Amazon Video Direct is banning Robert Dante's bullwhip instructional video Bullwhip - Art of the Single Tail Whip. Amazon.com has been selling the hour and seven-minute long single tail instructional video for $19.99 for 8 years. They continue to sell the DVD released through Amazon in February of 2008, and at least 6 other similar titles, while simultaneously banning it on the re-seller giant's own digital services.
Dante applied to have the video streamed on Amazon Video Direct. It was rejected. They refused to give any reason - perhaps it was because it is about consensual BDSM, but whatever their reasons, this video scared them. Want to see the video? Well lucky for you Dante quickly found another, friendlier provider, to www.bullwhip.xxx and see what the hullabaloo is all about (or just a topless chick getting her titties bullwhipped cause...Dante's work is hawt!!!).
The interesting thing is that Amazon has been selling Dante's video for 14 years with no problems. It was vetted by the Ontario Film Board in 1995 and approved. The instructional video received only positive reviews, including in Adult Video News.
"I must assume it is being rejected not for its content, but for what it actually is: a factual, educational DVD about consensual BDSM, with no sex, no nudity, no injury, no humiliation, no degradation. This is from the same company that brings the execrable "Fifty Shades of Grey" and "The Secretary" to its audiences." Dante ruminated in his letter to us.
Dante sent TLJ the full Orwellian exchange, in chronological order, after it had been rejected at lower executive levels:
On 11/24/2016 2:15 AM, Amazon.com wrote:
Dear Bob,
I'm Sandhya Rani from Amazon.com. I'm responding to Robert Dante subject matter complaint, and copying him for his reference.
I'm very sorry for the inconvenience Mr. Dante has experienced. I understand Mr. Dante's concern regarding the removal of his video from sale on Amazon Video.
During a quality assurance review of Mr. Dante's catalog, we found that the following title does not meet our customer content quality expectations. As a result, the following title has been removed from sale on Amazon Video:
Title Name: Bullwhip: Art of the Single Tail Whip
Also, the title contains content that violates our Content Policy Guidelines and we cannot offer this title on Amazon Video. We reserve the right to decide what content is appropriate, including content within Mr. Dante's video, video title, key art, etc.
Mr. Dante's video and other content must adhere to the Content Policy Guidelines outlined in our Help page: https://videodirect.amazon.com/home/help?topicId=201986500
We’re unable to elaborate further on specific details regarding removal decisions.
Please contact me directly by replying to this email if I can be of further assistance.
Best regards,
Sandhya Rani A.
Thank you.
*Amazon.com*
(From Dante)
Dear Mr. Rani,
I hope I am not being discriminated against because of the video's depicted sexual orientations (consensual BDSM). I would like to think someone at Amazon actually watched the video, because they would have seen that there is nothing illegal in that video. A girl goes topless - wow.
It is interesting to know that Amazon's guidelines are stricter than those for the Ontario Film Board, which approved my video for sale in Canada in 1995, after I cleared it through a team lawyers.
I'd like to know how this video compares to such films as "The Secretary" and "Fifty Shades of Grey." I am publicly pointing out the arbitrary interpretation of Amazon's vague guidelines, made worse by your not even having the ability to tell me what you find objectionable in this video.
Meanwhile, the video sells well on Amazon.com. This is schizophrenic, at best, parochial at worst.
Respectfully yours,
-Robert Dante-
On 11/26/2016 7:04 PM, Amazon.com wrote:
Hello Mr. Dante,
As informed earlier, we’ve confirmed that your title contains content that violates our Content Policy Guidelines and we cannot offer this title on Amazon Video.
We reserve the right to decide what content is appropriate, including content within your video, video title, key art, etc. Your video and other content must adhere to the Content Policy Guidelines outlined in our Help page:
https://videodirect.amazon.com/home/help?topicId=201986500
We’re unable to elaborate further on specific details regarding removal decisions.
I realize you're upset, and I regret we've been unable to address your concerns to your satisfaction. However, we'll not be able to offer any additional insight or action on these matters, and any further inquiries on this matter won't receive a response.
We appreciate your understanding.
Best regards,
Sandhya Rani A.
Thank you.
Amazon.com
(From Dante)
Thanks, Sandhya --
This was the answer I expected, but I wanted to have it in writing so I can post it on my website, Facebook, Twitter, and various other relevant websites.
Have a nice day.
- Robert Dante -
And there it is. Amazon is banning a video that has been approved by the strictest censor board in North America, even while it is selling that same video its customers.
The video is up and running at Bullwhip.Xxx, where it presumably continues to shake up the sexual status quo, 21 years after its release.
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This story was edited to correct two facts: The video was released in fact released 1995 (not 2008 as the original story stated); it has been sold on Amazon since 2008, which means Amazon has been selling it for only 8 years, not 14 as originally posted.
Vonn Tramel has been a kinky "friday night femme" since she was 17. She found the Leather community in 2007 and began her Leather Journey in 2008 after attending a Cigar Play Class in Long Beach, CA at Pistons Bar. A meeting with Dave Rhodes in May of 2008, changed her path for better or worse when she filmed and photographed the 2008 West Coast Olympus Contest, then International Olympus in Chicago that year....the rest they say is her-story.
Edit: In 2012 she was approached by Dave to join The Leather Journal as it's Webmaster with business partner Bryan Teague.
Most misspelled word: Leahter (Sad but true)
The Leather Journal was founded in May, 1987. The Leather community was hungry for news magazine that covered clubs, organizations and events. TLJ has successfully met that need for 34 years. We have adapted to change more than once and when the Internet came about we were there by adding www.TheLeatherJournal.com
