diff --git a/_locales/en/messages.json b/_locales/en/messages.json
index 7c905b6b4..44034fa3d 100644
--- a/_locales/en/messages.json
+++ b/_locales/en/messages.json
@@ -4355,6 +4355,10 @@
     "messageformat": "{adminName} denied a request to join the group from {joinerName}.",
     "description": "Shown in timeline or conversation preview when v2 group changes"
   },
+  "icu:GroupV2--admin-approval-remove-one--other--unknown": {
+    "messageformat": "A request to join the group from {joinerName} was denied.",
+    "description": "Shown in timeline or conversation preview when v2 group changes"
+  },
   "icu:GroupV2--admin-approval-bounce--one": {
     "messageformat": "{joinerName} requested and cancelled their request to join via the group link",
     "description": "Shown in timeline or conversation preview when v2 group changes"
diff --git a/ts/groupChange.ts b/ts/groupChange.ts
index eb1afbf9e..9ecf6db05 100644
--- a/ts/groupChange.ts
+++ b/ts/groupChange.ts
@@ -773,10 +773,8 @@ export function renderChangeDetail<T>(
       );
     }
 
-    // We default to the user canceling their request, because it is far more likely that
-    //   if an admin does the denial, we'll get a change event from them.
     return i18n(
-      'icu:GroupV2--admin-approval-remove-one--other--own',
+      'icu:GroupV2--admin-approval-remove-one--other--unknown',
 
       { joinerName: renderContact(aci) }
     );