YouTube Breaks Silence On Logan Paul Controversy In Open Letter Via Twitter
Image via Kathy Hutchins / Shutterstock.com
After YouTube’s initial unsatisfactory response to Logan Paul’s controversial video that included a suicide victim, the platform has now come forth with an open letter published via its Twitter.
The message conveys that YouTube is taking steps “to ensure a video like this is never circulated again.”
Although Paul had previously maintained that the video, recorded at Japan’s Aokigahara forest, was intended to raise awareness about suicide, many criticized him for making light the grave situation as he and his travel companions were filmed laughing at the scene.
YouTube elaborated by saying it is “looking at further consequences” against Paul. It acknowledged that it had failed to communicate quickly enough with users about the incident, saying, “Many of you have been frustrated with our lack of communication recently. You’re right to be.”
You can read its open letter below.
An open letter to our community:
— YouTube (@YouTube) January 9, 2018
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.
Like many others, we were upset by the video that was shared last week.
— YouTube (@YouTube) January 9, 2018
Suicide is not a joke, nor should it ever be a driving force for views. As Anna Akana put it perfectly: "That body was a person someone loved. You do not walk into a suicide forest with a camera and claim mental health awareness."
— YouTube (@YouTube) January 9, 2018
We expect more of the creators who build their community on @YouTube, as we’re sure you do too. The channel violated our community guidelines, we acted accordingly, and we are looking at further consequences.
— YouTube (@YouTube) January 9, 2018
It’s taken us a long time to respond, but we’ve been listening to everything you’ve been saying. We know that the actions of one creator can affect the entire community, so we’ll have more to share soon on steps we’re taking to ensure a video like this is never circulated again.
— YouTube (@YouTube) January 9, 2018
[via Mashable, opening image via Kathy Hutchins / Shutterstock.com]
