Sam Pepper is a popular “pranking” Youtuber. But when did pranking turn into sexual harassment and assault?

That seems to be the majority, if not the only, content that Pepper uploads to his channel.

His latest video involves him pinching random women on the street on their bottoms. Many of the women react with fear or shock, with one woman even saying “No, I don’t like that.”

Pranking should be a fun activity that doesn’t harm anyone. It should cause confusion not anger or fear. 

You wouldn’t stab your friend or co-worker and then yell, “You got pranked bro!” 

That’s not how this works.

Now I know there are people out there, men, women, and everything in between who will defend Pepper’s actions.

Sexual harassment and assault are acts that involve sexual activities, no matter how small, with which one or more participants are not comfortable.

When you cross the line, you are no longer a prankster. 

You are a predator.

Handcuffing women and forcing them to make out with you before you release them isn’t fun or a prank. It’s harassment.

Many of the women in these videos seem uncomfortable but try to laugh it off. 

When you put pressure and a camera on someone you are normalizing the harassment. 

Pepper tried to redeem himself by releasing a big reveal video stating that his prank was to raise awareness for male victims of sexual violence, but it is a hard story to believe. 

When you do something over and over again, it is hard to believe that every video produced is a social experiment.

Raising awareness for harassment by harassing an already afraid and oppressed portion of the population is not raising awareness.

It is making an already awful situation more terrible by perpetuating the problem.

Do not watch Pepper’s videos. 

Giving him more views only allows him to continue his abominable behavior.

But don’t ignore what is happening either.

Many prominent members of the community are cutting ties with Pepper and speaking out against him.

It can be scary using your voice, but it is what is needed. More people need to speak up against this kind of harassment. 

It can’t be allowed to go any further.

Some will say that pinching someone in a private area is harmless. It’s just a pinch. 

Whistling at a stranger on the street may be considered equally as harmless, just like shouting “compliments” to women you don’t know.

But it isn’t. 

Women everywhere are terrified to walk anywhere when it is dark outside.

Just the other day a compliment was shouted at a very close friend. After ignoring it, she was called vile names and followed the entire way to her dorm.

It is not your place to compliment strangers, but if you feel the need to, do so with tact.

If someone looks nice, tell them they look nice. Don’t tell a stranger they have legs that you wouldn’t mind seeing in a certain position.

That isn’t a compliment. It’s disgusting.

Think before you speak. And if that is too difficult, ask yourself if what you are about to say would be a compliment you would give your mother or sister.

Think about how you would feel if someone said what you were planning on saying to your girlfriend, mother or sister.

Would you be angry? Disgusted?

Imagine how she feels every day.