TECHNOLOGY
Toronto Burlesque Producer Says Meta Deleted Her Accounts Days Before Big Show
Starlotte Satine, producer of the burlesque showcase Emo at the El Mocambo, says Meta wiped her Instagram and Facebook accounts just weeks before an Oct. 2 event that depends on social media for ticket sales.
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A Toronto burlesque producer says she is scrambling to save an upcoming show after Meta deleted her Instagram and Facebook accounts without warning.
Starlotte Satine produces Emo at the El Mocambo, billed as Toronto's biggest live-band burlesque show, scheduled for Oct. 2 at the storied College Street venue. She said she discovered on Tuesday that her performance Instagram account, her vintage clothing business account and her personal Facebook account had all been removed.
Satine said the loss has been devastating, both personally and professionally. With ticket sales for the show relying heavily on social media promotion, she said losing her accounts just weeks before the event has cut off her main way of reaching potential audiences and generating buzz.
The case echoes a broader pattern reported by other Toronto performers, who say Meta has banned or restricted their accounts over content the platform flagged as violating its policies on nudity or sexual material, even when the content falls within the bounds of legal burlesque performance and promotion. Satine's situation was first reported by Hacker News, which cited a story in the Toronto Star.
Meta has not yet responded publicly to questions about the specific removals. The Star has previously reported on similar complaints from Toronto-based performers and artists who say their accounts were taken down or suspended over content related to burlesque, cabaret and other adult-adjacent entertainment.
Satine said she is exploring options to appeal the removals and is looking at alternative ways to promote the Oct. 2 show, including word of mouth and other platforms, as the clock ticks down on ticket sales.
This is a developing story. Details from the original report should be independently verified, including the exact nature of the account removals and any response from Meta, before further updates are published.