YouTube suspends star over suicide video, doesn't shut door

Logan Paul apologised for posting video of him in a forest near Mount Fuji in Japan near what seemed to be a body hanging from a tree. Picture / AP

YouTube has suspended a star who posted video images of what appeared to be a suicide victim but said that doesn't mean it won't work with him in the future.

The video service announced this week that it had pulled Logan Paul's channel from its ad-supported Google Preferred platform and put two other projects on hold.

YouTube chief business officer Robert Kyncl said there's no timetable for when Paul's future will be addressed again. Kyncl didn't shut YouTube's door on Paul.

"Everything is evolving so fast," Kyncl said. "The best thing we can do is put all projects on hold indefinitely, and there's no date or plan for him in the future."

Paul apologised for posting video of him in a forest near Mount Fuji in Japan near what seemed to be a body hanging from a tree. The location is known in Japan as a frequent site for suicides.

YouTube said the images violated its policies. Paul pulled the images from his channel on his own.

YouTube was criticised for moving slowly in response, taking nearly two weeks to take action. YouTube said on Twitter this week that critics were right to be frustrated by its initial lack of response.

Kyncl said Paul recognises that he has made serious missteps and has expressed remorse for them.

"The most important thing to focus on is that actions speak louder than words and Logan has the opportunity to prove that," he said.

Removing Paul's work from the Google Preferred platform cuts off a significant route to advertising revenue through YouTube.

YouTube also said it would not feature Paul in the fourth season of its series Foursome and would put other work on hold. Paul is one of the platform's biggest stars, with Forbes magazine estimating he earned US$12.5 million ($17.2m) last year.

YouTube said it would soon announce steps to protect advertisers from having their products connected to controversial material.

- AP