Pruwuit Williams

NAME: Pruwuit Williams
PLATFORM & USERNAME: Insta – @IamPruwuitWilliams
CENSORSHIP: Shadow Ban

What reason was given for your ban?

That my post or comment goes against Instagram guidelines. I have reported racism. Fetishizing and sexual comments. Dehumanizing comments about my sexuality and how I identify, and Instagram never sees those as an issue but does my own posts..

Why do you think your post(s) was censored?

My identity makes people uncomfortable. I’m Black. I’m male. I’m feminine. And I don’t comply with how society or the industry views me. I make my own boundaries based on what makes me feel comfort and peace within my own body.

Were you able to appeal and what was the response?

I either never receive a response, or I am told that I went against Instagram guidelines for false information when standing against hate, supporting equality, or bringing awareness to a certain topic.

What effect has your experience of censorship had on you?

The effects of censorship have caused me to receive very little attention in my posts. With so much of a focus on how many likes and followers you have, I often don’t receive many opportunities. People refuse to work with me because of my following. Because I’m not signed by an agency. I’ve had my ideas stolen and recreated by white photographers and models. My voice was stolen from me. When you’re someone that’s suffered from mental and physical abuse, it’s really hard to overcome seeing someone use part of your identity that never had to identify with the same concerns. A lot of people do not have a vibrational frequency to treat others with kindness and live a life of integrity. When so much of what you do is being belittled by how much attention you receive on social media, especially during such a crazy time in the world, it really hurts you mentally. You see it affect you mentally. Really making that choice to continue pursuing your ambitions, to choose happiness and have self-love for yourself, it’s a constant battle we often fail at many times.

What’s one thing you want people to know about this topic?

I want people to know the importance of supporting themselves. Taking a moment to sit back and say “That’s really good. I’m proud of that.” Anything after that is beyond our control.