# Review removal

> Review removal is the process of asking a platform to take down a review that breaches its content policy.

_Category: Policy · Updated 2026-08-15 · By Elizabeth Davis_

Source: https://happyreplies.com/glossary/review-removal

The bar is policy violation, not inaccuracy. Off-topic content, personal information, hate speech, conflicts of interest, and content with no genuine experience behind it are removable; a harsh but honest account of a real visit is not.

Removal requests take days to weeks and most are declined. Treating removal as the primary strategy leaves the review sitting unanswered while the appeal runs.

## In practice

Flag it and reply anyway. If it is removed you lose nothing; if it is not, the reply is already doing the work.

## FAQ

### Can I sue over a bad review?

Rarely worth it. Opinion is generally protected, defamation requires a false statement of fact, and litigation over a review reliably generates far more attention than the review did.

## Related terms

- https://happyreplies.com/glossary/fake-review
- https://happyreplies.com/glossary/negative-review