The YouTuber — and brother of the slightly more infamous Logan — has had a lot on his plate. From his promotion of fickle "mystery boxes" to his mystifying pseudo-marriage to Tana Mongeau and an unfortunate instance of leaked n-word usage, it's expected that Paul would experience some degree of anxiety. His coping mechanisms, you ask? Chilling his mind out, of course.
In a now-deleted tweet, Paul once generously gave us peasants a free therapy session: "Remember anxiety is created by you," the unlicensed professional wrote. "Sometimes you gotta let life play out and remind yourself to be happy & that the answers will come. Chill your mind out. Go for a walk. Talk to a friend." Thank you, Jake, for curing my anxiety disorder.
As is the case with much of his behavior, Paul received a lot of well-deserved backlash for the tweet. This is a classic example of mistaking anxiety for just a nervous, antsy mood, ignorant to the severity of panic and anxiety disorders.
Paul isn't alone in spreading these falsehoods, but it's especially dangerous considering his young, impressionable fanbase. Paul has never admitted to being diagnosed with anxiety disorders; regardless, he absolutely isn't qualified to be giving advice on how to deal with anxiety. It perpetuates the harmful narrative that people with diagnosed anxiety disorders are overreacting.
So in response, Paul clarified. "Everyone clowning my tweet but it's now spreading more awareness about anxiety which I didn't even know was a thing till I was 18 but had it my whole life & never knew how to deal with it," he added, linking to an article with tips to cope (that thankfully does mention diagnosed disorders).
Surely Paul meant no harm, but his ignorance is aggravating and damaging. In the one-in-a-million chance that Paul himself reads this: I hope you learn the key differences between fleeting anxious moods and diagnosed mental illnesses. Or, just pay for my therapy and SSRIs, you coward.
- Logan Paul Scheduled to Fight Floyd Mayweather after Jake Paul vs Ben Askren - Popdust ›
- Who lost the Floyd Mayweather and Logan Paul fight? Us. - Popdust ›
- Jake Paul Cures Anxiety For Millions of People and Goes Viral ›
- Jake Paul defends anxiety comments as he's dragged online | Metro ... ›
- Jake Paul criticised after anxiety advice tweet - BBC News ›
- Jake Paul: YouTuber claims 'anxiety is created by you' in ... ›
- Jake Paul Tells Anxious People To “Chill Your Mind Out ... ›
- Jake Paul Thinks The Cure To Anxiety Is "Remind Yourself To Be ... ›
- Jake Paul defends tweet saying anxiety is 'created by you' ›
- Jake Paul is being called out for saying anxiety 'is created by you' ›
Artist, Author, and Comedian Anna Akana Is Now a Bonafide Musician
The internet star talks debut album, new single, and her transition into the music scene.
Anna Akana is no stranger to fame.
Her comedy vlogs have made her an internet sensation with 2.6 million subscribers to her channel and many of her videos raking in millions of views. She crafts relatable, personable comedy, and now she hopes her music will have the same accessibility. As Akana gears up to release her debut album, Casualty, the 30-year-old creative sat down with Popdust to talk more about her transition to music and her new single "Let Me Go."
From comedy to music. how has that transition been for you, both personally and professionally? Any lessons you've had to learn along the way?
It's been an incredibly fun transition. I've been doing comedy music for over a decade, so most of my focus has been lyrical (no one cares if you're off pitch when you're delivering a punch line). So the confidence and presence that stand up has given me, plus having been an actor for so long, I feel very comfortable on stage in the emotion of a song. I've definitely had to learn about the business side of music more—the inner workings of what this industry's structure is and how it differentiates from the fields I've been in for so long. But I've found the whole journey to be incredibly creative and fun.
Anna Akana - Let Me Go (Official Music Video)www.youtube.com
What can we expect from your debut record? What was the creative process like?
There are 13 tracks and accompanying music videos that hone in on the message of overcoming. This album was experimental and cathartic and touches on various aspects of myself in new ways. It's dark indie pop with a very intimate feel. The creative process was suspiciously easy, but I feel like when an artist approaches a new platform you have so much energy ready to go.
What made you decide to combine spoken word and singing? What appeals to you about spoken word?
I'm an avid fan and writer of poetry. I haven't shared a ton of it online, just two animated versions ("toothbrush" and "palindrome"). But I feel like spoken word is just the right delivery for some songs, and it decides where it belongs. Most of the ones that turn out that way are written in a stream of consciousness flurry that come tumbling out, and I feel they're the most raw that way. Spoken word is an amazing avenue for story, for emotion, and to communicate powerful pain.
Anna Akana - Not My Proudest Moment (Official Music Video)www.youtube.com
What do you want fans to take away from your music?
I hope that fans feel less alone in some aspect of their struggles.
Any tour plans? Do you ever plan to return to comedy?
I'm currently headlining Mercury Lounge on Dec 6 in NYC. Would love to do a national tour but the plan is to hit spot dates for now to hone in the show. No plans to return to comedy but ask me in ten years!