Vivian Englund – Copy Editor
If you are at all familiar with the YouTube community, you have probably heard the name, “Sam Pepper” at some point. If you know whom I’m talking about, you also probably know why he is in hot water right now.
If you don’t know, here is the rundown: Pepper is a famous YouTuber with around two million subscribers, according to his channel. Pepper’s videos feature him pulling “pranks” on unsuspecting victims, the majority of them being women.
However, in many of Sam’s “pranks,” he assaults and harasses random women that he finds in the streets.
One of the more unsettling videos on Pepper’s channel, features him roaming around Venice Beach, Cali. forcing women to kiss him despite how much they resist. In which event he hardly asks consent, leaving the women embarrassed and confused.
Sickening, right?
One of the more recent videos called, ‘Fake Hand A** Pinch,’ featured Pepper roaming the streets and pinching women’s behinds without their consent. All of the women in this video are clearly uncomfortable and startled by the incident.
As one would predict, there was a flood of scolding comments on the video almost immediately after it was posted.
Thankfully, YouTube deleted this scummy video for violating their terms of service.
Following the backlash of negative attention on Pepper’s channel, three young women came forth with serious allegations of Pepper sexually assaulting them. All three women have chosen to stay under anonymous moniker for obvious reasons.
There has not been any comment from Pepper about the accusations.
However, in response to the hate comments and reactions, Pepper made a three-part video saying that all of these pranks were a “social experiment”—all to raise awareness for male sexual assault.
If this isn’t the most petty, absurd excuse you have ever heard, you’re probably wrong. Male sexual assault is a huge issue and sexually violating young women and girls is in no way, whatsoever, an effective way to shed light on this issue.
To add fuel to the fire—Pepper put the series of videos on private settings so the public cannot view them.
Though frustrated, I can’t say I’m surprised by this action.
Since the videos have been posted, the YouTube community has up-roared with statements from various people saying that what Pepper was doing was wrong, misogynistic and immoral.
Successful YouTuber, Laci Green, runs a program called, “Sex+,” which is a series of videos about sexuality. Green is also a self-proclaimed sex education activist.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9qVaMhnJB8]
Earlier last week, Green addressed an open letter to Pepper through the blogging website, Tumblr.
In the letter, Green accurately and respectfully called-out Pepper’s vile acts towards women and girls. Green then said how deeply disturbed the YouTube community is by his actions, and asked him to put an end to the sexist videos.
“Please show some respect for women’s right to their own bodies,” said Green. “While it may seem like harmless fun, a simple prank, or a ‘social experiment’, these videos encourage millions of young men and women to see this violation as a normal way to interact with women.”
At the end of Green’s letter she asked readers to co sign to spread the message. So far, the letter has over 104,000 signatures.
Green extended the letter to the YouTube community, having big-time YouTubers sign. Some of the stars that signed were: John Green, Hank Green, Tyler Oakley, Grace Helbig, Hannah Hart and Rachel Whitehurst among many others.
