By: Amanda Anderson-Niles
Russell Simmons might be a very successful business man and respected in the world of Hip Hop, but he quickly became the target of criticism after he produced and posted a disrespectful video about Harriet Tubman to his YouTube channel. As we recently reported, Russell thought it would be funny to post a parody of an on-screen Harriet Tubman filming a sex tape with her master. In the video, Harriet Tubman comes to the conclusion that the money she could make from the sex tape could free all the slaves. It didn’t take long for the video to go viral and for people to let Russell know they were outraged, and women activists groups went after Simmons as well because the dialogue in the video pretty much made a joke out of violence towards women.
Russell eventually apologized for the video and removed it from his YouTube channel, but his apology hasn’t been accepted by many and a political activist has even called for the boycott of Simmons and all the businesses/projects he is involved with.
While many may still be fuming, Simmons took to his Twitter account to let people know the family members of Harriet Tubman are no longer upset about the video and he now plans to make a documentary about Tubman’s contributions to black history. He tweets:
God works in mysterious ways.. not common knowledge but my children are direct descendants of fredrick douglas…
I recently moved to hollywood I have began producing lots of content one of the things is a miniseries on Fredrick Douglas
The last few dayz I have been speaking to some of the direct descendants of Harriet Tubman. (Rita and Geraldine Daniels).
They have not only accepted my apology but we agree that we should begin immediately to develop the story of Harriet Tubman.
God works in mysterious ways. Thank you Rita and Geraldine Daniels You and your great great grandmother are amazing inspiration. #newfriends
And this is supposed to undo that trashy video he made? Russell please. Your true colors came out.
Oh please.
Too late. His hatred for black women has already been proven.
He’s a fool. He should have known making that video was crossing the line. But he thought it was so hilarious. Uncle Tom!
Smh. Russell Simmons will make a buck no matter how detrimental it is to his own race. He’s proven that on numerous occasions, and honestly, doing a documentary doesn’t change how I see him.
Russell sit you old, uncle tomming a-s down.
Damage control.
*side eye*
The fact that he even made it int he first place says a lot.
*in the first place
Oh whatever!
I really don’t like this dude. He’s such a snake and he obviously hates black women.
Sell out! And I don’t want him to touch a documentary. I’d rather someone with actual talent make that documentary.