Does Russell Simmons Have Regrets About Harriet Tubman Scandal?

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Published

August 20, 2013

Russell Simmons does something he’s never done in the thirty years he’s been in the business: Take a piece of content back.

His Harriet Tubman parody video, which debuted in his recently launched All Def Digital. He uploaded to his YouTube channel not long ago, made quite an impression in the general audience, particularly in african-american women, and not in the good way.

The video depicted Ms. Tubman’s efforts to free hundreds of black men and women from a white slave master, but the only way possible for her to accomplish this is to sleep with the White plantation owners and the slave master.

Simmons thought this wouldn’t cause much harm or disgust, as he saw a “vision of traditional comedy — the oppressed taking advantage of the oppressor” in it.

Nevertheless, the video got terrible feedback from African-American women, who saw a mockery of raping and discrimination in it.

He immediately proceed to take the three and a half minute clip down and issued an apology followed by a tweet saying sorry to his followers, which was seen as a “pathetic” move by some, including the portal NewsOne.

Simmons says this broke his heart, which in turn caused him to pull the video off YouTube.

“I just saw her seduce, take advantage of and turn the tables on the slave master. That’s what I saw. It’s really f—-ing bad, and I’m really sorry I did it.” he admits to BRKDWN.

Watch the full interview below with Cynthia LuCiette:

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TnwDKcpc1RE&w=420&h=315]