Meta disables Russell Brand’s Instagram account

Meta disabled Russell Brand’s Instagram account after his conviction for one rape and three sexual assaults, while his account on X remained accessible and continued to display a post about the removal. The post’s author has not been identified, and the reports do not establish whether Brand authorized it.

A Meta spokesperson said the Instagram account violated the company’s policies. The post on X included an image of a notice stating that the Instagram account had been disabled for breaching community standards. It also contained the words “Stay tuned.” The account remained active on X after the Instagram removal.

One report attributed the X post to Brand, while others described the poster as unidentified. No confirmation was provided that Brand personally published or authorized the message. The difference matters because Brand is serving a prison sentence and the account’s operator has not been established.

Brand was sentenced on November 9 to 10 years and six months in prison. A jury found him guilty of one rape and three sexual assaults, and acquitted him of two further rape charges and attempted indecent assault. The convictions followed a trial concerning allegations...