Ugh, I can’t even believe this is a thing, but whatever. Russell Simmons‘ All Def Digital site posted this “comedy” video featuring DeStorm Power, Shanna Malcolm and Jason Horton. Called ADD History: Harriet Tubman Sex Tape, the video was described as an “off-record account of how Harriet Tubman blackmailed her master into letting her run the Underground Railroad”.
It was incredibly tasteless, considering it made light of what was definitely not consensual sex between Harriet Tubman and her “master”, and was just all around disgusting. So much so that along with a good chunk of the Internet, even the NAACP requested the video be taken down, and Russell stepped in.
Here’s his statement:
“In the whole history of Def Comedy Jam, I’ve never taken down a controversial comedian. When my buddies from the NAACP called and asked me to take down the Harriet Tubman video from the All Def Digital YouTube channel and apologize, I agreed.”
“I’m a very liberal person with thick skin. My first impression of the Harriet Tubman piece was that it was about what one of actors said in the video, that 162 years later, there’s still tremendous injustice. And with Harriet Tubman outwitting the slave master? I thought it was politically correct. Silly me. I can now understand why so many people are upset.
“I have taken down the video. Lastly, I would never condone violence against women in any form, and for all of those I offended, I am sincerely sorry.”
My eyes are rolling so far back in my head, I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to see straight ahead of me again. Basically he’s full of shit and I don’t believe his apology for a split second, especially not when “LOL” is an appropriate part of a tweet he posted soon after:
I I guess I have a sensitivity chip missing. Lol. Haven't been in trouble since defjam. Sorry if people r hurt :-(
— Russell Simmons (@UncleRUSH) August 15, 2013
I know this is a celebrity gossip site and not Jezebel, so I will refrain from getting on a political high horse, but it’s awful that black women are able to be portrayed this way in the name of “comedy”, when if it was a black man, all hell would break loose within the community. Such bullshit.
Dear white privileged feminist,
Black men are CONSTANTLY portrayed negatively in movies, TV shows, and the media in general.
I’m curious, what do you mean by “portrayed in such a way”? How exactly was she portrayed negatively? And what does it have to do with black women?
This was supposed to be funny. It wasn’t, but I see what Simmons was attempting. He wasn’t trying to be historically accurate. This has nothing to do with how black women are portrayed and it also has nothing to do with feminism.
Did I enjoy the clip? Not really. I thought it was poorly written and boring. But I certainly did not find it offensive in any way, shape or form.
All of this false-outrage is really beginning to show how redundant feminism has become in modern-day first world countries.
I didn’t mean for that comment to be a reply to the first poster. My apologies.
WHERES THE OUTRAGE? WHY ARENT PPL OUT IN THE STREETS? HYPOCRITES AND IMBECILES…. IF A WHITE PERSON HAD DONE THAT, EVERYONE ELSE WOULD HAVE CRUCIFIED HIM…. BUT IF A BLACK DID IT, ITS FORGIVABLE AND EXCUSABLE….