diff --git a/swh/journal/replay.py b/swh/journal/replay.py
--- a/swh/journal/replay.py
+++ b/swh/journal/replay.py
@@ -234,7 +234,10 @@
         # TODO: insert 'content' in batches
         for object_ in objects:
             try:
-                storage.content_add_metadata([object_])
+                if object_.get('status') == 'absent':
+                    storage.skipped_content_add([object_])
+                else:
+                    storage.content_add_metadata([object_])
             except HashCollision as e:
                 logger.error('Hash collision: %s', e.args)
     elif object_type in ('directory', 'revision', 'release',
diff --git a/swh/journal/tests/test_write_replay.py b/swh/journal/tests/test_write_replay.py
--- a/swh/journal/tests/test_write_replay.py
+++ b/swh/journal/tests/test_write_replay.py
@@ -60,6 +60,8 @@
             storage1.origin_add_one({'url': obj['origin']})
             storage1.origin_visit_upsert([obj])
         else:
+            if obj_type == 'content' and obj.get('status') == 'absent':
+                obj_type = 'skipped_content'
             method = getattr(storage1, obj_type + '_add')
             try:
                 method([obj])
@@ -117,7 +119,8 @@
         if obj_type == 'content':
             # avoid hash collision
             if not storage1.content_find(obj):
-                storage1.content_add([obj])
+                if obj.get('status') != 'absent':
+                    storage1.content_add([obj])
                 contents.append(obj)
 
     queue_size = len(queue)