sensationalism of the video itself.
Practical Steps for Digital Responsibility
- Audit your influences: Take a look at the creators you support. Do they prioritize shock value over ethics?
- Report, don't share: If you see "shock content" that violates platform guidelines, report it immediately rather than sharing it to "call it out." Sharing often inadvertently helps the uploader's reach.
- Learn about Aokigahara: If you want to understand the site's significance, look for resources from Japanese cultural historians who explain the socioeconomic factors behind its reputation.
- Support Mental Health: If you or someone you know is struggling, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (988 in the US) or international equivalents. Digital entertainment should never come at the expense of human dignity.