, the creator and original star of the massive children's YouTube brand, . Before pivoting to toddler education in 2014, John operated under the stage name Steezy Grossman , a persona dedicated to "gross-out" and shock comedy. Origin and Content
Here is the story of how "Poop" Steezy Grossman accidentally created a global phenomenon, and why his bizarre artifact belongs in a digital museum.
"Yes, I did make a gross-out comedy video when I was in my early twenties... at the time, I thought this sort of thing was funny, but really it was stupid and tasteless, and I regret having ever done it." Internet Archive and Takedowns harlem shake poop steezy grossman internet archive
"Harlem Shake Poop" videos were a specific sub-genre. Instead of filming real people dancing, YTP creators took classic cartoon footage (such as SpongeBob SquarePants , King of the Hill , or CD-i Mario games) and edited the characters to match the frantic jump-cut structure of the Baauer track.
In internet parlance, "Poop" refers to YouTube Poop (YTP). This is a genre of video mashups created by heavily editing existing media sources for annoying, confusing, or hallucinogenic effects. When the Harlem Shake met the YTP community, the results were intentionally "gross" and visually abrasive. These videos stripped away the commercial polish of the trend, replacing it with distorted audio, repetitive loops, and jarring imagery. Who is Steezy Grossman? , the creator and original star of the
On March 15, 2013, a user uploaded a video titled "Harlem Shake Poop Steezy Grossman" to the Internet Archive. The video, which quickly gained notoriety, featured a montage of clips showcasing the Harlem Shake dance, interspersed with footage of Poop Steezy Grossman engaging in various bizarre activities.
, where it is archived under its original title and creator name, though the actual footage is frequently flagged or "frozen" from public review. or the current status of its "Yes, I did make a gross-out comedy video
John utilized DMCA notices to remove the video from major social media platforms and search engine results. The Archive's Role:
Before building a multi-million dollar children’s media empire, Stevin John was an aspiring internet comedian looking for a breakthrough in the early 2013 Wild West era of YouTube. During this time, electronic musician Baauer’s track “Harlem Shake” sparked a massive global meme trend. The format of the meme was simple:
Before Stevin John became a household name for toddlers, he created content under the alias . During the height of the viral "Harlem Shake" dance craze, John uploaded a highly controversial video that he has spent years attempting to scrub from the internet using DMCA takedown notices. However, the clip remains preserved for cultural research via digital preservation platforms like the Internet Archive . The Origin: Steezy Grossman and 2013 Shock Humor
In response to the re-emergence, Stevin John took steps to hide the content. According to reports, his team used to remove the video from various websites and social media platforms. This legal strategy aimed to protect the "Blippi" brand by reducing the availability of the "Harlem Shake Poop" video. 4. The Role of the Internet Archive