Some of you may recall Logan Paul posting a video back in 2017 from Japan’s Aokigahara Forest.
The video, which showed the social media influencer and current WWE Superstar laughing at a man hanging from a tree, which is well known for its high rate of suicides, resulted in Paul receiving a ton of backlash and being demonetized on YouTube.
Additionally, The Rock also cut ties with Paul due to the situation.
Speaking on a recent edition of his “IMPAULSIVE” podcast, the current WWE United States Champion opined on the fallout from the video and The Rock deciding to distance himself from him.
You can check out some highlights from the podcast below:
On looking up to The Rock: “You [Cena] and Dwayne are two people I definitely looked up to, a lot, when I was trying to figure out the blueprint for my career that didn’t exist. Dwayne, especially. My idol. My hero. He’s doing it, to the highest degree. I wanted to be like Dwayne. Eventually, in the same way I met you, I met Dwayne. He was just as cool in person as I thought he was on TV. He’s awesome. Made content together. Went viral. 70 million views, 50 million views. Linked up a couple of times. Visited him on the set of Ballers. I would have considered us acquaintances, at least. He was great.”
On The Rock cutting ties with him after the Aokigahara forest video: “Then, Japan happened. I could go into so much depth about my remorse and the place I was in and the faults I made at that time of my life. I had to really re-wire my brain and backtrack and ask myself how I let that happen and what went wrong in my life where I thought that was okay. In that process, I did a lot of damage. It wasn’t something that was on the forefront of my mind, and I’ve had to do a tremendous amount of therapy and figure out what in my life happened or didn’t happen to where I did that. DJ was one of the people I hurt because of his mother’s experience. That’s his experience to tell, I’m not going to share.
“I hurt him. So much so that he basically wanted nothing to do with me, and rightfully so. I let down my hero. He requested that I remove all the content we’ve ever done together and basically kicked me to the curb. I would have done in the same thing, a guy in his position doesn’t want to be affiliated with a person who has done something as reprehensible as that. I remember it being such a low moment because I knew I let myself down, my fans down, my family down, but my idol too. It just sucked so bad. It wasn’t like I got the call from him. I got it from the publicist. It’s not like he did anything wrong.”
On wanting to repair the relationship: “I think my ego told myself that ‘I’m going to remember that and if I ever become great one day, I’m going to remember this and remember the way I was discarded,’ and again, rightfully so. I don’t think I’ve ever been truly able to let go of that. I have a lot of stuff to work through in terms of that. I’m not even sure where to go from here, in terms of reconciliation. We’re kind of swimming in the same world a little bit in WWE and I see him coming back and i know we’re going to cross paths and I just wonder how I’m going to handle it….
“I have nothing against Dwayne. He didn’t make any wrong decisions. It’s all me. I think part of it is, I f**king hate myself for letting him down and that anger that I have, even against myself, was turned into this drive that I told myself, ‘I’m going to be so successful that I don’t need your approval or validation or acquaintance. I’m going to do this on my own, with or without you by my side.’”
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Logan Paul’s Controversial Video and Fallout with The Rock
In 2017, social media influencer Logan Paul posted a video from Japan’s Aokigahara Forest that caused a significant backlash. The video showed Paul and his friends laughing at a man hanging from a tree in the forest, which is known for its high rate of suicides. The video received widespread criticism for its insensitivity and lack of respect for the victims and their families.
As a result of the controversy, Logan Paul faced severe consequences. YouTube demonetized his channel, meaning he could no longer earn money from his videos. Additionally, he faced public outrage and condemnation from various individuals and organizations. One notable figure who cut ties with Paul was Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.
The Rock, a former professional wrestler turned Hollywood actor, had previously collaborated with Logan Paul and considered him an acquaintance. However, The Rock made the decision to distance himself from Paul after the Aokigahara forest video surfaced. This decision highlighted the severity of the situation and the impact it had on The Rock personally.
Recently, Logan Paul discussed the fallout from the video on his “IMPAULSIVE” podcast. He expressed remorse for his actions and acknowledged the damage he caused to others, including The Rock. Paul admitted that he let down his idol and understood why The Rock wanted nothing to do with him. He shared that The Rock requested the removal of all their collaborative content and effectively ended their association.
Paul also revealed that he struggled with his ego and the desire to prove himself to The Rock. He felt a deep sense of disappointment in himself for letting down someone he admired. This disappointment fueled his drive to succeed independently, without seeking validation or approval from The Rock or anyone else.
Despite the regret and desire for reconciliation, Logan Paul admitted that he was unsure how to repair the relationship with The Rock. As both individuals are now part of the WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment) world, they are likely to cross paths in the future. Paul expressed uncertainty about how he would handle those encounters, given the unresolved feelings and the weight of his past actions.
The fallout from Logan Paul’s controversial video serves as a reminder of the power and responsibility that comes with being a public figure. It also highlights the importance of accountability and the consequences that can arise from insensitive or harmful actions. While Paul has expressed remorse and taken steps to learn from his mistakes, it remains to be seen if he can fully repair the damage caused and regain the trust of those he hurt.
In conclusion, Logan Paul’s video from Japan’s Aokigahara Forest had far-reaching consequences, including his demonetization on YouTube and the severing of ties with The Rock. The aftermath of the video serves as a cautionary tale about the impact of insensitive content and the need for accountability in the digital age.