On Friday we were just about to share a steamy photo shoot by Damon Baker featuring Queer Eye’s food guy Antoni Porowski lounging around in his Calvin Klein briefs.
But before we could, the post vanished.
In its place, just this message: “This photo or video has been removed from Instagram.”
Related: Instagram deleted this Harvard undergrad’s photos for being ‘too sexual.’ You be the judge.
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It was unclear whether Baker had deleted the post himself, or if Instagram had deemed it inappropriate and censored the content.
As it turns out, it was the latter. While no nudity was shown in any of the photos, the app, owned by Facebook, flagged one image of Antoni with his hands in the front of his underwear as “pornographic.”
Baker later took to his Instagram story to comment on the situation:
“There was nothing pornographic or nude about my pictures of Antoni but Instagram deleted the post so now I’m sad and upset.
WTF is so offensive about a human body? We all have one!”
Related: The photos that got the Warwick Rowers banned from Instagram
He also shared the takedown message he received about the photo:
Antoni shared the photos on his own account, minus the “controversial” one:
Luckily, Twitter doesn’t have quite the same policy (for now). So here’s the full batch of photos:
In my studio with @antoni at 8AM listening to Placebo pic.twitter.com/knziSaxyNF
— Damon Baker (@DamonBaker) December 13, 2018
iamru2
Silly, but they are a private company and can pretty much do what they want in this situation. Anyone who looks to Facebook or Instagram for any kind of ethical or moral guidance or justice are fools.
dylanmaustin
The point is that they are inconsistent with their implementation and preach community guidelines as if they have any intent on that being their directive. We are not seeking moral guidance, more like justice for hypocrisy and discrimination. If they ever want to claim ally status or progressive ideology we can look back at these situations that expose them. Yes they’re a public company, but we are seeing more and more the responsibility they need to be held to as a major player in public opinion and discourse.
iamru2
That’s your point not mine. My point in case it wasn’t clear is its a private company. Inconsistencies are the natural outcome when talking about “justice’ or “discrimination” or “hate speech” or what is and is not pornographic. Its all subjective. I dont find the pics offensive in any way shape or form but I realize others do and I could give a flying frick about those people but they have a right to their opinions and guidelines when running a private business.
jsmu
@iamru2 You effing MORON. The point, since you’re an imbecile, is that it is RAMPANT EFFING HOMOPHOBIA. Titty pics, girls in less than he’s wearing, etc, are just fine with Instagram. If you knew ANYTHING about history, censorship, or fascism, you would know that nothing about rampant and blatant bigotry is ‘subjective.’ In addition, of course, you’re so g*ddam*ed dumb you cannot even spell the word ‘don’t.’!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Try learning to read and finishing your GED!
jsmu
Imbecilic little Russkytroll iamru2, there is nothing ‘subjective’ about OVERT BIGOTRY, HOMOPHOBIA, and DELIBERATE DISCRIMINATION. Your ignorance is all-encompassing; you know nothing about law, nothing about society, nothing about art, nothing about history, and nothing about language (you cannot even distinguish between ‘its’ and ‘it’s.’ !!!!)
Larry
As long as the vast majority of the public insist on using both Facebook and Instagram, they will do what they want. They control us, our brains, our time, our thought and they own our data for the use THEY see is good. $$$$
nm4047
but then these questionable talents would have nowhere to bitch or garnish publicity about something that really means nothing to the big wide world.
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Edude
I’m happy to be assaulted visually by such photos of Antoni anytime.
Curious to know if straight guys get the same treatment by IG. I think not. For instance, actor Jake Stormoen has some similar shots on his IG that I came across recently, and they are still up as of today. Heavens, he’s in chains in one photo, his bulge is thrust forward prominently in another, and his tastefully sculpted torso is totally bare in others.
Of course, many of Pietro Boselli’s IG pics would also qualify as “pornographic” by this definition.
I don’t know, I’m old-fashioned. I just look for consistency, justice, truth and fairness in life.
spacecadet
Good points there on the inconsistent policy!
iamru2
Free speech is under attack in this country and this is a result of that. And no I am not a FILL IN THE BLANK whatever.
jsmu
@iamru2 You most certainly are a FILL IN THE OBSCENITY troll. Get the h*ll off this site, little Rapeublic*nt!
nm4047
here’s an idea, if you are so outraged by the company removing images from their property, don’t use it, see how long you can go once the publicity ceases.
rray63
I think I can count on one hand the times I’ve been in instagram. As for Facebook, I get an email when someone important to me leaves something on there, a picture or something, otherwise, I don’t use it. I don’t chat on there, don’t look for people, nothing. So I’m not losing anything by them being homophobic. Still, any business that wants to keep a decent name should apply all their standards fairly, not the way they are apparently doing it. I’d like to say it will catch up with them but there are still people that find us disgusting and don’t give a hoot if they discriminate. Stop using both sites guys, find an alternative. There has to be something out there, if not one of you really smart gents start your own site, if you were truly fair about things your site would make a mint, and probably rather quickly.
erik24
If we’re going to decide what is inappropiate, can we at least draw a clear line. Full frontal? No go. Underwear? Okay, fine. When we get into whether the underwear is too sexy, we’re just courting trouble.
tennisteacher2
I can count on one hand the number of times I go on Instagram…And I don’t need anyone dictating morals to me especially when MORALITY and DECENCY has all but been flushed down the toilet by this nation’s President….The what I see as OVERZEALOUS CENSORSHIP by Facebook, Tumblr, and now Instagram is getting ridiculous…
Lacuevaman
you have to admit he is not very attractive
jordan35
Everyone is attractive in their own way, I’m sure even you are?
Godabed
I love the show but please put your clothing back on. It’s suspect that he’s now dating another reality television personality. All of it screams “look at me”, i need attention. The Other guys are on social media but they are not whoring themselves out like Anthoni. It’s getting old already. He “looks” like a nice guy, but… looks can be very deceiving.
CarlIsle
This wouldn’t bother me if Instagram were consistent in applying their policies. You see so many naked butts (both male and female) and pics in underwear or Speedos with the bits clearly outlined, but they single out one person? WTF? They are as dumb and inconsistent as the Grindr moderators.