Meta Removes Russell Brand Instagram After Conviction, Variety Reports
Variety reports Meta disabled Russell Brand’s Instagram after his London sentencing for rape and assault.
TL;DR
- Variety reports Meta disabled Russell Brand’s Instagram account after his conviction.
- According to Variety, Brand was sentenced to 10 years and six months in prison for rape and sexual assault.
- Variety reports his X account remains active while a Meta spokesperson confirmed the removal for policy violations.
Variety reports that Russell Brand posted on X this week saying Meta had disabled his Instagram account. Screenshots he shared showed messages about the account violating community standards and being suspended.
According to Variety, Brand was sentenced Monday to 10 years and six months in prison after a London court convicted him of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault. The outlet notes he had faced multiple accusations of sexual misconduct before charges were filed in 2025.
Variety adds that Brand’s X account, which has 10 million followers, remains active. In his post he wrote that Meta was pretending “there never was a Russell Brand” and thanked Elon Musk.
The same report says a Meta spokesperson confirmed to TMZ that the account was removed for violating policies. Variety also mentions that Brand’s YouTube channel had its monetization suspended in 2023 after shifting toward right-wing and conspiracy content during the pandemic.
London’s Metropolitan Police told Variety they are still investigating further rape allegations from two other women.
The Tea
Platforms love to talk about rules until a high-profile case forces their hand. Variety’s reporting shows Meta acting fast on Instagram while X keeps the account live, highlighting how different moderation standards play out in real time. It’s a reminder that accountability often arrives only after the headlines get too loud to ignore.
Sources
Newsletter
Sunday Chai
The week's tech charcha in one email, every Sunday. Free.
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.