Apollo Quiboloy, the founder of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ church and Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI), faced another setback as his TikTok account was banned on Wednesday, July 3.
The TikTok account, @pastor_acq, became inaccessible with a notice of the ban displayed on the mobile app. The same account had been promoted on Quiboloy’s official Facebook page.
Twitter user @DuterteWatchdog (DW) earlier raised concerns about the account, just three days after YouTube took down Quiboloy’s channel due to compliance with relevant US sanctions laws.
DW also reached out to other social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter regarding the matter but received no response at the time of this report.
DW also reached out LinkedIn, who asked the watchdog to get in touch with them privately.
The company did not disclose the specific provision of TikTok’s community guidelines that led to the ban.
Before its removal, Quiboloy’s TikTok page (@pastor_acq) had garnered nearly 26,000 followers and received over 237,000 likes on his videos.
The Twitter user @DuterteWatchdog was the first to confirm the removal of Quiboloy’s TikTok account. They formally requested the permanent removal of the pastor’s accounts across various social media platforms due to his pending legal cases.
Last month, Quiboloy’s YouTube channel was terminated after @OrdinaryGamers, another Twitter user, highlighted his ongoing legal cases in the United States.
YouTube cited violations of its community guidelines as the reason for the channel’s removal.
Other YouTube channels associated with Quiboloy, particularly those managed by Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI) and the Kingdom of Jesus Christ church, remain accessible.
In 2022, Quiboloy, along with two other members of his church, was placed on the FBI’s most wanted list following indictments related to labor trafficking. Quiboloy himself was indicted by a US federal grand jury on charges including conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking by force, fraud, and coercion, sex trafficking of children, conspiracy, and bulk cash smuggling.
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