Comedian Megan Stalter says she was unable to post a video on TikTok urging fellow Christians to speak out against ICE raids in Minneapolis following the fatal shooting of nurse Alex Pretti.
Video Gains Traction on Instagram, Not TikTok
In the video, Stalter called for the abolition of ICE, saying she believed it aligned with Christian values. The clip was reposted more than 12,000 times on Instagram, but Stalter said repeated attempts to upload it to TikTok failed. She later deleted her TikTok account, believing her content was being censored.
Wider Claims of Posting Issues
Other users reported similar problems uploading videos related to ICE over the weekend, drawing the attention of Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut, who raised concerns about possible censorship.
TikTok denied suppressing content, attributing upload issues to a power outage at a U.S. data center. The company said the technical problems were unrelated to recent news events and that service is gradually being restored.
Trust Concerns After Ownership Shift
The controversy comes days after a new U.S.-based joint venture took control of TikTok’s American operations under a Trump-era law. Technology ethics professor Casey Fiesler said the timing has fueled skepticism among users, especially given the app’s new ties to companies aligned with the Trump administration.
Creators Remain Wary
Several prominent creators, including nurse and author Jen Hamilton, reported difficulties posting ICE-related content around the same time. While no proof of deliberate censorship has emerged, experts say the opaque nature of TikTok’s algorithm makes such claims difficult to verify.
Even so, uncertainty is driving some users away. According to market data, TikTok uninstalls have surged in recent days as concerns grow over content moderation and trust on the platform.
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