Meta removes Russell Brand's Instagram, Facebook accounts after rape conviction

Meta has disabled Russell Brand's Instagram and Facebook accounts, two days after he was sentenced to 10 years and six months in prison for rape and sexual assault.

A Meta spokesperson confirmed to TMZ that Brand's account was removed because it “violates our policies.”

The decision reportedly falls under Meta's Account Integrity policy, which allows the company to disable accounts belonging to convicted sex offenders. Meta's terms of service also state that convicted sex offenders cannot use its platforms.

Despite the removal of his Instagram and Facebook accounts, Brand's profile on X remains active.

On Nov. 11, a post on Brand's X account shared screenshots of notices from Meta informing him that his accounts had been disabled. The message accompanying the screenshots read: “There never was a Russell Brand, according to @Meta. Thank God for @elonmusk. Stay tuned.”

It is unclear who published the post on Brand's account, as he is currently in prison.

Brand was sentenced at Southwark Crown Court in London on Nov. 9 after being found guilty of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault involving four women between 2004 and 2009. He was acquitted of two other counts of rape and one count of attempted indecent assault.

Brand denied the charges and maintained that his sexual encounters were consensual.

The British comedian and actor rose to fame through his stand-up performances and television and radio appearances before landing roles in Hollywood films such as Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Get Him to the Greek, and Arthur.

In recent years, he shifted his focus to online content, building a following through videos discussing politics, religion, and conspiracy theories.