In the wake of Elon Musk’s controversial management of X (formerly Twitter), a growing list of celebrities has chosen to leave the platform, drawing applause from fans for taking a stand. These stars’ decisions reflect growing concerns over the platform’s moderation policies, rebranding, and overall direction under Musk’s leadership.
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Why Celebrities Are Leaving X
Since Musk acquired Twitter in 2022, the platform has faced criticism for relaxed content moderation, the reintroduction of previously banned accounts, and significant changes to its verification system. Musk’s decisions have sparked debates over free speech versus platform accountability, leaving many public figures uneasy about their continued presence on X.
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Celebrities Who Left X
Many high-profile figures have deactivated their accounts or publicly declared their exit from the platform. Here are some notable names:
1. Gigi Hadid
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Gigi left X in 2022 when Elon Musk took over the platform. In a statement shared on Instagram, the model explained her decision, describing X as “a cesspool of hate and bigotry,” especially under its new leadership. She expressed that the platform no longer felt like “a safe place for anyone” and added that she didn’t believe it could do “more good than harm.”
2. Jim Carrey
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The actor and comedian announced his decision to leave X in 2022 with a post featuring a cartoon of a naked lighthouse keeper. “I’m leaving Twitter, but first, here’s a cartoon I created with my friend Jimmy Hayward,” he shared. “It’s inspired by my painting of a wild old lighthouse keeper, standing naked in a storm, summoning angels, and shining his lamp to guide us through a treacherous night. I love you all so much!”
3. Elton John
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“All my life I’ve tried to use music to bring people together. Yet it saddens me to see how misinformation is now being used to divide our world,” Elton wrote in his final message on X in 2022.
4. Whoopi Goldberg
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Whoopi Goldberg announced on The View that she was leaving X, stating, “As of tonight, I’m done with Twitter.” She added, “If things settle down and I feel more comfortable, maybe I’ll come back.”
5. Jamie Lee Curtis
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The Oscar winner revealed her decision to leave the platform by sharing a screenshot of her account deactivation on Instagram. Alongside the image, she wrote, “God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.”
6. Bette Midler
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The four-time Golden Globe winner deactivated her account shortly after Donald Trump’s election victory.
7. Guillermo del Toro
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The Mexican filmmaker announced that his account would “remain mostly unused” and encouraged fans to connect with him on Bluesky instead.
8. Mark Hamill
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The Star Wars actor, known for voicing his criticism of Donald Trump during his presidential campaign, has also joined the “Xodus.”
9. Shonda Rhimes
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The Shondaland creator, known for producing series like Grey’s Anatomy and Bridgerton, shared her final message on X, writing, “Not hanging around for whatever Elon has planned. Bye.”
10. Gabrielle Union
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In a post titled “The End of an Era,” the actress explained her decision to leave the platform, stating, “There are pivotal moments in life when we must declare that enough is enough — and for me, today is that day.”
11. Téa Leoni
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The Madam Secretary star announced her decision to leave the platform, citing the increasing hatred she observed among users. She wrote, “I’m coming off Twitter today — let’s see where we are when the dust settles. Today, the dust has revealed too much hate, too much in the wrong direction. Love, kindness, and possibilities for all of you.”
12. Jack White
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The singer shared a screenshot of a news article about Elon Musk reinstating Donald Trump’s X account, calling the move “absolutely disgusting.” Trump had been removed from the platform after the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack but was reinstated following Musk’s acquisition of X.
13. Sara Bareilles
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Sara shared her final post in 2022, saying, “Welp. It’s been fun Twitter. I’m out. See you on other platforms, peeps. Sorry, this one’s just not for me.”
14. George Monbiot
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The British journalist announced that he has joined Bluesky and plans to stop using his X account on January 20, 2025, the day Donald Trump is set to be sworn in as the 47th president of the United States. “One thing I’m very much appreciating on BlueSky is what we once had on Twitter: reasoned disagreement, as opposed to the tsunami of willful idiocy here, which crushes real debate. I don’t want an echo chamber. But nor do I want this bedlam,” George wrote.
15. Don Lemon
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The former CNN host expressed that the Elon Musk-owned platform has altered the core qualities that initially made it appealing. “I’ve loved connecting with all of you on X, but it’s time for me to leave the platform,” he wrote. “I once believed it was a place for honest debate and discussion, transparency, and free speech, but I now feel it does not serve that purpose.” Don also mentioned that X’s new terms of service policy played a role in his decision.
16. Toni Braxton
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“I’m shocked and appalled at some of the ‘free speech’ I’ve seen on this platform since its acquisition,” the seven-time Grammy winner wrote in 2022.
17. Greg Davies
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The Inbetweeners actor and Taskmaster host shared in his final message, “Hello all, I’ll be leaving X in the next few days. Thanks for the lovely messages over the years,” though he did not explain his decision.
18. The Guardian
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“We think that the benefits of being on X are now outweighed by the negatives and that resources could be better used promoting our journalism elsewhere,” the British newspaper stated on November 13. “This is something we have been considering for a while given the often disturbing content promoted or found on the platform, including far-right conspiracy theories and racism.”
19. Jameela Jamil
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The Good Place actress announced her departure from the platform with a lighthearted message, writing, “One good thing about Elon buying Twitter is that I will FINALLY leave and stop being a complete menace to society on here. So it’s a win-win for you all really.”
20. Barbra Streisand
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Barbra announced her #TwitterExodus in her final X post, shared on November 14, stating, “Effective immediately, any comments I post will be on Bluesky.”
Fans Applaud Their Decisions
Fans have taken to other platforms like Instagram and Threads to praise these celebrities for standing by their values. Many see their departures as symbolic acts of resistance against a platform they feel no longer aligns with principles of inclusivity and safety.
The Future of X Without Celebrities
With more stars abandoning X, the platform’s appeal as a space for celebrity-fan interaction has diminished. Many fans and industry observers speculate that X’s loss of high-profile users could push more people to alternative platforms like Threads, BlueSky, or Mastodon, perceived as safer and more welcoming spaces.
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As the exodus continues, it remains to be seen how X will adapt to the loss of its once-vibrant celebrity presence and whether its policies will evolve to address the growing discontent among users.
