Logan Paul Criticised For Insensitive Coronavirus Instagram Post

YouTuber-cum-boxer Logan Paul has been criticised over an insensitive coronavirus post he shared on Instagram.

The 24-year-old shared a picture of himself topless with four women, with all but one of them wearing gas masks.

He captioned the photo: "F**k the corona virus."

The exact intention behind the post is unclear, but it seemed many people considered it inappropriate, given the extent of the harm caused by the virus and its spread.

One person said: "People are dying from the coronavirus. Nothing to joke about. Guess he never learns."

Another said: "Man this isn't funny at all. It's spreading all over the world."

A third added: "There are people in China dying and you making a joke out of it?"

In China, 132 people have been killed by the virus, according to the Chinese National Health Commission (NHC). In total, there have been 5,974 confirmed cases and 9,239 suspected cases in the country as of the end of Tuesday 28 January.

The virus has also spread to at least 16 other countries, including Germany and France.

PA

At the start of 2018, Paul was heavily criticised after he posted a video of a suicide victim in Aokigahara forest in Japan - where more than 245 people attempted to take their own lives in 2010 alone.

He subsequently issued an apology in which he said: "I didn't do it for the views... I did it because I thought I could make a positive ripple on the internet, not cause a monsoon of negativity.

"I intended to raise awareness for suicide and suicide prevention and while I thought, 'If this video saves one life, it'll be worth it,' I was misguided by shock and awe.

"I'm often reminded of how big of a reach I truly have and with great power comes great responsibility... for the first time in my life I'm regretful to say I handled that power incorrectly. It won't happen again."

Last February, Paul shared a vlog in which he claimed a skull fracture he sustained as a teenager had affected his ability to empathise.

In the vlog, a doctor showed him a scan of his brain and said: "You see these holes? It's not missing but it's hurt and this is really important because right here is the most human thoughtful part of us. It makes you human.

"It's called the pre-frontal cortex - and you hurt it, which means you're going to have trouble with focus and forethought, and follow-through and organisation, planning, empathy - so for relationships and learning from the mistakes you make."

Topics: Instagram, Logan Paul, Celebrity, Coronavirus, US News, Health

Jake Massey

Jake Massey is a journalist at LADbible. He graduated from Newcastle University, where he learnt a bit about media and a lot about living without heating. After spending a few years in Australia and New Zealand, Jake secured a role at an obscure radio station in Norwich, inadvertently becoming a real-life Alan Partridge in the process. From there, Jake became a reporter at the Eastern Daily Press. Jake enjoys playing football, listening to music and writing about himself in the third person.

@jakesmassey