On the surface, it’s a seemingly LOL-worthy brush-up with a social media company’s terms of service: A Harvard undergrad named Miles Kennelly posted some photos to Instagram that were flagged as inappropriate, and were promptly deleted.
But is there a double standard at play here?
The openly gay student who now lives in New York took to Twitter after the photos were deleted to see what people thought:
Instagram took this down for being too "sexual" ?????https://t.co/W1uyqXemFC pic.twitter.com/0XjVrgatS7
— Miles Kennelly (@MilesKennelly) October 3, 2017
Then it happened a second time, and Miles went from annoyed to pissed:
How about we take this to the next level?
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RT! So mad @ Instagram. took down ANOTHER pic bc it's "sexual". Would they take down a fully-clothed woman who happens to be busty?#Sexist pic.twitter.com/o7g750DxTW
— Miles Kennelly (@MilesKennelly) October 4, 2017
“Instagram took down ANOTHER pic bc it’s ‘sexual,'” he wrote before asking: “Would they take down a fully-clothed woman who happens to be busty?”
“They probs wouldn’t,” one commenter hypothesized, adding “They are probs jealous of what you’re packing.”
Related: Here’s The Photo That Nearly Got David McIntosh Banned From Instagram
Well whatever the case — be it jealousy, prurience or a trigger-happy moderator — after Miles drew attention to the matter, Instagram reinstated the photo.
We know what you’re thinking. Finally — the ripped, white, Harvard students of the world see a little justice. But hey, we’re still glad the pics have returned to their rightful place.
Scroll down for a closer look at this social justice warrior:
h/t GayTimes
Kieran
More than a whiff of homophobia involved in this. Probably gave some closet case at Instagram a chubby and he freaked.
Nahald
Obviously.
ChrisK
Yep. This says more about an editor for Instagram then anything. They need to fire the prude.
daniwitz13
This dude does not know a genital from a mammary appendix. Boobs are not a sexual organ. Are college students clueless? If it is not sexual or sensual, why is the first picture standing straight and the ‘other’ laying down? Is it a toy to place this way and then that way, to convey a “point”?
BriBri
It’s probably some douche that doesn’t like him for whatever reason and simply enjoys annoying him by reporting his photos.
mz.sam
Instagram standards and practices are a bunch of cowardly homophobic hypocrites. Out Olympic skier, Gus Kenworthy has five totally nude pics posted on his site (and they are hot). No censorship there….Sheeesh!
JamJewel
Yes! But those are not crotch shots… they are very ‘tasteful!” ROTFL
GayEGO
The Instagram employee was miffed because Miles has a big sausage so he remote the photos, it was the wrong thing to do.
tdh1980
This kind of censorship related to the male form always has been rampant on social media — and even apps like Grindr and Scruff, which is even more absurd considering their purposes. Any hint of peen throws folks into a tailspin, but I’ve seen my fair share of camel toe and headlights, neither of which seems to be as offensive to many.
meghanada
Yep. Which is why I always roll my eyes when certain people speak of how much the female body is supposedly censored in public and demonized.
I mean, do these people know it’s straight men who set what is considered desirable and what gets censored in public?
Not to make little of what women go through, but women don’t have it worse all the time. When it comes to sexuality and body form, it’s women who are described as desirable and men who are considered gross and therefore subject to censorship. Which is one of the reasons why people – especially straight men – treat lesbian PDA so differently from its gay counterpart.
dizzilee
cray cray penis envy?
surreal33
At first, I agreed but upon second thought I remember how many ad nauseam pictures of Kylie Jenner’s ass that sadly been featured on the news. Social media thrives on vulgar, inappropriate, BORING, displays of genitalia. Yawn…
meghanada
“We know what you’re thinking. Finally — the ripped, white, Harvard students of the world see a little justice. But hey, we’re still glad the pics have returned to their rightful place.”
I know there are probably many who think like this – people who think racism and sexism are rampant but homophobia is not, and therefore no white man ever suffers injustice even if he happens to be gay. Which is a demonstrably false belief. Gay men have been harassed, not only online but also in the real world, for dressing skimpy in situations where this was tolerated for women. Last year (or perhaps in end 2015) a gay man killed himself after he was harassed by the NYPD for how he dressed at a gay bar, and lost his case in court.
Like someone said above, America is homophobic, but it’s not just that – it also hates the male body.
Ksb1978
You’re in denial. Of course ALL gay men still suffer injustice. Yet gay/queer people of color get it from homophobic straight folks and get racism from racist/bigoted white gays as well. Don’t act like racism isn’t a problem in the LGBTQ+ community. Gay/queer PoC are barely represented in gay mags, LGBTQ sites or on YouTube.
nm4047
Now how many additional ‘followers’ has he picked up, will once again improve the bottom line of his blogging revenues. Self promotion also comes to mind, knowing the rules of a social media you sign up with, clearly the 2nd pic was create more attention to self.
Mmmrrrggglll
Probably had someone he knows make a complaint. “Too sexual” – couldn’t ask for better publicity.
Jaxton
His private parts were hidden behind cloth, for Pete’s sake. How is this explicit in any way?
Some people can be such prudes about the male form – total and utter prudes, even when it’s covered by cloth. It’s often women with penis envy.
mhoffman953
Facebook and Instragram are very sexist toward male pictures as compared to female pictures. They’ll let women get away with showing side boob, under boob, tits poking through shirts, bare asses, or camel toe, but when men show ass or bulge, they get suspended or their content deleted
Jaxton
If that’s the case, we should expose Facebook and Instagram.
mhoffman953
@Jaxton
Not sure if your comment is in jest or serious but if anyone doubts it, go on Facebook or Instagram and report a suggestive male photo then go report a very similar suggestive female photo and see which one gets removed
My friend runs a gay adult website and on their site’s Facebook and Instagram pages, they post g-rated photos from the site but their posts get taken down constantly and they’re always getting suspended from social media for photo violations. Their competitor, which is a straight site, never gets photos removed.
Alan down in Florida
With that body he should never be allowed to wear clothing at all. As close to perfect as I’ve seen in a long while.
batesmotel
Well it is suggestive and posted up for attention, but he looks great so why not flaunt it. Still the bulge is borderline suggestive, but no more suggestive than what other people post.
jhon_siders
A narcissistic kid for sure at least he’s not covered with cheap ugly ink !!
wiley
I wish they would take down every selfie posted by all of these self-obsessed, narcissistic people in desperate need of the attention of strangers. Here’s an idea: look in a book rather than the mirror all the time.
chris451
You kids get off my lawn!
Harriman
He is traveling by private jet and is upset that his bulge got censored. Use your Harvard education for something worthwhile.
Arbash
SHIT! He is hot as f*ck!!!
Walker
Yes, the narcissist who is very obviously sporting an erection is so persecuted.
stevetalbert
You obviously have never seen an erection. That just happens to be a penis shaft lying to the side. Very normal if you are wearing a bathing suit like a brief or particularly speedos. An erection would form a tent away from the body and be obvious.
stevetalbert
Plus if it was actually an erection it would be longer. You can tell because turned straight up the head wouldn’t even pop out of his shorts.
jsmu
@Walker Jealous Princess TINY MEAT much, sweetiepie? LMAO!
jmikef
Dude must have a well heeled sugar daddy. Nice private jet he’s in.
radiooutmike
Blond, gorgeous, big dick and smart?! Damnnnn… Like Rod Stewart opined, some guys have all the luck.
Harriman
Get off your private jet and get off using your money and your bulge to help someone less fortunate Hope to see you at Mar a Lago this season, Dickhead.
Harriman
Also, remember to tip the ground crew at Signature and Jet Aviation. They most likely hate you.
skcord
I wonder what it’s like going through life looking like that? It’s hard for me to believe that life isn’t a wee bit easier when you’re young, incredibly hot and white like this guy. I’m certainly not ugly, but next to this guy I’d look like a circus freak ?
tham
In the first two photos: if it’s leaning to the right…hello sir. if it’s leaning to the the left…maybe you’re a grower….
If it’s not leaning either side…I’d delete that photo myself. I mean…is it cold?
music23
Seriously we would get the instagram hack that can help us get the instagram password online.