diff --git a/rails/app/controllers/api/stories_controller.rb b/rails/app/controllers/api/stories_controller.rb
index 3abcfaa08..aac857f6e 100644
--- a/rails/app/controllers/api/stories_controller.rb
+++ b/rails/app/controllers/api/stories_controller.rb
@@ -5,9 +5,6 @@ def index
       @page = Api::StoriesPage.new(community, story_params)
 
       @stories = @page.data
-
-      # Ensure distinct
-      @stories = @stories.distinct
     end
 
     def show
diff --git a/rails/spec/requests/api/public_stories_spec.rb b/rails/spec/requests/api/public_stories_spec.rb
index 9bce86f93..12782b87d 100644
--- a/rails/spec/requests/api/public_stories_spec.rb
+++ b/rails/spec/requests/api/public_stories_spec.rb
@@ -29,10 +29,8 @@
   context "filters and sort" do
     let!(:place_1) { create(:place, community: community, region: "the internet") }
     let!(:place_2) { create(:place, community: community, type_of_place: "online") }
-    let!(:place_being_deleted) { create(:place, community: orphan_community, type_of_place: "being deleted") }
     let!(:speaker_1) { create(:speaker, community: community) }
     let!(:speaker_2) { create(:speaker, community: community, speaker_community: "ruby for good") }
-    let!(:speaker_being_deleted) { create(:speaker, community: orphan_community) }
 
     # Story:
     # - place 2
@@ -86,38 +84,6 @@
       )
     end
 
-    # Story:
-    # - place 1
-    # - speaker - will be deleted in test
-    # - language: English
-    let!(:story_with_no_speaker) do
-      create(
-        :story,
-        community: orphan_community,
-        topic: "test work",
-        language: "English",
-        places: [place_1],
-        speakers: [speaker_being_deleted],
-        permission_level: :anonymous
-      )
-    end
-
-    # Story:
-    # - place - will be deleted in test
-    # - speaker 1
-    # - language: English
-    let!(:story_with_no_place) do
-      create(
-        :story,
-        community: orphan_community,
-        topic: "test work",
-        language: "English",
-        places: [place_being_deleted],
-        speakers: [speaker_1],
-        permission_level: :anonymous
-      )
-    end
-
     it "correctly filters" do
       # filter by place (id / name)
       get "/api/communities/cool_community/stories", params: {places: [place_2.id]}
@@ -167,7 +133,6 @@
 
       get "/api/communities/cool_community/stories"
 
-
       expect(json_meta["total"]).to eq(1)
       expect(json_response["stories"].map { |s| s["id"] }).to contain_exactly(story_1.id)
     end
@@ -215,16 +180,5 @@
       expect(json_response["stories"].count).to eq(1)
       expect(json_meta["hasNextPage"]).to be false
     end
-
-    it "orphaned stories are excluded" do
-       # ensures that story_with_no_speaker does not show up in list:
-      speaker_being_deleted.destroy
-      # ensures that story_with_no_place does not show up in list:
-      place_being_deleted.destroy
-
-      get "/api/communities/orphaned_community/stories"
-      expect(json_response["total"]).to eq(0)
-      expect(json_response["stories"].length).to eq(0)
-    end
   end
 end
diff --git a/rails/spec/requests/home_request_spec.rb b/rails/spec/requests/home_request_spec.rb
index 71de1d578..f3e598c6f 100644
--- a/rails/spec/requests/home_request_spec.rb
+++ b/rails/spec/requests/home_request_spec.rb
@@ -49,10 +49,6 @@
         )
       end
 
-      def json_response
-        JSON.parse(response.body)
-      end
-
       before do
         login_as user
       end