In two days, the iPhone application Grindr was to celebrate its first birthday. Except, after amassing some 500,000 users, Apple just yanked it from the App store. (UPDATED: No they didn’t.)
It’s unclear whether Apple’s move is part of last month’s purge of “adult” apps, but users looking to download it are being met with zero results. Those who have already downloaded the app should still find it in working order — removing the app only deletes it from the App Store, but doesn’t appear to inhibit its usage. Grindr’s blog hasn’t been updated with any info, but its founder Joel Simkhai (seen here with Lance Bass) has made efforts to keep the app within Apple’s official rules, which prohibit adult information being posted publicly in an app (i.e. as your main profile photo), but exchanged X-rated photos in a private chat is allowed.
To celebrate its one-year anniversary, Grindr told members it was “throwing over 50 Grindr birthday parties around the globe between March 23rd and 29th. From South Korea to the United Kingdom, and Australia and the United States, there will be parties over 30 cities around the world making this truly a global event.” (Whether George Michael was going to participate is anyone’s guess.)
This is sure to put a damper on things.
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Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
And: The website Guys I Blocked on Grindr, devoted to publishing screenshots of unappealing profiles, is offline.
UPDATE: Wikipedia has already been edited with the news: “On March 23, 2010, at approximately midnight pacific time, the Grindr app and its references were removed from the app store.”
UPDATE: Simkhai writes us: “Error on my part. Should be back up by EOD today.” Apple will let the gays keep cruising!
(Photo: Yes, that is Eating Out 3‘s Chris Salvatore.)
fredo777
stupid Apple.
terrwill
Sorry, but I gotta go here….. Wouldn’t the creator have kinda sorta a permanent place on the Guys I Blocked on Grindr?? : p
nick
tumblr took it down, but its up @ blockedongrindr.com
MacGyvr
Why is Grindr not protecting themselves from things like this by expanding their audience? When is Grindr going to be available for Android phones??? They have made themselves too dependent on one platform.
Matt
“Error” on his part? How on Earth do you make that kind of error?
Seems like a cheap PR stunt. If it is indeed so, it’s pretty shitty, and I’ll delete Grindr from my phone.
Kirk Cruz
I produced Eating Out 3, I know Chris Salvatore, I kinda doubt that’s Chris cruising on Grind, it’s probably someone using his pic. Not that I’m sayin’ there’s anything wrong with using Grindr (remember, I produced Eating Out 3), it’s just that Chris is 6’3″, and the height listed in the photo says 5’8″.
GuyDads
For an almost complete list of gay iPhone apps including ones deleted by Apple see my blog: http://guydads.blogspot.com/2009/05/gay-iphone-apps.html
Kel
Guys, get off Grindr! Simply go up to people and say hello. It’s ridiculous being out at a restuarant or bar and seeing guys staring at their i-phones. It SCREAMS insecurity and low self esteem. All this technology and it’s driving people farther apart than bringing them together. The younger generation of gays can’t even socialize in real time.