diff --git a/frappe/desk/form/load.py b/frappe/desk/form/load.py
index 565306f07b..81c030d93d 100644
--- a/frappe/desk/form/load.py
+++ b/frappe/desk/form/load.py
@@ -148,7 +148,7 @@ def add_comments(doc, docinfo):
 
 	comments = frappe.get_all(
 		"Comment",
-		fields=["name", "creation", "content", "owner", "comment_type"],
+		fields=["name", "creation", "content", "owner", "comment_type", "published"],
 		filters={"reference_doctype": doc.doctype, "reference_name": doc.name},
 	)
 
diff --git a/frappe/desk/form/utils.py b/frappe/desk/form/utils.py
index 2d8406790d..2dbd07081d 100644
--- a/frappe/desk/form/utils.py
+++ b/frappe/desk/form/utils.py
@@ -68,6 +68,16 @@ def update_comment(name, content):
 	doc.save(ignore_permissions=True)
 
 
+@frappe.whitelist()
+def update_comment_publicity(name: str, publish: bool):
+	doc = frappe.get_doc("Comment", name)
+	if frappe.session.user != doc.owner and "System Manager" not in frappe.get_roles():
+		frappe.throw(_("Comment publicity can only be updated by the original author or a System Manager."))
+
+	doc.published = int(publish)
+	doc.save(ignore_permissions=True)
+
+
 @frappe.whitelist()
 def get_next(doctype, value, prev, filters=None, sort_order="desc", sort_field="creation"):
 	prev = int(prev)
diff --git a/frappe/public/js/frappe/form/footer/form_timeline.js b/frappe/public/js/frappe/form/footer/form_timeline.js
index bd88b6eabc..4cf29d1e85 100644
--- a/frappe/public/js/frappe/form/footer/form_timeline.js
+++ b/frappe/public/js/frappe/form/footer/form_timeline.js
@@ -601,18 +601,20 @@ class FormTimeline extends BaseTimeline {
 		let edit_box = this.make_editable(edit_wrapper);
 		let content_wrapper = comment_wrapper.find(".content");
 		let more_actions_wrapper = comment_wrapper.find(".more-actions");
-		if (
-			frappe.model.can_delete("Comment") &&
-			(frappe.session.user == doc.owner || frappe.user.has_role("System Manager"))
-		) {
-			const delete_option = $(`
-				<li>
-					<a class="dropdown-item">
-						${__("Delete")}
-					</a>
-				</li>
-			`).click(() => this.delete_comment(doc.name));
-			more_actions_wrapper.find(".dropdown-menu").append(delete_option);
+		const dropdown_menu = more_actions_wrapper.find(".dropdown-menu li");
+
+		if (frappe.session.user == doc.owner || frappe.user.has_role("System Manager")) {
+			if (frappe.model.can_delete("Comment")) {
+				const delete_option = $(`
+					<a class="dropdown-item">${__("Delete")}</a>
+				`).click(() => this.delete_comment(doc.name));
+				dropdown_menu.append(delete_option);
+			}
+
+			const un_publish_button = $(`
+				<a class="dropdown-item">${doc.published ? __("Unpublish") : __("Publish")}</a>
+			`).click(() => this.update_comment_publicity(doc.name, !doc.published));
+			dropdown_menu.append(un_publish_button);
 		}
 
 		let dismiss_button = $(`
@@ -723,6 +725,37 @@ class FormTimeline extends BaseTimeline {
 		});
 	}
 
+	update_comment_publicity(comment_name, publish) {
+		let message;
+		if (publish) {
+			message = __(
+				"Would you like to publish this comment? This means it will become visible to website/portal users."
+			);
+		} else {
+			message = __(
+				"Would you like to unpublish this comment? This means it will no longer be visible to website/portal users."
+			);
+		}
+
+		frappe.confirm(message, () => {
+			return frappe
+				.xcall("frappe.desk.form.utils.update_comment_publicity", {
+					name: comment_name,
+					publish,
+				})
+				.then(() => {
+					frappe.utils.play_sound("click");
+
+					// update the comment info that is stored in the frontend, then refresh the timeline
+					const comment = this.frm
+						.get_docinfo()
+						.comments.find((comment) => comment.name === comment_name);
+					comment.published = publish;
+					this.refresh();
+				});
+		});
+	}
+
 	copy_link(ev) {
 		let doc_link = frappe.urllib.get_full_url(
 			frappe.utils.get_form_link(this.frm.doctype, this.frm.docname)
diff --git a/frappe/public/js/frappe/form/templates/timeline_message_box.html b/frappe/public/js/frappe/form/templates/timeline_message_box.html
index 0242c00fdd..d7db828e64 100644
--- a/frappe/public/js/frappe/form/templates/timeline_message_box.html
+++ b/frappe/public/js/frappe/form/templates/timeline_message_box.html
@@ -35,6 +35,12 @@
 					<span class="text-extra-muted">
 						{{ comment_when(doc.communication_date || doc.creation) }}
 					</span>
+					{% if (doc.published) { %}
+						<span> · </span>
+						<span class="text-extra-muted" title="{{ __('Visible to website/portal users.') }}">
+							{{ __("Published") }}
+						</span>
+					{% } %}
 				</span>
 			{% } else { %}
 				<span class="margin-right">