Sam Pepper has provoked a strongly negative response from the YouTube community by releasing a video titled ‘Fake Hand Ass Pinch Prank’.
The video, which has since been taken down by YouTube, showed Sam pinching women’s behinds with his hand concealed by his jacket.
Prominent YouTubers encouraged viewers to report the video which in their view exhibited sexual harassment.
Hank Green, The Fine Bros, Tyler Oakley, Mamrie Hart, Charlie McDonnell, Benjamin Cook, Tom Ridgewell, Dean Dobbs and Jack Howard have all spoken out about the video.
For people asking, it's safe to assume that people who sexually assault women in "prank" videos will not be welcome at future VidCons.
— Hank Green (@hankgreen) September 21, 2014
@hankgreen Appreciate seeing this. You won't be seeing creators who partake in that behavior appear in YouTubers React either.
— FBE (@thefinebros) September 21, 2014
Saddened by @sampepper's new video. Sexually harassing women is vile to begin with, but normalizing it by calling it a prank? So harmful.
— Tyler Oakley (@tyleroakley) September 21, 2014
With a Pepper comes assault. #ReportSamPepper
— mamrie hart (@mametown) September 21, 2014
Very disheartened that Sam Pepper's video of him committing sexual harassment is still on @YouTube after such a vocal campaign to report it.
— Scary McDonnell (@coollike) September 21, 2014
Pinching strangers' asses isn't cool. Unless it's for a prank video. In which case… it still isn't cool. Unless it's… nope, still not cool.
— Benjamin Cook (@benjamin_cook) September 21, 2014
Not gonna link to it but @sampepper just released a video of him groping women in public and like… What the fuck, man? Stop. Fuck.
— TombScare (@thetomska) September 21, 2014
How many £12 guitar solos do I have to keep paying @Daniel_Dobbs for until people like Sam Pepper just fuck off?
— Scream Dobbs (@DeanDobbs) September 21, 2014
please don't watch @sampepper's new video, it's not a prank, it's just sexual harassment passed off as entertainment
— Jack Howard (@JackHoward) September 20, 2014
We want to promote a safe environment at SItC and will not welcome anyone who makes attendees feel uncomfortable (He’s banned)
— Tom Burns (@TomRPI) September 22, 2014
Louise Pentland posted the following comment, which was later removed from the video.
Not all YouTubers have been critical. KSIOlajidebt suggested Sam was only facing criticism because he was a boy.
https://twitter.com/KSIOlajidebt/status/513717604922699776
However the majority of YouTubers speaking out have been critical of the video.
I am so glad we have the talented content creator @sampepper as part of the YouTube community… really happy…
— Pumpkin Spice Chai🎃 (@MyNamesChai) September 21, 2014
Reminder: Street harassment is carried out by proto-human garbage who like to treat women like possessions and playthings! #reportsampepper
— Liam Dryden (@LiamDrydenEtc) September 21, 2014
https://twitter.com/JaackMaate/status/513479743212371968
took a moment today to #reportsampepper. sexual assault isn't funny – it's deplorable, and at the end of the day, illegal.
— Emily Diana Ruth (@emilydianaruth) September 21, 2014
There have always been jerks in the limelight like Sam Pepper but the thing I'm most disturbed by is how the majority approve of him.
— Ray Roberts (@RayRobertsFilms) September 21, 2014
Many YouTubers have also signed an open letter, led by Laci Green.
Sam’s video was removed from YouTube on Monday.
A notice on the website said: “This video has been removed as a violation of YouTube’s policy on nudity and sexual content.”
Sam has not yet responded to the criticism.
- Update: 23/09/2014 3.20pm
Sam Pepper has claimed his ‘ass pinch prank’ videos were a social experiment to raise awareness of male sexual harassment.
Follow the story:
- Sam Pepper faces ‘prank’ backlash
- Mazzi Maz says Sam has ‘gone too far’
- Sam says prank was ‘to raise awareness’
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