Why Celebrities Are Turning Off Their Twitter Accounts After Elon Musk’s Twitter Takeover? The platform now only has one director, the richest man on planet and self-described “free speech absolutist.”
Shonda Rhimes is the most recent notable figure to leave the social media platform after Elon Musk’s disputed acquisition of Twitter. Musk, the world’s richest man, describes himself as a “absolutist” of free speech and is well known for his earlier controversial and outspoken tweets.
He has promised to make significant changes to the network and to lessen content monitoring. On Friday, a day after his $44 billion takeover, he even tweeted a conspiracy theory. Additionally, Musk has hinted at his intentions to lift users’ indefinite bans, which would open the door for former US President Donald Trump to rejoin the site.
Why Celebrities Are Turning Off Their Twitter Accounts After Elon Musk’s Twitter Takeover?
Following Musk’s takeover on Thursday, a wave of offensive language and racist memes grew on the platform, according to Bloomberg, raising worries that the company is moving into a period of hate speech.
Not hanging around for whatever Elon has planned. Bye.
— shonda rhimes (@shondarhimes) October 29, 2022
Rhimes, the creator of Grey’s Anatomy, tweeted on Saturday that she was“not hanging around for whatever Elon has planned”. Rhimes has more than 1.9 million followers on Twitter.
The producer and showrunner join a number of famous people who have made the decision to stop using Twitter, such as Grammy-winning musician Sara Bareilles.
“It’s been fun Twitter. I’m out. See you on other platforms, peeps. Sorry, this one’s just not for me,” Bareilles posted to her more than 2.8 million followers on Sunday.
Welp. It’s been fun Twitter. I’m out. See you on other platforms, peeps. Sorry, this one’s just not for me. ❤️??
— Sara Bareilles (@SaraBareilles) October 30, 2022
With more than 1.8 million followers, singer Toni Braxton stated that she felt uncomfortable with “hate speech under the cover of free speech.”
“I’m shocked and appalled at some of the ‘free speech’ I’ve seen on this platform since its acquisition. Hate speech under the veil of ‘free speech’ is unacceptable; therefore I am choosing to stay off Twitter as it is no longer a safe space for myself, my sons and other people of colour,” she posted.
I'm shocked and appalled at some of the "free speech" I've seen on this platform since its acquisition. Hate speech under the veil of "free speech" is unacceptable; therefore I am choosing to stay off Twitter as it is no longer a safe space for myself, my sons and other POC.
— Toni Braxton (@tonibraxton) October 29, 2022
Musk has revealed his ambitions for the website after showing up at Twitter’s offices in San Francisco on Wednesday with a kitchen sink, hours before a court-ordered deadline to close his Twitter acquisition took effect.
“Twitter will be forming a content moderation council with widely diverse viewpoints. No major content decisions or account reinstatements will happen before that council convenes,” he tweeted on Friday to his more than 110 million followers.
Twitter will be forming a content moderation council with widely diverse viewpoints.
No major content decisions or account reinstatements will happen before that council convenes.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 28, 2022
The New York Times and Washington Post, citing sources, have stated that he also intends to lay off employees and that some managers at the social media business have been requested to compile lists of people to fire.
According to CNBC on Thursday, Twitter’s CEO Parag Agrawal and its finance chief Ned Segal have left the firm and won’t be coming back. According to the Washington Post, Vijaya Gadde, the director of legal policy, trust, and safety, was also let go.
The Emmy-winning sitcom This Is Us producer Ken Olin had previously declared that he would leave Twitter should Elon Musk’s takeover, which has been rumored since April, become official.
On Friday, Olin said he “was out” urging his followers to “protect our democracy”.
“Let’s keep the faith. Let’s try to be kinder. Let’s look to find peace in the world,” he said.
The popular Bill & Ted movie franchise star Alex Winter, well known for his role as Bill, has had his account disabled.
Hey all –
I’m out of here. No judgement.
Let’s keep the faith.
Let’s protect our democracy.
Let’s try to be kinder.
Let’s try to save the planet.
Let’s try to be more generous.
Let’s look to find peace in the world.
?— Ken Olin (@kenolin1) October 28, 2022
The British-American actor had declared that if Musk gained control of the platform, he would quit.
The comedian Josh Gad admitted that he was still unsure of whether to continue using Twitter.
“Big exodus taking place on this platform. I’m not sure if I should stay. Leaning toward remaining, but not sure what the point is if today is a portent of things to come,” he wrote on Saturday in response to an increase in hate speech.
“Freedom of speech is great. Hate speech intended to incite harm, (with no consequences) ain’t what I signed up for.”
Large exodus happening on this platform. Not sure if I stay or not. Leaning toward staying, but if today is a sign of things to come, not sure what the point is. Freedom of speech is great. Hate speech intended to incite harm, (with no consequences) ain’t what I signed up for.
— Josh Gad (@joshgad) October 29, 2022
Stephen King, a renowned author, declared he would quit if suggested plans to charge customers $19.99 to maintain their certified blue checkmarks were to become reality.
“$20 every month to maintain my blue check? They must reimburse me. King tweeted, “If that’s implemented, I’m out like Enron,” which prompted a response from Musk, who haggled with him.
“We must find a way to pay the bills. Twitter can’t only rely on sponsors. $8, please “Musk answered.
King replied, “It’s not the money, it’s the principle of the thing.
According to documents submitted to the US Securities and Exchange Commission on Tuesday, Musk named himself the only director and CEO of Twitter.
Final Lines
Some in Hollywood are leaving Elon Musk’s Twitter. “Grey’s Anatomy” creator Shonda Rhimes and others in the entertainment business plan to leave the platform now that it’s controlled by Musk, a self-proclaimed “free speech absolutist” who has vowed to make big changes, including potentially lifting the ban on former President Donald Trump.
