Russell Simmons was in whole lot of ‘HOT WATER‘ earlier this week after he foolishly unveiled a parody sex tape of Harriet Tubman in part of his newly launched All Def Digital Youtube channel to the public. Well, the public was not on Uncle-Russ side nor did many find the video “funny” as Simmons mentioned before the launch. The entertainment mogul came under ‘heavy fire’ from both his peers and his many supporters [@SandraBooker] one of whom mentioned:
“Hey Russell Simmons This is the legacy Of Harriet Tubman. This is POWER of a Black Woman. She Spoke TRUTH….”
“In the whole history of Def Comedy Jam I 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 am very liberal person with thick skin. My first impression of the Harriet Tubman piece was that it was about what one of the actors said in the video, that 162 years later, there is still tremendous injustice. An 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 those I offended, I am sincerely sorry.”
Sidebar: Silly you alright! Russell Simmons – you of all people should know what lines NOT to cross [especially when were talking about “black ancestral history” – and those of whom [Coretta Scott King, Sojourner Truth, Rosa Parks, Angela Davis, Maya Angelou, – etc] that played an integral role in the fight against the prohibition rights of African Americans. You better had APOLOGIZE!
Now, Russell Simmons has recently talked with members of Harriet Tubman’s family and has now agreed to conduct a biopic film on Tubman. Simmons did not give much detail but did note that he has been enlightened by Tubman’s family and will now turn a ‘negative’ situation to a ‘positive one’ instead. I guess ‘sucking up’ has its “SACRIFICES” too.
Here’s the tweet:
Sigh….. as the saying goes: ‘One Can Forgive But One Must Never Forget‘. Stay Tuned PLUM’s!