Facebook has apologized after popular evangelist Franklin Graham was banned from the social media site for 24 hours last week, The Charlotte Observer reported.
A Facebook spokesperson confirmed reports that Graham was banned after a 2016 post of his was mistakenly flagged for containing “dehumanizing” and exclusionary language.
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The famed Christian pastor explained the situation further in a series of tweets posted Saturday.
“Last week I was banned from posting on @Facebook for 24 hrs because of a 2016 post about NC’s House Bill 2 (bathroom bill),” Graham wrote. “They said the post went against their ‘community standards on hate speech.’ Facebook is making & changing the rules.”
Last week I was banned from posting on @Facebook for 24 hrs because of a 2016 post about NC’s House Bill 2 (bathroom bill). They said the post went against their “community standards on hate speech.” Facebook is making & changing the rules. 1/2 https://t.co/HYIgErnp3J
— Franklin Graham (@Franklin_Graham) December 29, 2018
“.@Facebook is censoring free speech,” he continued. “They’re making & changing the rules. Truth is truth. God made the rules & His Word is truth. The free exchange of ideas is part of our country’s DNA.”
.@Facebook is censoring free speech. They’re making & changing the rules. Truth is truth. God made the rules & His Word is truth. The free exchange of ideas is part of our country’s DNA. You can read the post that Facebook took down last week here: 2/2 https://t.co/SIbgivZjTo
— Franklin Graham (@Franklin_Graham) December 29, 2018
Graham’s April 9, 2016, post criticized singer Bruce Springsteen for cancelling his North Carolina concert after the controversial House Bill 2 mandated that individuals use the public restrooms that correspond with their biological sex.
“Bruce Springsteen, a long-time gay rights activist, has cancelled his North Carolina concert,” Graham wrote. “He says the NC law #HB2 to prevent men from being able to use women’s restrooms and locker rooms is going ‘backwards instead of forwards.’ Well, to be honest, we need to go back! Back to God. Back to respecting and honoring His commands. Back to common sense. Mr. Springsteen, a nation embracing sin and bowing at the feet of godless secularism and political correctness is not progress.”
The post also included a link to a news article announcing Springsteen’s decision.
Following the temporary shutdown of Graham’s page, Facebook issued an apology for the alleged mistake, which the evangelist graciously accepted.
Thank you to @Facebook for the apology, the admission that my April 9, 2016 post didn’t go against your Community Standards, and the corrective action taken. @FoxNews has asked me to be on this morning at 9:20 to discuss this issue. pic.twitter.com/dtFGtLOtIB
— Franklin Graham (@Franklin_Graham) December 30, 2018
Graham appeared on “Fox & Friends” Sunday to discuss the incident further.
“I was defending our governor and the state on HB2,” the North Carolina native said. “It was a good law. If you disagree with [Facebook’s] position on sexual orientation, you can be classified as hate speech.”
“I accept Facebook’s apology and I appreciate them stepping up and doing that,” he explained, but added, “I think it was just really a personal attack towards me.”
I thank @Facebook for their apology and I accept it. All truth is in the Lord Jesus Christ, who is “the Way, the Truth, and the Life.” I would encourage all Christians—as well as Facebook—to stand on God’s Word and His truth. pic.twitter.com/rgEsOZna3C
— Franklin Graham (@Franklin_Graham) December 30, 2018
“As Christians we don’t back down and we don’t change who we are and what we say and what we do,” Graham tweeted Sunday evening. “We represent the King of kings and Lord of lords, Jesus Christ.”