YouTube has taken another step toward reinstalling online internet star Logan Paul since he posted video of a suicide victim, for which he was widely criticized. After being on hold for 10 months, “The Thinning: New World Order,” which stars Paul, is now streaming on YouTube’s subscription-based video on-demand service (SVOD).
YouTube delayed the release of the film back in January when Paul came under fire for filming and then posting to YouTube a video of a suicide victim. The YouTube sensation filmed video of a deceased body while walking through Aokigahara forest in Japan, a location that has come to be known as the “Suicide Forest” due to the high number of people who go to the forest to take their own lives.
After widespread backlash, YouTube removed Paul’s channels from Google Preferred, put his new Originals on hold, and opted not to feature him in season four of “Foursome.”
However, Paul is now in “good standing,” in line with YouTube policies, a person familiar with the situation told TheWrap, citing Paul’s good behavior. As a result, the Google-owned company has decided to stream the film on its $11.99 per month streaming service, YouTube Premium.
YouTube emphasized that because Paul wasn’t the only one who committed time and energy to the project, it wouldn’t be fair to have never distributed it. “The entire cast and crew worked extremely hard to complete this film last year,” YouTube said in a statement. “In fairness to all of them and the fans who have been asking for the sequel, we decided to release ‘The Thinning: New World Order.’”
‘The Thinning: New World Order” is the sequel to the 2016 dystopian-thriller “The Thinning,” which also starred Paul. Written and directed by Michael Gallagher, the film was made in partnership with Legendary Digital Networks, YouTube, and eOne Entertainment. Gallagher, alongside his Cinemand partners Jana Winternitz and Michael Wormser, produced the film with EOne’s Greg Siegel.