diff --git a/src/components/structures/UserMenu.tsx b/src/components/structures/UserMenu.tsx
index b389632499..a9f072b21f 100644
--- a/src/components/structures/UserMenu.tsx
+++ b/src/components/structures/UserMenu.tsx
@@ -14,9 +14,8 @@ See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
 limitations under the License.
 */
 
-import React, { createRef, useContext, useRef, useState } from "react";
+import React, { createRef } from "react";
 import { Room } from "matrix-js-sdk/src/models/room";
-import classNames from "classnames";
 
 import { MatrixClientPeg } from "../../MatrixClientPeg";
 import defaultDispatcher from "../../dispatcher/dispatcher";
@@ -32,9 +31,7 @@ import LogoutDialog from "../views/dialogs/LogoutDialog";
 import SettingsStore from "../../settings/SettingsStore";
 import { findHighContrastTheme, getCustomTheme, isHighContrastTheme } from "../../theme";
 import {
-    RovingAccessibleButton,
     RovingAccessibleTooltipButton,
-    useRovingTabIndex,
 } from "../../accessibility/RovingTabIndex";
 import AccessibleButton, { ButtonEvent } from "../views/elements/AccessibleButton";
 import SdkConfig from "../../SdkConfig";
@@ -51,64 +48,10 @@ import { UIFeature } from "../../settings/UIFeature";
 import HostSignupAction from "./HostSignupAction";
 import SpaceStore from "../../stores/spaces/SpaceStore";
 import { UPDATE_SELECTED_SPACE } from "../../stores/spaces";
-import MatrixClientContext from "../../contexts/MatrixClientContext";
 import UserIdentifierCustomisations from "../../customisations/UserIdentifier";
 import PosthogTrackers from "../../PosthogTrackers";
 import { ViewHomePagePayload } from "../../dispatcher/payloads/ViewHomePagePayload";
 
-const CustomStatusSection = () => {
-    const cli = useContext(MatrixClientContext);
-    const setStatus = cli.getUser(cli.getUserId()).unstable_statusMessage || "";
-    const [value, setValue] = useState(setStatus);
-
-    const ref = useRef<HTMLInputElement>(null);
-    const [onFocus, isActive] = useRovingTabIndex(ref);
-
-    const classes = classNames({
-        'mx_UserMenu_CustomStatusSection_field': true,
-        'mx_UserMenu_CustomStatusSection_field_hasQuery': value,
-    });
-
-    let details: JSX.Element;
-    if (value !== setStatus) {
-        details = <>
-            <p>{ _t("Your status will be shown to people you have a DM with.") }</p>
-
-            <RovingAccessibleButton
-                onClick={() => cli._unstable_setStatusMessage(value)}
-                kind="primary_outline"
-            >
-                { value ? _t("Set status") : _t("Clear status") }
-            </RovingAccessibleButton>
-        </>;
-    }
-
-    return <form className="mx_UserMenu_CustomStatusSection">
-        <div className={classes}>
-            <input
-                type="text"
-                value={value}
-                className="mx_UserMenu_CustomStatusSection_input"
-                onChange={e => setValue(e.target.value)}
-                placeholder={_t("Set a new status")}
-                autoComplete="off"
-                onFocus={onFocus}
-                ref={ref}
-                tabIndex={isActive ? 0 : -1}
-            />
-            <AccessibleButton
-                // The clear button is only for mouse users
-                tabIndex={-1}
-                title={_t("Clear")}
-                className="mx_UserMenu_CustomStatusSection_clear"
-                onClick={() => setValue("")}
-            />
-        </div>
-
-        { details }
-    </form>;
-};
-
 interface IProps {
     isPanelCollapsed: boolean;
 }
@@ -369,11 +312,6 @@ export default class UserMenu extends React.Component<IProps, IState> {
             );
         }
 
-        let customStatusSection: JSX.Element;
-        if (SettingsStore.getValue("feature_custom_status")) {
-            customStatusSection = <CustomStatusSection />;
-        }
-
         let feedbackButton;
         if (SettingsStore.getValue(UIFeature.Feedback)) {
             feedbackButton = <IconizedContextMenuOption
@@ -457,7 +395,6 @@ export default class UserMenu extends React.Component<IProps, IState> {
                     />
                 </RovingAccessibleTooltipButton>
             </div>
-            { customStatusSection }
             { topSection }
             { primaryOptionList }
         </IconizedContextMenu>;
diff --git a/src/components/views/right_panel/UserInfo.tsx b/src/components/views/right_panel/UserInfo.tsx
index 9d17c5237d..7b45746c77 100644
--- a/src/components/views/right_panel/UserInfo.tsx
+++ b/src/components/views/right_panel/UserInfo.tsx
@@ -75,7 +75,6 @@ import { UIComponent } from "../../../settings/UIFeature";
 import { TimelineRenderingType } from "../../../contexts/RoomContext";
 import RightPanelStore from '../../../stores/right-panel/RightPanelStore';
 import { IRightPanelCardState } from '../../../stores/right-panel/RightPanelStoreIPanelState';
-import { useUserStatusMessage } from "../../../hooks/useUserStatusMessage";
 import UserIdentifierCustomisations from '../../../customisations/UserIdentifier';
 import PosthogTrackers from "../../../PosthogTrackers";
 import { ViewRoomPayload } from "../../../dispatcher/payloads/ViewRoomPayload";
@@ -1411,7 +1410,6 @@ const UserInfoHeader: React.FC<{
     roomId?: string;
 }> = ({ member, e2eStatus, roomId }) => {
     const cli = useContext(MatrixClientContext);
-    const statusMessage = useUserStatusMessage(member);
 
     const onMemberAvatarClick = useCallback(() => {
         const avatarUrl = (member as RoomMember).getMxcAvatarUrl
@@ -1472,11 +1470,6 @@ const UserInfoHeader: React.FC<{
         );
     }
 
-    let statusLabel = null;
-    if (statusMessage) {
-        statusLabel = <span className="mx_UserInfo_statusMessage">{ statusMessage }</span>;
-    }
-
     let e2eIcon;
     if (e2eStatus) {
         e2eIcon = <E2EIcon size={18} status={e2eStatus} isUser={true} />;
@@ -1499,7 +1492,6 @@ const UserInfoHeader: React.FC<{
                 <div>{ UserIdentifierCustomisations.getDisplayUserIdentifier(member.userId, { roomId, withDisplayName: true }) }</div>
                 <div className="mx_UserInfo_profileStatus">
                     { presenceLabel }
-                    { statusLabel }
                 </div>
             </div>
         </div>
diff --git a/src/components/views/rooms/MemberTile.tsx b/src/components/views/rooms/MemberTile.tsx
index b652771a43..f292ec3b58 100644
--- a/src/components/views/rooms/MemberTile.tsx
+++ b/src/components/views/rooms/MemberTile.tsx
@@ -20,12 +20,10 @@ import { RoomMember } from "matrix-js-sdk/src/models/room-member";
 import { MatrixEvent } from "matrix-js-sdk/src/models/event";
 import { EventType } from "matrix-js-sdk/src/@types/event";
 import { DeviceInfo } from "matrix-js-sdk/src/crypto/deviceinfo";
-import { UserEvent } from "matrix-js-sdk/src/models/user";
 import { CryptoEvent } from "matrix-js-sdk/src/crypto";
 import { RoomStateEvent } from "matrix-js-sdk/src/models/room-state";
 import { UserTrustLevel } from 'matrix-js-sdk/src/crypto/CrossSigning';
 
-import SettingsStore from "../../../settings/SettingsStore";
 import dis from "../../../dispatcher/dispatcher";
 import { _t } from '../../../languageHandler';
 import { MatrixClientPeg } from "../../../MatrixClientPeg";
@@ -41,7 +39,6 @@ interface IProps {
 }
 
 interface IState {
-    statusMessage: string;
     isRoomEncrypted: boolean;
     e2eStatus: string;
 }
@@ -58,7 +55,6 @@ export default class MemberTile extends React.Component<IProps, IState> {
         super(props);
 
         this.state = {
-            statusMessage: this.getStatusMessage(),
             isRoomEncrypted: false,
             e2eStatus: null,
         };
@@ -67,13 +63,6 @@ export default class MemberTile extends React.Component<IProps, IState> {
     componentDidMount() {
         const cli = MatrixClientPeg.get();
 
-        if (SettingsStore.getValue("feature_custom_status")) {
-            const { user } = this.props.member;
-            if (user) {
-                user.on(UserEvent._UnstableStatusMessage, this.onStatusMessageCommitted);
-            }
-        }
-
         const { roomId } = this.props.member;
         if (roomId) {
             const isRoomEncrypted = cli.isRoomEncrypted(roomId);
@@ -94,11 +83,6 @@ export default class MemberTile extends React.Component<IProps, IState> {
     componentWillUnmount() {
         const cli = MatrixClientPeg.get();
 
-        const { user } = this.props.member;
-        if (user) {
-            user.removeListener(UserEvent._UnstableStatusMessage, this.onStatusMessageCommitted);
-        }
-
         if (cli) {
             cli.removeListener(RoomStateEvent.Events, this.onRoomStateEvents);
             cli.removeListener(CryptoEvent.UserTrustStatusChanged, this.onUserTrustStatusChanged);
@@ -158,21 +142,6 @@ export default class MemberTile extends React.Component<IProps, IState> {
         });
     }
 
-    private getStatusMessage(): string {
-        const { user } = this.props.member;
-        if (!user) {
-            return "";
-        }
-        return user.unstable_statusMessage;
-    }
-
-    private onStatusMessageCommitted = (): void => {
-        // The `User` object has observed a status message change.
-        this.setState({
-            statusMessage: this.getStatusMessage(),
-        });
-    };
-
     shouldComponentUpdate(nextProps: IProps, nextState: IState): boolean {
         if (
             this.memberLastModifiedTime === undefined ||
@@ -222,11 +191,6 @@ export default class MemberTile extends React.Component<IProps, IState> {
         const name = this.getDisplayName();
         const presenceState = member.user ? member.user.presence : null;
 
-        let statusMessage = null;
-        if (member.user && SettingsStore.getValue("feature_custom_status")) {
-            statusMessage = this.state.statusMessage;
-        }
-
         const av = (
             <MemberAvatar member={member} width={36} height={36} aria-hidden="true" />
         );
@@ -277,7 +241,6 @@ export default class MemberTile extends React.Component<IProps, IState> {
                 nameJSX={nameJSX}
                 powerStatus={powerStatus}
                 showPresence={this.props.showPresence}
-                subtextLabel={statusMessage}
                 e2eStatus={e2eStatus}
                 onClick={this.onClick}
             />
diff --git a/src/hooks/useUserStatusMessage.ts b/src/hooks/useUserStatusMessage.ts
deleted file mode 100644
index 74b6c1dbf2..0000000000
--- a/src/hooks/useUserStatusMessage.ts
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,39 +0,0 @@
-/*
-Copyright 2021 Šimon Brandner <simon.bra.ag@gmail.com>
-
-Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
-you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
-You may obtain a copy of the License at
-
-    http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
-
-Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
-distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
-WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
-See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
-limitations under the License.
-*/
-
-import { MatrixClient } from "matrix-js-sdk/src/client";
-import { User, UserEvent } from "matrix-js-sdk/src/models/user";
-import { useContext } from "react";
-
-import MatrixClientContext from "../contexts/MatrixClientContext";
-import { useTypedEventEmitterState } from "./useEventEmitter";
-import { Member } from "../components/views/right_panel/UserInfo";
-import { useFeatureEnabled } from "./useSettings";
-
-const getUser = (cli: MatrixClient, user: Member): User => cli.getUser(user?.userId);
-const getStatusMessage = (cli: MatrixClient, user: Member): string => {
-    return getUser(cli, user)?.unstable_statusMessage;
-};
-
-// Hook to simplify handling Matrix User status
-export const useUserStatusMessage = (member?: Member): string => {
-    const cli = useContext(MatrixClientContext);
-    const enabled = useFeatureEnabled("feature_custom_status");
-    const user = enabled ? getUser(cli, member) : undefined;
-    return useTypedEventEmitterState(user, UserEvent._UnstableStatusMessage, () => {
-        return getStatusMessage(cli, user);
-    });
-};
diff --git a/src/i18n/strings/en_EN.json b/src/i18n/strings/en_EN.json
index 6262cd86e2..99fee9afc9 100644
--- a/src/i18n/strings/en_EN.json
+++ b/src/i18n/strings/en_EN.json
@@ -881,7 +881,6 @@
     "To leave, return to this page and use the “%(leaveTheBeta)s” button.": "To leave, return to this page and use the “%(leaveTheBeta)s” button.",
     "Leave the beta": "Leave the beta",
     "Thank you for trying the beta, please go into as much detail as you can so we can improve it.": "Thank you for trying the beta, please go into as much detail as you can so we can improve it.",
-    "Custom user status messages": "Custom user status messages",
     "Video rooms (under active development)": "Video rooms (under active development)",
     "Render simple counters in room header": "Render simple counters in room header",
     "Multiple integration managers (requires manual setup)": "Multiple integration managers (requires manual setup)",
@@ -3170,10 +3169,6 @@
     "Uploading %(filename)s and %(count)s others|other": "Uploading %(filename)s and %(count)s others",
     "Uploading %(filename)s and %(count)s others|zero": "Uploading %(filename)s",
     "Uploading %(filename)s and %(count)s others|one": "Uploading %(filename)s and %(count)s other",
-    "Your status will be shown to people you have a DM with.": "Your status will be shown to people you have a DM with.",
-    "Set status": "Set status",
-    "Clear status": "Clear status",
-    "Set a new status": "Set a new status",
     "Got an account? <a>Sign in</a>": "Got an account? <a>Sign in</a>",
     "New here? <a>Create an account</a>": "New here? <a>Create an account</a>",
     "Switch to light mode": "Switch to light mode",
diff --git a/src/settings/Settings.tsx b/src/settings/Settings.tsx
index b7fce4aef1..dc04194dd5 100644
--- a/src/settings/Settings.tsx
+++ b/src/settings/Settings.tsx
@@ -23,7 +23,6 @@ import {
     NotificationBodyEnabledController,
     NotificationsEnabledController,
 } from "./controllers/NotificationControllers";
-import CustomStatusController from "./controllers/CustomStatusController";
 import ThemeController from './controllers/ThemeController';
 import PushToMatrixClientController from './controllers/PushToMatrixClientController';
 import ReloadOnChangeController from "./controllers/ReloadOnChangeController";
@@ -255,14 +254,6 @@ export const SETTINGS: {[setting: string]: ISetting} = {
         },
 
     },
-    "feature_custom_status": {
-        isFeature: true,
-        labsGroup: LabGroup.Profile,
-        displayName: _td("Custom user status messages"),
-        supportedLevels: LEVELS_FEATURE,
-        default: false,
-        controller: new CustomStatusController(),
-    },
     "feature_video_rooms": {
         isFeature: true,
         labsGroup: LabGroup.Rooms,
diff --git a/src/settings/controllers/CustomStatusController.ts b/src/settings/controllers/CustomStatusController.ts
deleted file mode 100644
index c7dfad0b3b..0000000000
--- a/src/settings/controllers/CustomStatusController.ts
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,29 +0,0 @@
-/*
-Copyright 2019, 2020 The Matrix.org Foundation C.I.C.
-
-Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
-you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
-You may obtain a copy of the License at
-
-    http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
-
-Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
-distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
-WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
-See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
-limitations under the License.
-*/
-
-import SettingController from "./SettingController";
-import dis from "../../dispatcher/dispatcher";
-import { SettingLevel } from "../SettingLevel";
-
-export default class CustomStatusController extends SettingController {
-    public onChange(level: SettingLevel, roomId: string, newValue: any) {
-        // Dispatch setting change so that some components that are still visible when the
-        // Settings page is open (such as RoomTiles) can reflect the change.
-        dis.dispatch({
-            action: "feature_custom_status_changed",
-        });
-    }
-}
diff --git a/src/stores/room-list/algorithms/tag-sorting/RecentAlgorithm.ts b/src/stores/room-list/algorithms/tag-sorting/RecentAlgorithm.ts
index af937e92af..77dc8d2437 100644
--- a/src/stores/room-list/algorithms/tag-sorting/RecentAlgorithm.ts
+++ b/src/stores/room-list/algorithms/tag-sorting/RecentAlgorithm.ts
@@ -32,9 +32,6 @@ export function shouldCauseReorder(event: MatrixEvent): boolean {
     // Never ignore membership changes
     if (type === EventType.RoomMember && prevContent.membership !== content.membership) return true;
 
-    // Ignore status changes
-    // XXX: This should be an enum
-    if (type === "im.vector.user_status") return false;
     // Ignore display name changes
     if (type === EventType.RoomMember && prevContent.displayname !== content.displayname) return false;
     // Ignore avatar changes