(AllHipHop News) Russell Simmons was entangled in a big controversy recently when the Hip Hop mogul’s All Def Digital YouTube channel posted a video titled “Harriet Tubman Sex Tape.” The backlash over the clip was immediate and even garnered a response from Tubman family members.
[ALSO READ: Epic Win Of The Day: Harriet Tubman’s Family Bodies Russell Simmons]
Simmons appeared on The Arsenio Hall Show to talk about the decision to remove the video that depicted the iconic historical figure having sex with her slave master.
“I’ve done lots of comedy in lots of bad taste,” said Simmons. “This particular piece, when I understood how hurt people were I pulled it down immediately. I’ve never pulled down a piece of content.”
Simmons adds that he has faced negative responses over material showcased on his previous productions like Def Comedy Jam and Def Poetry, but this was the first time in 30 years that he did not support the artist.
The Def Jam co-founder also complains that even after taking down the video some individuals do not want to let the issue go. He told Arsenio, “a lot of these do nothing Negros, they were very angry and kept talking” and “they tried to turn me into Paula Deen” referring to the former Food Network star that lost her show and numerous endorsements after admitting she had used the “n-word” in the past.
[ALSO READ: The N-Word: History’s Master of Illusion]
Watch Russell Simmons’ interview from The Arsenio Hall Show in the video below.