diff --git a/Content.Shared/Interaction/Events/ContactInteractionEvent.cs b/Content.Shared/Interaction/Events/ContactInteractionEvent.cs
index 7be1c01c4ad7d7..c9d5fba2ed0b59 100644
--- a/Content.Shared/Interaction/Events/ContactInteractionEvent.cs
+++ b/Content.Shared/Interaction/Events/ContactInteractionEvent.cs
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ namespace Content.Shared.Interaction.Events;
 /// </remarks>
 public sealed class ContactInteractionEvent : HandledEntityEventArgs
 {
-    public EntityUid Other;
+    public readonly EntityUid Other;
 
     public ContactInteractionEvent(EntityUid other)
     {
diff --git a/Content.Shared/Interaction/Events/InteractionFailureEvent.cs b/Content.Shared/Interaction/Events/InteractionFailureEvent.cs
index 8670164293951b..a820048104d0f5 100644
--- a/Content.Shared/Interaction/Events/InteractionFailureEvent.cs
+++ b/Content.Shared/Interaction/Events/InteractionFailureEvent.cs
@@ -3,7 +3,5 @@ namespace Content.Shared.Interaction.Events;
 /// <summary>
 /// Raised on the target when failing to pet/hug something.
 /// </summary>
-// TODO INTERACTION
-// Rename this, or move it to another namespace to make it clearer that this is specific to "petting/hugging" (InteractionPopupSystem)
 [ByRefEvent]
 public readonly record struct InteractionFailureEvent(EntityUid User);
diff --git a/Content.Shared/Interaction/Events/InteractionSuccessEvent.cs b/Content.Shared/Interaction/Events/InteractionSuccessEvent.cs
index 9395ddc910c9c5..da4f9e43d7d263 100644
--- a/Content.Shared/Interaction/Events/InteractionSuccessEvent.cs
+++ b/Content.Shared/Interaction/Events/InteractionSuccessEvent.cs
@@ -3,7 +3,5 @@ namespace Content.Shared.Interaction.Events;
 /// <summary>
 /// Raised on the target when successfully petting/hugging something.
 /// </summary>
-// TODO INTERACTION
-// Rename this, or move it to another namespace to make it clearer that this is specific to "petting/hugging" (InteractionPopupSystem)
 [ByRefEvent]
 public readonly record struct InteractionSuccessEvent(EntityUid User);
diff --git a/Content.Shared/Interaction/SharedInteractionSystem.cs b/Content.Shared/Interaction/SharedInteractionSystem.cs
index 6f44d3089d1524..ddbf3ee57294ee 100644
--- a/Content.Shared/Interaction/SharedInteractionSystem.cs
+++ b/Content.Shared/Interaction/SharedInteractionSystem.cs
@@ -456,22 +456,8 @@ public void UserInteraction(
                 inRangeUnobstructed);
         }
 
-        private bool IsDeleted(EntityUid uid)
-        {
-            return TerminatingOrDeleted(uid) || EntityManager.IsQueuedForDeletion(uid);
-        }
-
-        private bool IsDeleted(EntityUid? uid)
-        {
-            //optional / null entities can pass this validation check. I.e., is-deleted returns false for null uids
-            return uid != null && IsDeleted(uid.Value);
-        }
-
         public void InteractHand(EntityUid user, EntityUid target)
         {
-            if (IsDeleted(user) || IsDeleted(target))
-                return;
-
             var complexInteractions = _actionBlockerSystem.CanComplexInteract(user);
             if (!complexInteractions)
             {
@@ -480,8 +466,7 @@ public void InteractHand(EntityUid user, EntityUid target)
                     checkCanInteract: false,
                     checkUseDelay: true,
                     checkAccess: false,
-                    complexInteractions: complexInteractions,
-                    checkDeletion: false);
+                    complexInteractions: complexInteractions);
                 return;
             }
 
@@ -494,7 +479,6 @@ public void InteractHand(EntityUid user, EntityUid target)
                 return;
             }
 
-            DebugTools.Assert(!IsDeleted(user) && !IsDeleted(target));
             // all interactions should only happen when in range / unobstructed, so no range check is needed
             var message = new InteractHandEvent(user, target);
             RaiseLocalEvent(target, message, true);
@@ -503,23 +487,18 @@ public void InteractHand(EntityUid user, EntityUid target)
             if (message.Handled)
                 return;
 
-            DebugTools.Assert(!IsDeleted(user) && !IsDeleted(target));
             // Else we run Activate.
             InteractionActivate(user,
                 target,
                 checkCanInteract: false,
                 checkUseDelay: true,
                 checkAccess: false,
-                complexInteractions: complexInteractions,
-                checkDeletion: false);
+                complexInteractions: complexInteractions);
         }
 
         public void InteractUsingRanged(EntityUid user, EntityUid used, EntityUid? target,
             EntityCoordinates clickLocation, bool inRangeUnobstructed)
         {
-            if (IsDeleted(user) || IsDeleted(used) || IsDeleted(target))
-                return;
-
             if (target != null)
             {
                 _adminLogger.Add(
@@ -535,10 +514,9 @@ public void InteractUsingRanged(EntityUid user, EntityUid used, EntityUid? targe
                     $"{ToPrettyString(user):user} interacted with *nothing* using {ToPrettyString(used):used}");
             }
 
-            if (RangedInteractDoBefore(user, used, target, clickLocation, inRangeUnobstructed, checkDeletion: false))
+            if (RangedInteractDoBefore(user, used, target, clickLocation, inRangeUnobstructed))
                 return;
 
-            DebugTools.Assert(!IsDeleted(user) && !IsDeleted(used) && !IsDeleted(target));
             if (target != null)
             {
                 var rangedMsg = new RangedInteractEvent(user, used, target.Value, clickLocation);
@@ -546,12 +524,12 @@ public void InteractUsingRanged(EntityUid user, EntityUid used, EntityUid? targe
 
                 // We contact the USED entity, but not the target.
                 DoContactInteraction(user, used, rangedMsg);
+
                 if (rangedMsg.Handled)
                     return;
             }
 
-            DebugTools.Assert(!IsDeleted(user) && !IsDeleted(used) && !IsDeleted(target));
-            InteractDoAfter(user, used, target, clickLocation, inRangeUnobstructed, checkDeletion: false);
+            InteractDoAfter(user, used, target, clickLocation, inRangeUnobstructed);
         }
 
         protected bool ValidateInteractAndFace(EntityUid user, EntityCoordinates coordinates)
@@ -955,18 +933,11 @@ public bool RangedInteractDoBefore(
             EntityUid used,
             EntityUid? target,
             EntityCoordinates clickLocation,
-            bool canReach,
-            bool checkDeletion = true)
+            bool canReach)
         {
-            if (checkDeletion && (IsDeleted(user) || IsDeleted(used) || IsDeleted(target)))
-                return false;
-
             var ev = new BeforeRangedInteractEvent(user, used, target, clickLocation, canReach);
             RaiseLocalEvent(used, ev);
 
-            if (!ev.Handled)
-                return false;
-
             // We contact the USED entity, but not the target.
             DoContactInteraction(user, used, ev);
             return ev.Handled;
@@ -995,9 +966,6 @@ public bool InteractUsing(
             bool checkCanInteract = true,
             bool checkCanUse = true)
         {
-            if (IsDeleted(user) || IsDeleted(used) || IsDeleted(target))
-                return false;
-
             if (checkCanInteract && !_actionBlockerSystem.CanInteract(user, target))
                 return false;
 
@@ -1009,10 +977,9 @@ public bool InteractUsing(
                 LogImpact.Low,
                 $"{ToPrettyString(user):user} interacted with {ToPrettyString(target):target} using {ToPrettyString(used):used}");
 
-            if (RangedInteractDoBefore(user, used, target, clickLocation, canReach: true, checkDeletion: false))
+            if (RangedInteractDoBefore(user, used, target, clickLocation, true))
                 return true;
 
-            DebugTools.Assert(!IsDeleted(user) && !IsDeleted(used) && !IsDeleted(target));
             // all interactions should only happen when in range / unobstructed, so no range check is needed
             var interactUsingEvent = new InteractUsingEvent(user, used, target, clickLocation);
             RaiseLocalEvent(target, interactUsingEvent, true);
@@ -1022,10 +989,8 @@ public bool InteractUsing(
             if (interactUsingEvent.Handled)
                 return true;
 
-            if (InteractDoAfter(user, used, target, clickLocation, canReach: true, checkDeletion: false))
+            if (InteractDoAfter(user, used, target, clickLocation, canReach: true))
                 return true;
-
-            DebugTools.Assert(!IsDeleted(user) && !IsDeleted(used) && !IsDeleted(target));
             return false;
         }
 
@@ -1039,14 +1004,11 @@ public bool InteractUsing(
         /// <param name="canReach">Whether the <paramref name="user"/> is in range of the <paramref name="target"/>.
         ///     </param>
         /// <returns>True if the interaction was handled. Otherwise, false.</returns>
-        public bool InteractDoAfter(EntityUid user, EntityUid used, EntityUid? target, EntityCoordinates clickLocation, bool canReach, bool checkDeletion = true)
+        public bool InteractDoAfter(EntityUid user, EntityUid used, EntityUid? target, EntityCoordinates clickLocation, bool canReach)
         {
             if (target is { Valid: false })
                 target = null;
 
-            if (checkDeletion && (IsDeleted(user) || IsDeleted(used) || IsDeleted(target)))
-                return false;
-
             var afterInteractEvent = new AfterInteractEvent(user, used, target, clickLocation, canReach);
             RaiseLocalEvent(used, afterInteractEvent);
             DoContactInteraction(user, used, afterInteractEvent);
@@ -1062,7 +1024,6 @@ public bool InteractDoAfter(EntityUid user, EntityUid used, EntityUid? target, E
             if (target == null)
                 return false;
 
-            DebugTools.Assert(!IsDeleted(user) && !IsDeleted(used) && !IsDeleted(target));
             var afterInteractUsingEvent = new AfterInteractUsingEvent(user, used, target, clickLocation, canReach);
             RaiseLocalEvent(target.Value, afterInteractUsingEvent);
 
@@ -1073,7 +1034,9 @@ public bool InteractDoAfter(EntityUid user, EntityUid used, EntityUid? target, E
                 // Contact interactions are currently only used for forensics, so we don't raise used -> target
             }
 
-            return afterInteractUsingEvent.Handled;
+            if (afterInteractUsingEvent.Handled)
+                return true;
+            return false;
         }
 
         #region ActivateItemInWorld
@@ -1105,13 +1068,8 @@ public bool InteractionActivate(
             bool checkCanInteract = true,
             bool checkUseDelay = true,
             bool checkAccess = true,
-            bool? complexInteractions = null,
-            bool checkDeletion = true)
+            bool? complexInteractions = null)
         {
-            if (checkDeletion && (IsDeleted(user) || IsDeleted(used)))
-                return false;
-
-            DebugTools.Assert(!IsDeleted(user) && !IsDeleted(used));
             _delayQuery.TryComp(used, out var delayComponent);
             if (checkUseDelay && delayComponent != null && _useDelay.IsDelayed((used, delayComponent)))
                 return false;
@@ -1127,32 +1085,21 @@ public bool InteractionActivate(
             if (checkAccess && !IsAccessible(user, used))
                 return false;
 
-            complexInteractions ??= _actionBlockerSystem.CanComplexInteract(user);
+            complexInteractions ??= SupportsComplexInteractions(user);
             var activateMsg = new ActivateInWorldEvent(user, used, complexInteractions.Value);
             RaiseLocalEvent(used, activateMsg, true);
-            if (activateMsg.Handled)
-            {
-                DoContactInteraction(user, used);
-                if (!activateMsg.WasLogged)
-                    _adminLogger.Add(LogType.InteractActivate, LogImpact.Low, $"{ToPrettyString(user):user} activated {ToPrettyString(used):used}");
-
-                if (delayComponent != null)
-                    _useDelay.TryResetDelay(used, component: delayComponent);
-                return true;
-            }
-
-            DebugTools.Assert(!IsDeleted(user) && !IsDeleted(used));
             var userEv = new UserActivateInWorldEvent(user, used, complexInteractions.Value);
             RaiseLocalEvent(user, userEv, true);
-            if (!userEv.Handled)
+            if (!activateMsg.Handled && !userEv.Handled)
                 return false;
 
-            DoContactInteraction(user, used);
+            DoContactInteraction(user, used, activateMsg);
             // Still need to call this even without checkUseDelay in case this gets relayed from Activate.
             if (delayComponent != null)
                 _useDelay.TryResetDelay(used, component: delayComponent);
 
-            _adminLogger.Add(LogType.InteractActivate, LogImpact.Low, $"{ToPrettyString(user):user} activated {ToPrettyString(used):used}");
+            if (!activateMsg.WasLogged)
+                _adminLogger.Add(LogType.InteractActivate, LogImpact.Low, $"{ToPrettyString(user):user} activated {ToPrettyString(used):used}");
             return true;
         }
         #endregion
@@ -1171,9 +1118,6 @@ public bool UseInHandInteraction(
             bool checkCanInteract = true,
             bool checkUseDelay = true)
         {
-            if (IsDeleted(user) || IsDeleted(used))
-                return false;
-
             _delayQuery.TryComp(used, out var delayComponent);
             if (checkUseDelay && delayComponent != null && _useDelay.IsDelayed((used, delayComponent)))
                 return true; // if the item is on cooldown, we consider this handled.
@@ -1194,9 +1138,8 @@ public bool UseInHandInteraction(
                 return true;
             }
 
-            DebugTools.Assert(!IsDeleted(user) && !IsDeleted(used));
             // else, default to activating the item
-            return InteractionActivate(user, used, false, false, false, checkDeletion: false);
+            return InteractionActivate(user, used, false, false, false);
         }
 
         /// <summary>
@@ -1221,9 +1164,6 @@ public bool AltInteract(EntityUid user, EntityUid target)
 
         public void DroppedInteraction(EntityUid user, EntityUid item)
         {
-            if (IsDeleted(user) || IsDeleted(item))
-                return;
-
             var dropMsg = new DroppedEvent(user);
             RaiseLocalEvent(item, dropMsg, true);
 
@@ -1372,20 +1312,15 @@ public void DoContactInteraction(EntityUid uidA, EntityUid? uidB, HandledEntityE
             if (uidB == null || args?.Handled == false)
                 return;
 
-            DebugTools.AssertNotEqual(uidA, uidB.Value);
-
-            if (!TryComp(uidA, out MetaDataComponent? metaA) || metaA.EntityPaused)
+            // Entities may no longer exist (banana was eaten, or human was exploded)?
+            if (!Exists(uidA) || !Exists(uidB))
                 return;
 
-            if (!TryComp(uidB, out MetaDataComponent? metaB) || metaB.EntityPaused)
-                return ;
-
-            // TODO Struct event
-            var ev = new ContactInteractionEvent(uidB.Value);
-            RaiseLocalEvent(uidA, ev);
+            if (Paused(uidA) || Paused(uidB.Value))
+                return;
 
-            ev.Other = uidA;
-            RaiseLocalEvent(uidB.Value, ev);
+            RaiseLocalEvent(uidA, new ContactInteractionEvent(uidB.Value));
+            RaiseLocalEvent(uidB.Value, new ContactInteractionEvent(uidA));
         }