Major Controversies Surrounding Logan Paul: A Detailed Timeline
A closer look at the most debated and controversial moments involving Logan Paul.
Logan Paul is a multifaceted American personality notable as an influencer, professional wrestler, entrepreneur, boxer, and actor. Gaining prominence through his YouTube channel 'Logan Paul Vlogs' with over 23 million subscribers, he has been featured on Forbes' list of highest-paid YouTube creators multiple times. He is the co-founder of Prime hydration beverage and Lunchly snack brand. Paul also hosts the 'Impaulsive' podcast, boasting a large subscriber base. Since 2022, he has been signed with WWE, wrestling part-time on the Raw brand and becoming a former WWE United States Champion.
November 23, 2017: "No Handlebars" Single Release
On November 23, 2017, Logan Paul released his single "No Handlebars", which faced criticism for its perceived objectification of women and unauthorized sampling of the Flobots' song.
December 2017: Aokigahara Forest Controversy
In December 2017, Logan Paul faced significant backlash for filming and uploading a video in Japan's Aokigahara forest, which depicted the recently deceased corpse of a suicide victim.
2017: Aokigahara Incident Lawsuit
In 2017, Logan Paul was involved in the Aokigahara controversy which led to Planeless Pictures suing him in December 2020, alleging he posted the video to escape a movie deal.
December 31, 2017: Aokigahara Suicide Forest Video Upload
On December 31, 2017, Logan Paul uploaded a controversial video to his YouTube channel depicting a deceased corpse in Aokigahara forest, leading to widespread criticism.
January 1, 2018: Written Apology on Twitter
On January 1, 2018, in response to the backlash, Logan Paul issued a written apology on Twitter for the Aokigahara video.
February 9, 2018: Petition to Delete Channel
By February 9, 2018, a petition urging YouTube to delete Logan Paul's channel had received more than 720,000 signatures following the Aokigahara video controversy.
January 2019: Controversial Podcast Remarks
In January 2019, Logan Paul made controversial remarks on his podcast, implying that being gay is a choice, which led to widespread criticism.
September 4, 2019: Rematch Announcement and Controversy
On September 4, 2019, the rematch between Logan Paul and KSI was announced as Paul's professional boxing debut, to be broadcast on DAZN. At the UK press conference, Paul made controversial remarks about KSI, leading to criticism from abortion rights activists.
2019: Copyright Infringement Lawsuit
In 2019, Flobots sued Logan Paul for copyright infringement related to "No Handlebars", leading to the song being removed from YouTube.
December 2020: Lawsuit by Planeless Pictures
In December 2020, Planeless Pictures sued Logan Paul for the 2017 Aokigahara incident, claiming it was a deliberate act to escape a movie deal.
May 6, 2021: Press Conference Brawl
On May 6, 2021, at the press conference for the Mayweather fight, Jake Paul's brawl with Mayweather made headlines.
September 2021: CryptoZoo Game Release
In September 2021, Logan Paul released CryptoZoo, an NFT-based game that was later criticized for using stock images and lacking functionality.
December 2022: Coffeezilla's Docuseries Exposing CryptoZoo
In December 2022, YouTuber Coffeezilla released a docuseries exposing the lack of functionality in Logan Paul's CryptoZoo game, despite substantial funding.
January 2023: Apology and Refund Promise for CryptoZoo
In January 2023, Logan Paul apologized for the issues with CryptoZoo and promised a $1.3 million refund for NFT holders.
January 2023: Pearl the Pig Abandonment Criticism
In January 2023, Logan Paul faced criticism when his former pet pig, Pearl, was found abandoned and in poor health by The Gentle Barn Sanctuary.
February 2023: Class-Action Lawsuit for CryptoZoo
In February 2023, Logan Paul faced a class-action lawsuit from investors due to the issues and lack of functionality with the CryptoZoo game.
January 2024: CryptoZoo Refund Program Begins
In January 2024, Logan Paul began a refund program for CryptoZoo NFT holders, offering refunds in exchange for agreements not to sue, and filed a counter-claim against co-defendants.
June 2024: Defamation Lawsuit Against Coffeezilla
In June 2024, Logan Paul decided to sue Coffeezilla for defamation, alleging that the lawsuit was a response to Coffeezilla's request for a new investigation into Liquid Marketplace.
August 2024: BBC Interview Controversy in Puerto Rico
In August 2024, the BBC, attempting to cover Logan Paul's cryptocurrency controversies, was met with a lookalike and an abusive crowd instead of Paul himself, followed by legal threats.
