diff --git a/bookwyrm/activitypub/__init__.py b/bookwyrm/activitypub/__init__.py
index 03c714a6b..45cd42a5c 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/activitypub/__init__.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/activitypub/__init__.py
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import sys
 
 from .base_activity import ActivityEncoder, Image, PublicKey, Signature
 from .note import Note, GeneratedNote, Article, Comment, Review, Quotation
+from .note import Tombstone
 from .interaction import Boost, Like
 from .ordered_collection import OrderedCollection, OrderedCollectionPage
 from .person import Person
diff --git a/bookwyrm/activitypub/note.py b/bookwyrm/activitypub/note.py
index 63ac8a6e0..54730fb67 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/activitypub/note.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/activitypub/note.py
@@ -4,6 +4,14 @@ from typing import Dict, List
 
 from .base_activity import ActivityObject, Image
 
+@dataclass(init=False)
+class Tombstone(ActivityObject):
+    url: str
+    published: str
+    deleted: str
+    type: str = 'Tombstone'
+
+
 @dataclass(init=False)
 class Note(ActivityObject):
     ''' Note activity '''
diff --git a/bookwyrm/models/status.py b/bookwyrm/models/status.py
index 6c3369f21..f9f904672 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/models/status.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/models/status.py
@@ -22,6 +22,8 @@ class Status(OrderedCollectionPageMixin, BookWyrmModel):
     sensitive = models.BooleanField(default=False)
     # the created date can't be this, because of receiving federated posts
     published_date = models.DateTimeField(default=timezone.now)
+    deleted = models.BooleanField(default=False)
+    deleted_date = models.DateTimeField(default=timezone.now)
     favorites = models.ManyToManyField(
         'User',
         symmetrical=False,
@@ -104,6 +106,18 @@ class Status(OrderedCollectionPageMixin, BookWyrmModel):
             **kwargs
         )
 
+    def to_activity(self, **kwargs):
+        ''' return tombstone if the status is deleted '''
+        if self.deleted:
+            return activitypub.Tombstone(
+                id=self.remote_id,
+                url=self.remote_id,
+                deleted=http_date(self.deleted_date.timestamp()),
+                published=http_date(self.deleted_date.timestamp()),
+            ).serialize()
+        return ActivitypubMixin.to_activity(self, **kwargs)
+
+
 class GeneratedStatus(Status):
     ''' these are app-generated messages about user activity '''
     @property
@@ -112,7 +126,7 @@ class GeneratedStatus(Status):
         message = self.content
         books = ', '.join(
             '<a href="%s">"%s"</a>' % (self.book.local_id, self.book.title) \
-            for book in self.mention_books
+            for book in self.mention_books.all()
         )
         return '%s %s' % (message, books)
 
diff --git a/bookwyrm/outgoing.py b/bookwyrm/outgoing.py
index 25a61c46e..92187ffac 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/outgoing.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/outgoing.py
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ from bookwyrm.status import create_review, create_status
 from bookwyrm.status import create_quotation, create_comment
 from bookwyrm.status import create_tag, create_notification, create_rating
 from bookwyrm.status import create_generated_note
+from bookwyrm.status import delete_status
 from bookwyrm.remote_user import get_or_create_remote_user
 
 
@@ -197,6 +198,12 @@ def handle_import_books(user, items):
     return None
 
 
+def handle_delete_status(user, status):
+    ''' delete a status and broadcast deletion to other servers '''
+    delete_status(status)
+    broadcast(user, status.to_activity())
+
+
 def handle_rate(user, book, rating):
     ''' a review that's just a rating '''
     builder = create_rating
diff --git a/bookwyrm/status.py b/bookwyrm/status.py
index 0c13638e2..190f5dd7f 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/status.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/status.py
@@ -6,6 +6,11 @@ from bookwyrm.books_manager import get_or_create_book
 from bookwyrm.sanitize_html import InputHtmlParser
 
 
+def delete_status(status):
+    ''' replace the status with a tombstone '''
+    status.deleted = True
+    status.save()
+
 def create_rating(user, book, rating):
     ''' a review that's just a rating '''
     if not rating or rating < 1 or rating > 5:
diff --git a/bookwyrm/templates/snippets/status.html b/bookwyrm/templates/snippets/status.html
index f1fab7427..809cbe9e5 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/templates/snippets/status.html
+++ b/bookwyrm/templates/snippets/status.html
@@ -25,6 +25,17 @@
             <span class="icon icon-public">
                 <span class="is-sr-only">Public post</span>
             </span>
+            {% if status.user == request.user %}
+            <form name="delete-{{status.id}}" action="/delete-status" method="post">
+                {% csrf_token %}
+                <input type="hidden" name="status" value="{{ status.id }}">
+                <button type="submit">
+                    <span class="icon icon-cancel">
+                        <span class="is-sr-only">Delete post</span>
+                    </span>
+                </button>
+            </form>
+            {% endif %}
             <a href="{{ status.remote_id }}">{{ status.published_date | naturaltime }}</a>
         </div>
     </footer>
diff --git a/bookwyrm/urls.py b/bookwyrm/urls.py
index f1b33877a..331efee5f 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/urls.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/urls.py
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ localname_regex = r'(?P<username>[\w\-_]+)'
 user_path = r'^user/%s' % username_regex
 local_user_path = r'^user/%s' % localname_regex
 
-status_types = ['status', 'review', 'comment', 'quotation', 'boost']
+status_types = ['status', 'review', 'comment', 'quotation', 'boost', 'generatedstatus']
 status_path = r'%s/(%s)/(?P<status_id>\d+)' % \
         (local_user_path, '|'.join(status_types))
 
@@ -107,6 +107,8 @@ urlpatterns = [
     re_path(r'^unfavorite/(?P<status_id>\d+)/?$', actions.unfavorite),
     re_path(r'^boost/(?P<status_id>\d+)/?$', actions.boost),
 
+    re_path(r'^delete-status/?$', actions.delete_status),
+
     re_path(r'^shelve/?$', actions.shelve),
 
     re_path(r'^follow/?$', actions.follow),
diff --git a/bookwyrm/view_actions.py b/bookwyrm/view_actions.py
index 992a270dd..e7674bb91 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/view_actions.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/view_actions.py
@@ -418,6 +418,27 @@ def boost(request, status_id):
     outgoing.handle_boost(request.user, status)
     return redirect(request.headers.get('Referer', '/'))
 
+
+@login_required
+def delete_status(request):
+    ''' delete and tombstone a status '''
+    status_id = request.POST.get('status')
+    if not status_id:
+        return HttpResponseBadRequest()
+    try:
+        status = models.Status.objects.get(id=status_id)
+    except models.Status.DoesNotExist:
+        return HttpResponseBadRequest()
+
+    # don't let people delete other people's statuses
+    if status.user != request.user:
+        return HttpResponseBadRequest()
+
+    # perform deletion
+    outgoing.handle_delete_status(request.user, status)
+    return redirect(request.headers.get('Referer', '/'))
+
+
 @login_required
 def follow(request):
     ''' follow another user, here or abroad '''