Blippi Harlem Shake Controversy: The Old Video and What Happened

Blippi Harlem Shake Controversy: The Old Video and What Happened

Blippi's Harlem Shake controversy concerns a video made by Stevin John before he created the preschool character Blippi. The footage came from an earlier adult-comedy persona, not from an episode of the children's program. Reporting in 2019 brought it to a much larger audience and raised questions about a creator's past work, internet archives, and the distinction between a performer and the family brand he later built.

This is a factual overview for adults. The old footage involved material inappropriate for children. There is no reason to watch or share it to understand what happened.

What was the Blippi Harlem Shake video?

Before he became known for explaining excavators, colors, and everyday places to preschoolers, John made deliberately provocative internet comedy under the name Steezy Grossman. In 2013, during the broader Harlem Shake video craze, he participated in a short adult-oriented stunt that used the viral format. The stunt crossed the line from absurd comedy into material many viewers considered offensive and inappropriate.

The important context is when and for whom it was made. It predates Blippi, and it was neither produced for a preschool audience nor distributed as Blippi educational content. That distinction does not erase criticism of the earlier decision; it does prevent readers from mistakenly attributing the footage to the children's series.

A brief, verifiable timeline

2013: John makes a Harlem Shake-style video as part of his earlier adult-comedy work.

2014: He creates Blippi, a children's character built around energetic learning through play and exploration.

February 2019: News reporting revisits the earlier video and how efforts were made to limit its circulation online.

After 2019: The story continues to resurface in searches and social posts, often stripped of dates and context.

A viral post may describe the incident as though it were new. The documented events are not new, and the chronology matters when evaluating what a headline implies.

Why did the controversy become news?

Parents often develop trust in familiar children's characters. Discovering that the adult creator previously made unsuitable content can feel jarring, particularly if a headline does not explain that the work was separate from the preschool show. The disagreement is not only about taste. It also raises questions about whether a creator's old online material should affect families' views of a much later project.

A second story involved the internet itself. Vice reported in February 2019 on copyright-related takedown efforts surrounding copies of the clip. That discussion concerned the control, preservation, and redistribution of older material. A copyright notice does not, by itself, tell readers whether criticism is fair or whether any particular copy is lawful to distribute.

What does this mean for parents watching Blippi?

The current Blippi program is designed for preschool viewers, and the official brand describes it as a show about curiosity, play, and learning. A parent's practical decision can focus on the specific episodes their child actually sees: watch an episode together, notice the pace and subject matter, and decide whether it suits the child.

Families do not need to expose children to adult historical material in order to make that decision. Adults who want background information can rely on reporting and the official show FAQ, rather than searching for copies of explicit footage or forwarding clips in family group chats.

It is also useful to remember that Blippi is now a character portrayed by more than one performer. An old story involving its original creator should not be misrepresented as something all present-day actors or productions did.

How to check claims without amplifying the video

Start with the dates: the video dates to the pre-Blippi period, while major reporting emerged in 2019. Look for reporting that identifies its subject clearly and distinguishes the original incident from subsequent commentary. Be wary of sites claiming a “new Blippi scandal” without demonstrating any new event. Do not treat a video thumbnail or screenshot as evidence of what is currently appearing in a children's show.

For the separate question of who plays Blippi today, the brand's own FAQ is a more relevant source than commentary about a 2013 stunt.

Frequently asked questions

Was the controversial Harlem Shake clip part of the Blippi show? No. It was made earlier, under a different adult-comedy persona, before the Blippi character launched in 2014.

Why did people hear about it in 2019? News outlets revisited the old footage and reported on attempts to limit its online circulation. The original video was not made in 2019.

Should parents show the old video to children to explain the story? No. The historical clip contains adult material. Adults can understand the controversy through non-graphic reporting without sharing the footage.