Cannoli Boss returns to Instagram after ban lifted
After nearly a month locked out of his own business page, 18-year-old Sydney pastry chef Zufi Abdul has been reinstated on Instagram — with the social media giant admitting it got things wrong.
Zufi, known online as the Cannoli Boss, had his account shut down on July 11 over a video that allegedly breached guidelines relating to child abuse and nudity. The short clip, showing him preparing cannoli and working alongside fellow chefs, was flagged and removed — but the teen says there was never anything inappropriate in it.
“For four weeks I felt silenced. I was locked out of something I’d poured my heart into,” Zufi told 7NEWS.com.au.
“Getting the account back isn’t just about logging in again, it’s about getting a part of myself and my business back. It feels emotional but it feels right.”
TikTok had no issue with the same video, which remained live on that platform.
In a statement to Zufi over the weekend, Instagram admitted fault: “We’ve reviewed your account and found that the activity on it does follow our community standards on child sexual exploitation, abuse and nudity, so you can use Instagram again. We’re sorry that we’ve got this wrong and that you weren’t able to use Instagram for a while.”
The company added: “Sometimes we need to take action to help keep our community safe.” However, it conceded that “our technology made a mistake.”
Zufi had spent weeks appealing the decision, even making a visit to Meta’s Sydney offices to plead his case. He stressed the importance of platforms like Instagram for small business visibility, saying: “There needs to be a faster, more human process… because when you shut down someone’s page, you’re not just flipping a switch, you’re shutting down their income, their reputation and their story. That shouldn’t happen without answers.”
Celebrating his return, Zufi posted a comeback video with the caption: “I’M BACK. Tried to block the Boss? Nice try.
The Cannoli Boss doesn’t fold — we rise, we reload, and we come back stronger than ever.”
And it looks like he’s only just getting started.
“I’m not slowing down, I’m levelling up,” he said. “There’s more pop-ups on the way, new flavours and some exciting things near. I graduate soon so there’s definitely big stuff coming.”
Jonathan Jackson, 5th August 2025
