Alex Bruno
Twitter is a “cesspool of hatred and prejudice,” according to Gigi Hadid, who deactivated her account and left the social media site on Friday.
I canceled my Twitter account today,” Hadid said on Instagram over the weekend in response to the Twitter adjustments that followed Elon Musk’s takeover. It has been a pit of hatred and prejudice for a long time, particularly under its current leadership. I don’t want to be a part of that.
Musk has dismissed senior executives, disbanded the board of directors, implemented a paid verification model, and, most dramatically, laid off over half of the company’s 7,500 workers, an announcement that was delivered by mass email, since arriving at Twitter HQ last month.
These adjustments come at a time when the amount of hate speech on the network has increased, and Musk has stated intentions to reinstate de-platformed accounts that had previously broken Twitter’s content guidelines, such as the one used by the late President Trump.
The 27-year-old model reposted a screenshot from a worker for Twitter’s human rights team, which was fired, but it’s unclear which of Musk’s many divisive policies she is protesting.
Hadid is not the first famous person to declare their departure from Twitter in the wake of organizational changes. The renowned novelist Shonda Rhimes, the actress Téa Leoni from Madame Secretary, and the singers Sara Bareilles and Toni Braxton are among those honored.
Since this platform’s purchase, I’ve witnessed some “free speech” that shocks and appalls me, Braxton tweeted. “Hate speech disguised as ‘free expression’ is intolerable, therefore I’ve decided to remain off Twitter since it’s no longer a safe environment for myself, my boys, and other POC,” she said.
“Only apologize to the fans that [she] has adored interacting with for over a decade,” Hadid concluded in her letter. “I can’t remain,” she said, “it’s neither a place that is secure for everyone nor a social platform that will do more good than damage.”
Whoopi Goldberg Quits Twitter
The next famous person to declare their departure from Twitter after Elon Musk’s acquisition is Whoopi Goldberg.
The co-host of The View made the disclosure on her ABC program on Monday.
Since Elon Musk assumed control of Twitter a little more than a week ago, she said, “this place is a wreck.” “I’m leaving today because I just feel like it’s so nasty, and I’m sick of certain types of mindsets being barred from rejoining now.
I’m going to go, and if things calm down sufficiently and I feel more at ease, I may come back. But as of right now, I’m over Twitter.
The new blue checkmark program costs now $8 instead of $20, and personnel has been fired and rehired, among other jarring statements made by Musk since he took control of the social media network, according to Goldberg. She also brought out how Twitter had shut down Kathy Griffin’s account for pretending to be Elon Musk.
Musk said on Sunday that any Twitter accounts using impersonation without explicitly stating “parody” will be permanently terminated. There will be no notice this time around since we are using extensive verification instead of the prior warning before the suspension. It will be made very clear that failure to comply with this requirement when signing up for Twitter Blue will result in the temporary removal of the verified checkmark.
The position taken by Musk, who describes himself as a “free speech absolutist,” has drawn criticism for being hypocritical and giving the impression that he can’t handle humor.
