Meta disables Russell Brand's Facebook and Instagram accounts following conviction
Meta has removed the comedian's Facebook and Instagram profiles in line with its policy on known sex offenders, prompting criticism from his representatives.
Meta disabled Russell Brand's Facebook and Instagram accounts on November 11, citing its community-standards policy that bars known sex offenders from the platforms. The action follows Brand's recent conviction for rape and sexual assault, for which he is serving a ten-and-a-half-year sentence at HMP Wandsworth.
A post on Brand's X account, which remains active, claimed the removal was unfair and praised Elon Musk, the platform's owner, for his comments on the conviction. > "There never was a Russell Brand, according to Meta. Thank God for Elon Musk. Stay tuned," the post read.
Brand's team has described the decision as censorship, though it is unclear who authored the X post. Prison regulations restrict internet access, leaving the future use of his online profiles uncertain.
The move is not the first enforcement action against Brand; his YouTube channel was demonetised after earlier sexual-assault allegations were reported in 2023. He continues to maintain active accounts on Rumble, Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
In parallel, Brand's supplement company, Reborn, has launched a merchandise line featuring "Free Russell Brand" apparel, priced at $34.99, with designs referencing historic political imagery.