After the seemingly innocent juice emoji was co-opted for antisemitic purposes, people over on TikTok have claimed that the platform is banning its use.
In 2025, emojis are basically their own language. The little cartoons transcend their original purpose, taking on the new and often controversial meanings bestowed on them by the internet. From the eggplant now universally being recognised as a penis, to specific love hearts being adopted by incel communities, keeping up with the real meanings is easier said than done – hence why I had no idea the juice emoji was becoming so controversial.
Okay, so how are people using the juice emoji?
Why is the juice emoji a hate symbol now? pic.twitter.com/YYWSqzv2ET
— Mr. Nobody (@MmisterNobody) October 1, 2025
On paper, the juice emoji is simply a picture depicting a green juice box with a white and red-striped straw poking out of the top. As is the case with most Algospeak, a self-censorship method to evade content moderation, the modern use is much more complicated.
According to Know Your Meme, the use of the juice emoji first began to warp in 2020 when it was used on sites such as Twitch, TikTok, Twitter, and Reddit to reference Jewish people.
@hippiesandassassins Lets see what happens here
“Antisemites sometimes use the word ‘juice’ as a code word for ‘Jews’ or ‘Jewish,’ allowing them to espouse demonising rhetoric about the Jewish people while evading content moderation. Some use images of a juice box — such as the juice box emoji — for the same purpose in antisemitic memes, social media posts and even extremist merchandise,” the Anti-Defamation League, an organisation founded to combat antisemitism, said.
Amidst the ongoing genocide in Gaza and strict content moderation born from the ongoing conflict, the juice box emoji is being used more than ever. It’s a bit like saying corn instead of p*rn, or unalived instead of killed, but as is the case with most Algospeak, it has also been adopted by the alt-right for overtly discriminatory content.
Is the new juice emoji now banned on TikTok?
BREAKING
Since Jewish billionaires took control of TikTok, the Juice emoji has officially been BANNED. pic.twitter.com/Mgi4sbE3y1
— Red Pill Media (@RedPillMediaX) October 1, 2025
Over on TikTok, the juice emoji is being frequently used to share conspiracy theories and antisemitic content. As a result, people are now claiming that TikTok is automatically removing any of its uses, whether the content was overtly discriminatory or not. Even outside of the undeniably discriminatory uses, activists have said it’s hard enough to talk about the ongoing conflict without emojis being banned as well.
“Since Jewish billionaires took control of TikTok, the Juice emoji has officially been BANNED,” one post, which was viewed 3.3 million times, claimed.
@tomkbfarrell The forbidden emoji, i don’t even know why? #emoji #juicebox #juiceboxemoji #banned
“TikTok is now censoring the juice emoji, claiming it represents drug use,” another person said, attaching a warning from TikTok that suggested the emoji was teasing alcohol use.
TikTok is yet to comment on the alleged ban, but the company has been approached for comment.
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Featured image credit: TikTok
