diff --git a/apps/activitypub/package.json b/apps/activitypub/package.json
index a3606f6d8db..206a0629a55 100644
--- a/apps/activitypub/package.json
+++ b/apps/activitypub/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "@tryghost/activitypub",
-  "version": "3.1.35",
+  "version": "3.1.36",
   "license": "MIT",
   "repository": {
     "type": "git",
diff --git a/apps/activitypub/src/components/feed/feed-item.tsx b/apps/activitypub/src/components/feed/feed-item.tsx
index f7ecf826586..b6482bb7859 100644
--- a/apps/activitypub/src/components/feed/feed-item.tsx
+++ b/apps/activitypub/src/components/feed/feed-item.tsx
@@ -12,8 +12,8 @@ import ProfilePreviewHoverCard from '../global/profile-preview-hover-card';
 
 import FeedItemStats from './feed-item-stats';
 import clsx from 'clsx';
+import getHandle from '../../utils/get-handle';
 import getReadingTime from '../../utils/get-reading-time';
-import getUsername from '../../utils/get-username';
 import {handleProfileClick} from '../../utils/handle-profile-click';
 import {openLinksInNewTab, sanitizeHtml, stripHtml} from '../../utils/content-formatters';
 import {renderTimestamp} from '../../utils/render-timestamp';
@@ -379,7 +379,7 @@ const FeedItem: React.FC<FeedItemProps> = ({
         author = typeof object.attributedTo === 'object' ? object.attributedTo as ActorProperties : actor;
     }
 
-    const authorHandle = author ? getUsername(author) : null;
+    const authorHandle = author ? getHandle(author) : null;
 
     const followedByMe = author?.followedByMe || false;
 
@@ -455,7 +455,7 @@ const FeedItem: React.FC<FeedItemProps> = ({
                                             </span>
                                             <div className={`flex w-full text-md text-gray-700 dark:text-gray-600`}>
                                                 <span className={`truncate ${!isPending ? 'hover-underline' : ''}`}>
-                                                    {!isLoading ? getUsername(author) : <Skeleton className='w-56' />}
+                                                    {!isLoading ? getHandle(author) : <Skeleton className='w-56' />}
                                                 </span>
                                                 <div className={`ml-1 before:mr-1 ${!isLoading && 'before:content-["·"]'}`} title={`${timestamp}`}>
                                                     {!isLoading ? renderTimestamp(object, (isPending === false && !object.authored)) : <Skeleton className='w-4' />}
@@ -564,7 +564,7 @@ const FeedItem: React.FC<FeedItemProps> = ({
                                             <div>{renderTimestamp(object, !object.authored)}</div>
                                         </div>
                                         <div className='flex w-full'>
-                                            <span className='min-w-0 truncate text-gray-700 dark:text-gray-600'>{getUsername(author)}</span>
+                                            <span className='min-w-0 truncate text-gray-700 dark:text-gray-600'>{getHandle(author)}</span>
                                         </div>
                                     </div>
                                 </>}
@@ -626,7 +626,7 @@ const FeedItem: React.FC<FeedItemProps> = ({
                                                 <div>{renderTimestamp(object, (isPending === false && !object.authored))}</div>
                                             </div>
                                             <div className='flex'>
-                                                <span className='truncate text-gray-700'>{getUsername(author)}</span>
+                                                <span className='truncate text-gray-700'>{getHandle(author)}</span>
                                             </div>
                                         </div>
                                     </div>
diff --git a/apps/activitypub/src/components/global/ap-avatar.tsx b/apps/activitypub/src/components/global/ap-avatar.tsx
index 7073ba07e71..03c49dae5f9 100644
--- a/apps/activitypub/src/components/global/ap-avatar.tsx
+++ b/apps/activitypub/src/components/global/ap-avatar.tsx
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 import React, {useEffect, useState} from 'react';
 import clsx from 'clsx';
-import getUsername from '@utils/get-username';
+import getHandle from '@utils/get-handle';
 import {ActorProperties} from '@tryghost/admin-x-framework/api/activitypub';
 import {Button, Skeleton} from '@tryghost/shade/components';
 import {LucideIcon} from '@tryghost/shade/utils';
@@ -140,7 +140,7 @@ const APAvatar: React.FC<APAvatarProps> = ({author, size, isLoading = false, dis
         return <Skeleton className={imageClass} containerClassName={containerClass} />;
     }
 
-    const handle = author?.handle || getUsername(author as ActorProperties);
+    const handle = getHandle(author as ActorProperties);
 
     const handleClick = (e: React.MouseEvent) => {
         e.stopPropagation();
diff --git a/apps/activitypub/src/components/global/ap-reply-box.tsx b/apps/activitypub/src/components/global/ap-reply-box.tsx
index 05561b78d9d..c2faf7b72c9 100644
--- a/apps/activitypub/src/components/global/ap-reply-box.tsx
+++ b/apps/activitypub/src/components/global/ap-reply-box.tsx
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ import React, {HTMLProps, useState} from 'react';
 
 import APAvatar from './ap-avatar';
 import NewNoteModal from '@components/modals/new-note-modal';
-import getUsername from '../../utils/get-username';
+import getHandle from '../../utils/get-handle';
 import {ActorProperties, ObjectProperties} from '@tryghost/admin-x-framework/api/activitypub';
 import {useUserDataForUser} from '@hooks/use-activity-pub-queries';
 
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ const APReplyBox: React.FC<APTextAreaProps> = ({
     const attributedTo = object.attributedTo as ActorProperties | undefined;
     let placeholder = 'Reply...';
     if (attributedTo?.preferredUsername && attributedTo?.id) {
-        placeholder = `Reply to ${getUsername(attributedTo)}...`;
+        placeholder = `Reply to ${getHandle(attributedTo)}...`;
     }
 
     return (
diff --git a/apps/activitypub/src/components/global/profile-preview-hover-card.tsx b/apps/activitypub/src/components/global/profile-preview-hover-card.tsx
index 92432cc7615..ba5c39d287a 100644
--- a/apps/activitypub/src/components/global/profile-preview-hover-card.tsx
+++ b/apps/activitypub/src/components/global/profile-preview-hover-card.tsx
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 import FollowButton from './follow-button';
 import React, {useEffect, useState} from 'react';
-import getUsername from '../../utils/get-username';
+import getHandle from '../../utils/get-handle';
 import {Account} from '@src/api/activitypub';
 import {ActorProperties} from '@tryghost/admin-x-framework/api/activitypub';
 import {Avatar, AvatarFallback, AvatarImage, Badge, HoverCard, HoverCardContent, HoverCardTrigger, Skeleton} from '@tryghost/shade/components';
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ const ProfilePreviewHoverCard: React.FC<ProfilePreviewHoverCardProps> = ({
 
     let targetHandle = actor?.handle;
     if (!targetHandle && actor && isActorProperties(actor)) {
-        targetHandle = getUsername(actor);
+        targetHandle = getHandle(actor);
     }
 
     const bypassHover = disabled || (!targetHandle && !actor);
diff --git a/apps/activitypub/src/components/modals/new-note-modal.tsx b/apps/activitypub/src/components/modals/new-note-modal.tsx
index c6a64e187a2..2187970a9ce 100644
--- a/apps/activitypub/src/components/modals/new-note-modal.tsx
+++ b/apps/activitypub/src/components/modals/new-note-modal.tsx
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import * as FormPrimitive from '@radix-ui/react-form';
 import APAvatar from '@components/global/ap-avatar';
 import FeedItem from '@components/feed/feed-item';
-import getUsername from '@utils/get-username';
+import getHandle from '@utils/get-handle';
 import {ActorProperties, ObjectProperties} from '@tryghost/admin-x-framework/api/activitypub';
 import {Button, Dialog, DialogContent, DialogDescription, DialogFooter, DialogHeader, DialogTitle, DialogTrigger, Input, LoadingIndicator, Skeleton} from '@tryghost/shade/components';
 import {ChangeEvent, useCallback, useEffect, useRef, useState} from 'react';
@@ -273,7 +273,7 @@ const NewNoteModal: React.FC<NewNoteModalProps> = ({children, replyTo, onReply,
     if (replyTo) {
         const attributedTo = replyTo.object.attributedTo || {};
         if (typeof attributedTo === 'object' && 'preferredUsername' in attributedTo && 'id' in attributedTo) {
-            placeholder = `Reply to ${getUsername(attributedTo as ActorProperties)}...`;
+            placeholder = `Reply to ${getHandle(attributedTo as ActorProperties)}...`;
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/apps/activitypub/src/utils/get-username.ts b/apps/activitypub/src/utils/get-handle.ts
similarity index 59%
rename from apps/activitypub/src/utils/get-username.ts
rename to apps/activitypub/src/utils/get-handle.ts
index b0a4e6efa53..07e93c4516b 100644
--- a/apps/activitypub/src/utils/get-username.ts
+++ b/apps/activitypub/src/utils/get-handle.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,8 @@
-function getUsername(actor: {preferredUsername: string; id: string|null;}) {
+function getHandle(actor: {handle?: string; preferredUsername: string; id: string|null;}) {
+    if (actor.handle) {
+        return actor.handle;
+    }
+
     if (!actor.preferredUsername || !actor.id) {
         return '@unknown@unknown';
     }
@@ -9,4 +13,4 @@ function getUsername(actor: {preferredUsername: string; id: string|null;}) {
     }
 }
 
-export default getUsername;
+export default getHandle;
diff --git a/apps/activitypub/src/utils/handle-profile-click.ts b/apps/activitypub/src/utils/handle-profile-click.ts
index 6f0e5cae697..a051c585a75 100644
--- a/apps/activitypub/src/utils/handle-profile-click.ts
+++ b/apps/activitypub/src/utils/handle-profile-click.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import getUsername from './get-username';
+import getHandle from './get-handle';
 import {ActorProperties} from '@tryghost/admin-x-framework/api/activitypub';
 import {useNavigate} from '@tryghost/admin-x-framework';
 
@@ -7,6 +7,6 @@ export const handleProfileClick = (actor: ActorProperties | string, navigate: Re
     if (typeof actor === 'string') {
         navigate(`/profile/${actor}`);
     } else {
-        navigate(`/profile/${actor.handle || getUsername(actor)}`);
+        navigate(`/profile/${getHandle(actor)}`);
     }
 };
diff --git a/apps/activitypub/src/utils/posts.ts b/apps/activitypub/src/utils/posts.ts
index 59df3ed889f..721aef0d030 100644
--- a/apps/activitypub/src/utils/posts.ts
+++ b/apps/activitypub/src/utils/posts.ts
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ export function mapPostToActivity(post: Post): Activity {
             url: post.author.avatarUrl
         },
         name: post.author.name,
+        handle: post.author.handle,
         preferredUsername: post.author.handle.split('@')[1],
         followedByMe: post.author.followedByMe,
         // These are not used but needed to comply with the ActorProperties type
@@ -55,6 +56,7 @@ export function mapPostToActivity(post: Post): Activity {
                 url: post.repostedBy.avatarUrl
             },
             name: post.repostedBy.name,
+            handle: post.repostedBy.handle,
             preferredUsername: post.repostedBy.handle.split('@')[1],
             followedByMe: post.repostedBy.followedByMe,
             // These are not used but needed to comply with the ActorProperties type
diff --git a/apps/activitypub/src/views/feed/note.tsx b/apps/activitypub/src/views/feed/note.tsx
index c49da4649a1..6b1f8c360cb 100644
--- a/apps/activitypub/src/views/feed/note.tsx
+++ b/apps/activitypub/src/views/feed/note.tsx
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ import Layout from '@src/components/layout/layout';
 import ProfilePreviewHoverCard from '@components/global/profile-preview-hover-card';
 import React, {useEffect, useRef, useState} from 'react';
 import ShowRepliesButton from '@src/components/global/show-replies-button';
-import getUsername from '@src/utils/get-username';
+import getHandle from '@src/utils/get-handle';
 import {Activity} from '@tryghost/admin-x-framework/api/activitypub';
 import {EmptyViewIcon, EmptyViewIndicator} from '@src/components/global/empty-view-indicator';
 import {LoadingIndicator, Skeleton} from '@tryghost/shade/components';
@@ -206,7 +206,7 @@ const Note = () => {
                                             <span className='min-w-0 truncate font-semibold whitespace-nowrap hover:underline'>{currentPost.actor.name}</span>
                                         </div>
                                         <div className='flex w-full'>
-                                            <span className='truncate text-gray-700 after:mx-1 after:font-normal after:text-gray-700 after:content-["·"]'>{getUsername(currentPost.actor)}</span>
+                                            <span className='truncate text-gray-700 after:mx-1 after:font-normal after:text-gray-700 after:content-["·"]'>{getHandle(currentPost.actor)}</span>
                                             <span className='text-gray-700'>{renderTimestamp(object, !object.authored)}</span>
                                         </div>
                                     </div>
diff --git a/apps/activitypub/src/views/inbox/components/reader.tsx b/apps/activitypub/src/views/inbox/components/reader.tsx
index 8a65c196162..b64d49efe18 100644
--- a/apps/activitypub/src/views/inbox/components/reader.tsx
+++ b/apps/activitypub/src/views/inbox/components/reader.tsx
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import Customizer, {COLOR_OPTIONS, type ColorOption, type FontSize, useCustomizerSettings} from './customizer';
 import React, {useCallback, useEffect, useMemo, useRef, useState} from 'react';
 import ShowRepliesButton from '@src/components/global/show-replies-button';
-import getUsername from '../../../utils/get-username';
+import getHandle from '../../../utils/get-handle';
 import {LoadingIndicator, Skeleton} from '@tryghost/shade/components';
 
 import {renderTimestamp} from '../../../utils/render-timestamp';
@@ -824,7 +824,7 @@ export const Reader: React.FC<ReaderProps> = ({
                                                     <span className='min-w-0 truncate font-semibold whitespace-nowrap text-black hover:underline dark:text-white'>{isLoadingContent ? <Skeleton className='w-20' /> : actor.name}</span>
                                                 </div>
                                                 <div className='flex w-full'>
-                                                    {!isLoadingContent && <span className='truncate text-gray-700 after:mx-1 after:font-normal after:text-gray-700 after:content-["·"]'>{getUsername(actor)}</span>}
+                                                    {!isLoadingContent && <span className='truncate text-gray-700 after:mx-1 after:font-normal after:text-gray-700 after:content-["·"]'>{getHandle(actor)}</span>}
                                                     <span className='text-gray-700'>{isLoadingContent ? <Skeleton className='w-[120px]' /> : renderTimestamp(object, !object.authored)}</span>
                                                 </div>
                                             </div>
@@ -833,7 +833,7 @@ export const Reader: React.FC<ReaderProps> = ({
                                     {!object.authored && !isLoadingContent && (
                                         <FollowButton
                                             following={actor.followedByMe ?? false}
-                                            handle={getUsername(actor)}
+                                            handle={getHandle(actor)}
                                         />
                                     )}
                                 </div>
diff --git a/apps/activitypub/src/views/profile/components/actor-list.tsx b/apps/activitypub/src/views/profile/components/actor-list.tsx
index 26ecf017dc9..851b4a87da6 100644
--- a/apps/activitypub/src/views/profile/components/actor-list.tsx
+++ b/apps/activitypub/src/views/profile/components/actor-list.tsx
@@ -3,8 +3,8 @@ import ActivityItem from '@src/components/activities/activity-item';
 import FollowButton from '@src/components/global/follow-button';
 import ProfilePreviewHoverCard from '@components/global/profile-preview-hover-card';
 import React, {useEffect, useRef} from 'react';
+import getHandle from '@src/utils/get-handle';
 import getName from '@src/utils/get-name';
-import getUsername from '@src/utils/get-username';
 import {Actor} from '@src/api/activitypub';
 import {Button, LoadingIndicator, NoValueLabel, NoValueLabelIcon} from '@tryghost/shade/components';
 import {LucideIcon} from '@tryghost/shade/utils';
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ const ActorList: React.FC<ActorListProps> = ({
                 ) : (
                     <div className='flex flex-col'>
                         {actors.map(({actor, isFollowing, blockedByMe, domainBlockedByMe}) => {
-                            const actorHandle = actor.handle || getUsername(actor);
+                            const actorHandle = getHandle(actor);
                             const isCurrentUser = actorHandle === currentUser?.handle;
 
                             return (
diff --git a/apps/activitypub/test/unit/utils/get-handle.test.tsx b/apps/activitypub/test/unit/utils/get-handle.test.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..8684037928d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/activitypub/test/unit/utils/get-handle.test.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,48 @@
+import getHandle from '../../../src/utils/get-handle';
+
+describe('getHandle', function () {
+    it('returns the API-provided handle when present', async function () {
+        const user = {
+            handle: '@index@activitypub.example',
+            preferredUsername: 'index',
+            id: 'https://www.platformer.news/'
+        };
+
+        const result = getHandle(user);
+
+        expect(result).toBe('@index@activitypub.example');
+    });
+
+    it('returns the formatted handle', async function () {
+        const user = {
+            preferredUsername: 'index',
+            id: 'https://www.platformer.news/'
+        };
+
+        const result = getHandle(user);
+
+        expect(result).toBe('@index@platformer.news');
+    });
+
+    it('returns a default handle if the user object is missing data', async function () {
+        const user = {
+            preferredUsername: '',
+            id: ''
+        };
+
+        const result = getHandle(user);
+
+        expect(result).toBe('@unknown@unknown');
+    });
+
+    it('returns a default handle if url parsing fails', async function () {
+        const user = {
+            preferredUsername: 'index',
+            id: 'not-a-url'
+        };
+
+        const result = getHandle(user);
+
+        expect(result).toBe('@unknown@unknown');
+    });
+});
diff --git a/apps/activitypub/test/unit/utils/get-username.test.tsx b/apps/activitypub/test/unit/utils/get-username.test.tsx
deleted file mode 100644
index f3846c5323d..00000000000
--- a/apps/activitypub/test/unit/utils/get-username.test.tsx
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,36 +0,0 @@
-import getUsername from '../../../src/utils/get-username';
-
-describe('getUsername', function () {
-    it('returns the formatted username', async function () {
-        const user = {
-            preferredUsername: 'index',
-            id: 'https://www.platformer.news/'
-        };
-
-        const result = getUsername(user);
-
-        expect(result).toBe('@index@platformer.news');
-    });
-
-    it('returns a default username if the user object is missing data', async function () {
-        const user = {
-            preferredUsername: '',
-            id: ''
-        };
-
-        const result = getUsername(user);
-
-        expect(result).toBe('@unknown@unknown');
-    });
-
-    it('returns a default username if url parsing fails', async function () {
-        const user = {
-            preferredUsername: 'index',
-            id: 'not-a-url'
-        };
-
-        const result = getUsername(user);
-
-        expect(result).toBe('@unknown@unknown');
-    });
-});
diff --git a/apps/activitypub/test/unit/utils/posts.test.ts b/apps/activitypub/test/unit/utils/posts.test.ts
index 5eabbf43bde..44fa175d9be 100644
--- a/apps/activitypub/test/unit/utils/posts.test.ts
+++ b/apps/activitypub/test/unit/utils/posts.test.ts
@@ -74,6 +74,7 @@ describe('mapPostToActivity', function () {
         expect(actor.id).toBe('https://example.com/users/123');
         expect(actor.icon.url).toBe('https://example.com/users/123/avatar.jpg');
         expect(actor.name).toBe('Test User');
+        expect(actor.handle).toBe('@testuser@example.com');
         expect(actor.preferredUsername).toBe('testuser');
 
         // When the post has been reposted, the actor should be the reposter
@@ -92,9 +93,25 @@ describe('mapPostToActivity', function () {
         expect(actor.id).toBe('https://example.com/users/456');
         expect(actor.icon.url).toBe('https://example.com/users/456/avatar.jpg');
         expect(actor.name).toBe('Test User 2');
+        expect(actor.handle).toBe('@testuser2@example.com');
         expect(actor.preferredUsername).toBe('testuser2');
     });
 
+    test('it preserves the API-provided author handle', function () {
+        const actor = mapPostToActivity({
+            ...post,
+            author: {
+                ...post.author,
+                handle: '@testuser@social.example',
+                url: 'https://example.com/users/123'
+            }
+        }).actor;
+
+        expect(actor.id).toBe('https://example.com/users/123');
+        expect(actor.handle).toBe('@testuser@social.example');
+        expect(actor.preferredUsername).toBe('testuser');
+    });
+
     test('it sets the correct object type', function () {
         expect(
             mapPostToActivity(post).object.type
@@ -124,6 +141,7 @@ describe('mapPostToActivity', function () {
         expect(object.summary).toBe('Test Summary');
         expect(object.url).toBe('https://example.com/posts/123');
         expect(object.attributedTo.id).toBe('https://example.com/users/123');
+        expect(object.attributedTo.handle).toBe('@testuser@example.com');
         expect(object.published).toBe('2024-01-01T00:00:00Z');
         expect(object.preview.content).toBe('Test Excerpt');
         expect(object.id).toBe('123');