diff --git a/keyserver/src/responders/message-responders.js b/keyserver/src/responders/message-responders.js
--- a/keyserver/src/responders/message-responders.js
+++ b/keyserver/src/responders/message-responders.js
@@ -20,11 +20,7 @@
 import type { TextMessageData } from 'lib/types/messages/text';
 import { threadPermissions } from 'lib/types/thread-types';
 import { ServerError } from 'lib/utils/errors';
-import {
-  tString,
-  tShape,
-  tMediaMessageMedia,
-} from 'lib/utils/validation-utils';
+import { tShape, tMediaMessageMedia } from 'lib/utils/validation-utils';
 
 import createMessages from '../creators/message-creator';
 import { SQL } from '../database/database';
@@ -194,7 +190,7 @@
   threadID: t.String,
   localID: t.maybe(t.String),
   targetMessageID: t.String,
-  reaction: tString('👍'),
+  reaction: t.String,
   action: t.enums.of(['add_reaction', 'remove_reaction']),
 });
 async function reactionMessageCreationResponder(