Meta has disabled Russell Brand's Instagram account, citing policy violations, while his X account continues to post messages after he was sentenced to 10 years and six months in prison for one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault.
On Wednesday, November 11, the comedian's verified X account, @rustyrockets, posted images showing his Instagram account deactivated and took aim at Meta. The post read: "There never was a Russell Brand, according to @Meta. Thank God for @elonmusk. Stay tuned." It remained unclear who wrote the message or managed the account while Brand, 51, was in custody.
Meta Confirms Account Removal
Meta confirmed to TMZ that Brand's Instagram account had been removed as it "violates our policies." The policy permits Meta to restrict or disable accounts belonging to individuals who "engage in off-platform activity that can lead to harm," with convicted sex offenders among those covered under the rule.
The X post displayed Brand's Facebook page alongside a notice confirming the Facebook page had been suspended. The X account remained active following the Meta suspensions, continuing to broadcast messages to Brand's followers.
Prison Sentence and Trial
The account ban came after Brand was sentenced on Monday, November 9, to 10 years and six months in prison. A jury found him guilty on November 5 of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault following a four-week trial.
Donald Trump Jr. came to Brand's defence on Tuesday's edition of his Triggered programme, implying the comedian had been targeted as a result of his newfound faith and shift towards conservative politics.
Reaction to the Verdict
"When he was like married to Katy Perry, he's one of the most famous actors in the world, no one seemed to have a problem," Trump, 48, said. "No one seemed to think he was a rapist then. But he finds God, I guess, changes his ways, sees some aspects of conservative life and talks about them. And now he's going to spend ... years in prison for rape when no one had a problem with it in the prior 27 years," Trump continued.
Officers praised the bravery of the women who came forward following the verdict. Detective Superintendent Andy Furphy described the outcome as "first and foremost a testament to the extraordinary courage, resilience and determination of the women who came forward and reported what happened to them." "Despite intense media and public scrutiny, they relived deeply personal and traumatic experiences and placed their trust in us," he said. "Without their bravery, this outcome would not have been possible."
