If you invest time in YouTube or were into Vine, it is likely that you have heard of Jake Paul. Hate him or dislike him, he is everywhere, and the first to reach ten million subscribers on YouTube. He has over 17 million subscribers, and he even reached this feat before Shane Dawson did, and he's been on YouTube much longer.
To be totally honest, before the new Shane Dawson video, I heard of the Paul brothers, Jake and Logan, very scarcely. I made it a point to avoid their content once I knew how much of a cringe-fest it was.
Quite frankly, I barely registered the fact that they were two different people.
I admit I was confused when I saw how different Jake Paul's hair was when the suicide forest scandal initially occurred. Until the series began, I was unaware that it was Logan.
Of course, the Shane Dawson series made me increasingly intrigued about his life. He is a highly controversial figure and Shane received a ton of backlash for covering him at all. People threatened to unsubscribe to Shane because he was giving someone who did not deserve an opportunity a platform on which to force us to sympathize with him.
Shane does have a tendency to easily forgive people and paint them in a positive light. On the other hand, this could be seen as a way to gain a new perspective on the lives of two kids that rose to fame quickly and a way that has not been seen on YouTube.
I have tried to keep an open mind, despite the disdain I feel towards Jake and Logan and the problematic things they have done. The series delves into what they put out on YouTube and investigates why they are willing to take such risks and cause such controversies. Shane also investigates the speculation surrounding Jake Paul that he might be a sociopath by consulting an actual therapist.
Only three episodes have been released so far and there is definitely more to the story than we believe there to be. Do I believe he is a sociopath? I can't say I do. I do believe there are deep-rooted reasons for his behavior, but I don't think he is a sociopath.
Jake Paul was 17-years-old when he began experiencing fame and the power that came with it. I think the pressure from his family is what has severely affected his character and made him into the person that is shown on YouTube. The question to be answered now is if the guy we see in videos is the guy he truly is. I can't wait to see what else Shane uncovers in the rest of the docuseries!