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You all might have heard of the continuous disaster that is the Sam Pepper situation. If you haven’t let me give you a quick summary.
A Youtube frontrunner Sam Pepper, worshipped by girls everywhere, made a ‘prank’ video, pinching random women’s butts on the Los Angeles streets to see what would the reaction be. Of course, it didn’t go so well, women yelling or simply shying away. Being harassed isn’t new for women, what struck me personally was that most women in the video went along with it, because they knew that giving a negative reaction would maybe spur a reaction out of Sam, that could be potentially dangerous for the woman. Backlash for the video was clear, many people disliked the video, including many Youtubers including John and Hank Green, Tyler Oakley, Laci Green, and many more. Sam’s video became blocked, but he then uploaded another video of women pinching mens’ butts. Again the backlash was very large, and the video was also blocked. Then, Sam uploaded part 3 of the saga with a video ‘explaining’ what he meant by taking part in those videos. He responded from the allegations with that both videos were staged, and that he had consent from the women and the men in both videos. He said he wanted to shed light on male sexual abuse. He defended his actions saying that many people only care about female sexual abuse. Since the three videos have surfaced, Sam Pepper’s network has dropped him, he has been banned from Playlist Live and Vidcon, and is losing popularity drastically. But, even as that is happening, some of his loyal fans are by his side, taking his apology to heart and forgiving him.
Others however, are not, since the videos have been posted, young women, most former fans, have come out to say that they have been violated and harassed by Sam Pepper. Some anonymous and others not, they all share the same similarity, they were sexually harassed.
Now my opinion: as a feminist, I am appalled of the allegations constantly being thrown at Sam. As a woman, I believe in the stories these young women have told that Sam Pepper has sexually harassed them in one shape or form. No apology will be enough for me to believe that the two videos were a social experiment. Based on the other videos in his archive, including, handcuffing himself to girls so they are forced to be his girlfriend, forcing girls to kiss him, and physically restraining women with lassos so they are ‘his’, Sam Pepper is not an example of ‘boys will be boys’ but an example of the ignorance that many ( not all !! ) young men everywhere have toward women’s treatment and dignity.
-Annie W
Art by Annie D
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