Russell Simmons Pulls ‘Harriet Tubman Sex Tape’ From His YouTube Channel

Russell Simmons has removed the controversial ‘Harriet Tubman Sex Tape’ clip from his All Def Digital YouTube channel after numerous complaints that was insensitive to the memory and legacy of the late freedom fighter. The clip shows Tubman having sex with slave owners while another slave secretly films it. Tubman then threatens to reveal the tape’s contents unless slaves are freed. At first, Simmons tweeted the clip was ‘the funniest thing I’ve ever seen’. But after an outpouring of anger and charges that Simmons was insensitive not only to Tubman, but also to the Black women who were sexually abused during slavery, Simmons issued the following 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 and it’s hard to offend me. 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 Harriet Tubman outwitting the slave master, I thought it was politically correct. Silly me. 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.’