diff --git a/e2e/smoke/reporter-variations.spec.ts b/e2e/smoke/reporter-variations.spec.ts
index bf0cbb41..1fcf6cf1 100644
--- a/e2e/smoke/reporter-variations.spec.ts
+++ b/e2e/smoke/reporter-variations.spec.ts
@@ -35,9 +35,6 @@ test.describe("Reporter Variations E2E", () => {
 
     await expect(sidebar).toContainText("John Guest");
     await expect(sidebar).toContainText("john@guest.com");
-
-    // Timeline event for guest
-    await expect(page.getByText("Issue reported by John Guest")).toBeVisible();
   });
 
   test("should display guest with name only correctly", async ({ page }) => {
@@ -46,7 +43,6 @@ test.describe("Reporter Variations E2E", () => {
     const sidebar = page.getByTestId("issue-sidebar");
 
     await expect(sidebar).toContainText("Only Name");
-    await expect(page.getByText("Issue reported by Only Name")).toBeVisible();
   });
 
   test("should display guest with email only correctly", async ({ page }) => {
@@ -56,9 +52,6 @@ test.describe("Reporter Variations E2E", () => {
 
     await expect(sidebar).toContainText("Anonymous");
     await expect(sidebar).toContainText("only@email.com");
-    await expect(
-      page.getByText("Issue reported by only@email.com")
-    ).toBeVisible();
   });
 
   test("should display fully anonymous reporter correctly", async ({
@@ -69,7 +62,6 @@ test.describe("Reporter Variations E2E", () => {
     const sidebar = page.getByTestId("issue-sidebar");
 
     await expect(sidebar).toContainText("Anonymous");
-    await expect(page.getByText("Issue reported by Guest")).toBeVisible();
   });
 
   test("should display invited user reporter correctly (legacy logic)", async ({
diff --git a/src/components/issues/IssueTimeline.tsx b/src/components/issues/IssueTimeline.tsx
index f30463d6..1d11d788 100644
--- a/src/components/issues/IssueTimeline.tsx
+++ b/src/components/issues/IssueTimeline.tsx
@@ -52,12 +52,6 @@ function TimelineItem({ event }: { event: TimelineEvent }): React.JSX.Element {
       <div className="flex-1">
         {isSystem ? (
           <div className="flex items-center gap-2 py-1 text-xs leading-snug text-muted-foreground">
-            <span
-              className="font-medium text-foreground/80"
-              data-testid="timeline-system-author"
-            >
-              {event.author.name}
-            </span>
             <span>{event.content}</span>
             <span className="text-muted-foreground/40">&bull;</span>
             <span
diff --git a/src/services/issues.test.ts b/src/services/issues.test.ts
index f3874617..15bb1241 100644
--- a/src/services/issues.test.ts
+++ b/src/services/issues.test.ts
@@ -8,7 +8,6 @@ import {
 } from "./issues";
 import { db } from "~/server/db";
 import { createNotification } from "~/lib/notifications";
-import { createTimelineEvent } from "~/lib/timeline/events";
 
 vi.mock("~/server/db", () => ({
   db: mockDeep(),
@@ -143,7 +142,6 @@ describe("Issue Service", () => {
 
       await createIssue(params);
 
-      expect(createTimelineEvent).toHaveBeenCalled();
       expect(createNotification).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
         {
           type: "new_issue",
diff --git a/src/services/issues.ts b/src/services/issues.ts
index cd89b207..98b5a510 100644
--- a/src/services/issues.ts
+++ b/src/services/issues.ts
@@ -132,15 +132,6 @@ export async function createIssue({
 
     if (!issue) throw new Error("Issue creation failed");
 
-    // 3. Create Timeline Event
-    const reporterDesc =
-      reporterName ?? reporterEmail ?? (reportedBy ? "Member" : "Guest");
-    await createTimelineEvent(
-      issue.id,
-      `Issue reported by ${reporterDesc}`,
-      tx
-    );
-
     log.info(
       {
         issueId: issue.id,
diff --git a/src/test/integration/supabase/issue-services.test.ts b/src/test/integration/supabase/issue-services.test.ts
index b6b1cbf8..915ccd7e 100644
--- a/src/test/integration/supabase/issue-services.test.ts
+++ b/src/test/integration/supabase/issue-services.test.ts
@@ -215,7 +215,7 @@ describe("Issue Service Functions (Integration)", () => {
   });
 
   describe("createIssue with reporter variations", () => {
-    it("should create an issue with guest reporter info and correct timeline message", async () => {
+    it("should create an issue with guest reporter info", async () => {
       const db = await getTestDb();
 
       const guestInfo = {
@@ -233,7 +233,7 @@ describe("Issue Service Functions (Integration)", () => {
       expect(issue.reporterEmail).toBe(guestInfo.reporterEmail);
       expect(issue.reportedBy).toBeNull();
 
-      // Verify timeline event
+      // Verify no initial timeline event is created
       const events = await db.query.issueComments.findMany({
         where: eq(issueComments.issueId, issue.id),
         orderBy: desc(issueComments.createdAt),
@@ -242,13 +242,10 @@ describe("Issue Service Functions (Integration)", () => {
       const reportEvent = events.find(
         (e: any) => e.isSystem && e.content.includes("Issue reported by")
       );
-      expect(reportEvent).toBeDefined();
-      expect(reportEvent?.content).toBe(
-        `Issue reported by ${guestInfo.reporterName}`
-      );
+      expect(reportEvent).toBeUndefined();
     });
 
-    it("should create an anonymous issue and correct timeline message", async () => {
+    it("should create an anonymous issue", async () => {
       const db = await getTestDb();
 
       const anonInfo = {
@@ -263,6 +260,7 @@ describe("Issue Service Functions (Integration)", () => {
       expect(issue.reporterEmail).toBeNull();
       expect(issue.reportedBy).toBeNull();
 
+      // Verify no initial timeline event is created
       const events = await db.query.issueComments.findMany({
         where: eq(issueComments.issueId, issue.id),
         orderBy: desc(issueComments.createdAt),
@@ -271,10 +269,10 @@ describe("Issue Service Functions (Integration)", () => {
       const reportEvent = events.find(
         (e: any) => e.isSystem && e.content.includes("Issue reported by")
       );
-      expect(reportEvent?.content).toBe("Issue reported by Guest");
+      expect(reportEvent).toBeUndefined();
     });
 
-    it("should create a member issue and correct timeline message", async () => {
+    it("should create a member issue", async () => {
       const db = await getTestDb();
 
       const memberInfo = {
@@ -290,6 +288,7 @@ describe("Issue Service Functions (Integration)", () => {
       expect(issue.reporterName).toBeNull();
       expect(issue.reporterEmail).toBeNull();
 
+      // Verify no initial timeline event is created
       const events = await db.query.issueComments.findMany({
         where: eq(issueComments.issueId, issue.id),
         orderBy: desc(issueComments.createdAt),
@@ -298,7 +297,7 @@ describe("Issue Service Functions (Integration)", () => {
       const reportEvent = events.find(
         (e: any) => e.isSystem && e.content.includes("Issue reported by")
       );
-      expect(reportEvent?.content).toBe("Issue reported by Member");
+      expect(reportEvent).toBeUndefined();
     });
   });
 });
diff --git a/src/test/integration/supabase/issues.test.ts b/src/test/integration/supabase/issues.test.ts
index f9ffe51f..ff38c1c7 100644
--- a/src/test/integration/supabase/issues.test.ts
+++ b/src/test/integration/supabase/issues.test.ts
@@ -323,14 +323,14 @@ describe("Issues CRUD Operations (PGlite)", () => {
         .insert(issueComments)
         .values({
           issueId: testIssue.id,
-          content: "Issue created",
+          content: "Status changed from new to in_progress",
           isSystem: true,
           authorId: null,
         })
         .returning();
 
       expect(event).toBeDefined();
-      expect(event.content).toBe("Issue created");
+      expect(event.content).toBe("Status changed from new to in_progress");
       expect(event.isSystem).toBe(true);
       expect(event.authorId).toBeNull();
     });
@@ -387,7 +387,7 @@ describe("Issues CRUD Operations (PGlite)", () => {
       await db.insert(issueComments).values([
         {
           issueId: testIssue.id,
-          content: "Issue created",
+          content: "Priority changed",
           isSystem: true,
           createdAt: new Date(now - 3_000),
         },
@@ -520,7 +520,7 @@ describe("Issues CRUD Operations (PGlite)", () => {
       // Create timeline event
       await db.insert(issueComments).values({
         issueId: issue.id,
-        content: "Issue created",
+        content: "Status changed from new to in_progress",
         isSystem: true,
       });