After sending out a written statement, the YouTube star also issued a video apology.
Logan Paul can't say he's sorry enough after receiving major backlash for posting a video from his visit to Aokigahara, a forest on the slopes of Mt. Fuji in Japan that is commonly known as the “suicide forest."
Over the weekend, the YouTube star posted a video titled "We found a dead body in the Japanese Suicide Forest…," which, according to New York Magazine, appeared to show the body of a person who had hanged himself from a tree. After receiving some outrage over the footage, Paul took down the video and has been apologizing ever since.
On Tuesday, he posted a somber video to Twitter where he listed out numerous apologies. "There's a lot of things that I should have done differently, and for that, from the bottom of my heart, I am sorry," he implores. "I want to apologize to the internet. I want to apologize to anyone who's seen the video. I want to apologize to anyone who has been touched or affected by mental illness or depression or suicide."
Paul continues, "But most importantly, I want to apologize to the victim and his family."
The 22-year-old internet sensation also asks that his fans stop defending his actions, but goes on to explain his motives behind posting the video.
"The goal of my content is always to entertain, to push the boundaries, to be all-inclusive, and the world I live in, I share almost everything I do," he notes. "The intent is never to be heartless, cruel or malicious. Like I said, I've made a huge mistake. I don't expect to be forgiven."
Paul concludes, "I'm ashamed of myself. I'm disappointed in myself, and I promise to be better. I will be better."
The video apology comes after Paul issued a lengthy statement on social media where he claimed that he made the video to raise awareness for suicide prevention.
"I didn't do it for views. I get views. I did it because I thought I could make a positive ripple on the Internet, not cause a monsoon of negativity. That's never the intention," he wrote. "I intended to raise awareness for suicide and suicide prevention and while I thought 'if this video saves just ONE life, it'll be worth it,' I was misguided by shock and awe, as portrayed in the video. I still am."
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline can be reached 24/7 at 1-800-273-8255.
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