The original "Harlem Shake Poop" video featured John perched on a toilet, performing a "hard R-rated" version of the meme that culminated in him defecating on a nude friend. This video was uploaded to YouTube roughly a year before the first official episode debuted in January 2014. The 2019 Controversy
Many people mistakenly believe Stevin John was the creator of the "Harlem Shake" internet meme or that he defecated on a friend in a Harlem Shake video.
Stevin John issued a public apology stating that he made the video years before he conceived the idea of Blippi. He admitted that at the time, he was trying to make a name for himself through viral comedy, but he regretted the nature of the content once he pivoted to children's education.
As of 2026, . Stevin John’s team has pivoted hard toward polished, educational, brand-safe content — making a chaotic 2013 meme video unlikely to resurface officially.
In early 2013, the —characterized by a lone dancer suddenly joined by a wildly costumed group after a bass drop—was the internet's biggest trend. During this time, Stevin John operated under the persona Steezy Grossman , a "shock comedian" creating gross-out humor intended for adults.
The original "Harlem Shake Poop" video featured John perched on a toilet, performing a "hard R-rated" version of the meme that culminated in him defecating on a nude friend. This video was uploaded to YouTube roughly a year before the first official episode debuted in January 2014. The 2019 Controversy
Many people mistakenly believe Stevin John was the creator of the "Harlem Shake" internet meme or that he defecated on a friend in a Harlem Shake video.
Stevin John issued a public apology stating that he made the video years before he conceived the idea of Blippi. He admitted that at the time, he was trying to make a name for himself through viral comedy, but he regretted the nature of the content once he pivoted to children's education.
As of 2026, . Stevin John’s team has pivoted hard toward polished, educational, brand-safe content — making a chaotic 2013 meme video unlikely to resurface officially.
In early 2013, the —characterized by a lone dancer suddenly joined by a wildly costumed group after a bass drop—was the internet's biggest trend. During this time, Stevin John operated under the persona Steezy Grossman , a "shock comedian" creating gross-out humor intended for adults.