Influencer reveals she was banned from Instagram after reporting stranger who sent penis photos

A British influencer has revealed how she was banned from Instagram after reporting a stranger for sending her pictures of his penis and calling her a ‘b****’. 

Venus Libido, 28, from London, was shocked when she received unsolicited pictures of a man’s penis, as well as abusive messages, to her 128,000-follower Instagram account.

Disgusted, she decided to post screenshots of the man’s messages and images, censoring his genitals and username, to call attention to the harassment, and reported the account to Instagram. 

But she was left horrified when Instagram deleted her account instead, and silenced by the social media platform, telling Huffington Post: ‘I’ve built my account up over two years, and it felt like it was being ripped away from me for speaking out.’

MailOnline has contacted Instagram for comment.  

Venus Libido, 28, from London, was shocked when her Instagram account was shut down after she reported recieving abusive messages and unsolicited pictures of a stranger’s penis 

Venus was disgusted to receive the images of the man’s penis while recovering from an operation earlier in December.

As well as the images of his penis, he also sent a text saying: ‘Enjoy the view’.

She opted to ignore him, before receiving another text which read: ‘B**** I know you read it say something.’ 

Venus went on to block and report the man to Instagram, as well as sharing screenshots of the images and messages on her Instagram page and story to call attention to the harassment. 

However, the man went on to contact her from two different newly created accounts, threatening her and verbally abuse her.

He wrote: ‘WTF take that down bict [sic]/,’ he wrote. ‘My f******** girl could see this … your done!!’

After reporting him again, Venus was informed that the man hadn’t violated Instagram’s guidelines and that his account would remain online.

Meanwhile, without specifying what policy she had violated, they informed Venus she had broken the rules, with the platform removing her post.   

The Influencer was stunned to receive the images from a stranger, and blocked and reported him, before he began messaging her from different accounts

The Influencer was stunned to receive the images from a stranger, and blocked and reported him, before he began messaging her from different accounts 

Venus suggested the move ‘angered her’, prompting her to post artwork describing the situation and criticising Instagram for silencing her and refusing to take action against her harasser.

She wrote: ‘I reported this to Instagram who after 10 mins sent me an update saying that he wasn’t going against any of their community guidelines.

‘I then posted on my page the conversation between me and this vile human to find Instagram then remove it from my page saying I’m going against community guidelines!’

Shortly afterward, Instagram shut down Venus’ account altogether, before deleting it completely.  

Growing increasingly concerned about how she would make an income without her access to the site, the Influencer appealed the deletion through the app. 

Venus went on to share her experience on Instagram, asking the social media platform 'how is this acceptable'

Venus went on to share her experience on Instagram, asking the social media platform ‘how is this acceptable’ 

She went on to have her Instagram page reinstated but shortly afterward received another image from her harasser, with the note:  ‘I hope that teached you a lesson getting your account removed!!’ 

He went on to send her further abuse calling her a ‘dumb sl**’ and dubbing her ‘boring’. 

Venus now says she feels ‘silenced’ for calling out the social media giant for their action on the issue. 

She said she is determined to ‘keep fighting’ against the harassment on the platform, because she wants to use her voice for good.

She said: ‘How is it that Instagram cracks down so hard on things like female nipples, but they’ll continue to let a man send me photos of his genitals even after I’ve reported him over and over again?’ 

A spokesperson for Facebook, which owns Instagram, said that it has taken action to ban the man from its platform, and that it had mistakenly removed Venus’ content and account. 



Read more at DailyMail.co.uk