Steve-O Admits "Jackass" Was "Worth Vilifying" For Being A "Bad Influence"

BY Erika Marie 1326 Views
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Steve-O
He'll take the wrap for the early years, but these days, Steve-O no longer takes fault because the internet is thriving.

While they were in the thick of trying out dangerous stunts for laughs and fame, the Jackass crew fought against people who complained that they were acting irresponsibly. Jackass first premiered on MTV 22 years ago and quickly, the group of friends became fan favorites. Johnny Knoxville, Steve-O, Chris Pontius, Bam Margera, and others on their team raised hell on the series, but they turned things up a notch when the television show became a film franchise.

Soon, worldwide fans were testing out these Jackass antics and landing themselves in the hospital. Recently, Steve-O caught up with Mike Tyson for the champion boxer's Hotboxin' podcast and admitted that all of the Jackass criticism was much-deserved.


"We were genuinely worth vilifying because back then they didn't have YouTube or video on the internet and we were legitimately a bad influence," he said. "When Jackass came out, little kids were showing up in hospitals all over the country and maybe the world because they saw us doing this crazy sh*t and they wanted to do it themselves."

"At that time, you could really point to us as being a bad influence," he said. "But I think over the years, because now that there's so much YouTube, [MTVs], so much [stuff], it's not our f*cking fault anymore."

Watch Steve-O's Hotboxin with Mike Tyson appearance in full below.


About The Author
Since 2019, Erika Marie has worked as a journalist for HotNewHipHop, covering music, film, television, art, fashion, politics, and all things regarding entertainment. With 20 years in the industry under her belt, Erika Marie moved from a writer on the graveyard shift at HNHH to becoming a Features Editor, highlighting long-form content and interviews with some of Hip Hop’s biggest stars. She has had the pleasure of sitting down with artists and personalities like DJ Jazzy Jeff, Salt ’N Pepa, Nick Cannon, Rah Digga, Rakim, Rapsody, Ari Lennox, Jacquees, Roxanne Shante, Yo-Yo, Sean Paul, Raven Symoné, Queen Naija, Ryan Destiny, DreamDoll, DaniLeigh, Sean Kingston, Reginae Carter, Jason Lee, Kamaiyah, Rome Flynn, Zonnique, Fantasia, and Just Blaze—just to name a few. In addition to one-on-one chats with influential public figures, Erika Marie also covers content connected to the culture. She’s attended and covered the BET Awards as well as private listening parties, the Rolling Loud festival, and other events that emphasize established and rising talents. Detroit-born and Long Beach (CA)-raised, Erika Marie has eclectic music taste that often helps direct the interests she focuses on here at HNHH. She finds it necessary to report on cultural conversations with respect and honor those on the mic and the hardworking teams that help get them there. Moreover, as an advocate for women, Erika Marie pays particular attention to the impact of femcees. She sits down with rising rappers for HNHH—like Big Jade, Kali, Rubi Rose, Armani Caesar, Amy Luciani, and Omerettà—to gain their perspectives on a fast-paced industry.

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