Musk's Twitter Takeover Incites Complaints From Celebs Who Voice To Quit Platform

A small but growing number of celebrities, actors, and artists preferred to dump Twitter Inc after Tesla Inc TSLA CEO Elon Musk's takeover, the Wall Street Journal reported.

These users preferred to bow out before understanding the changes that Musk implemented. 

Even before he completed his $44 billion takeover last week, Musk said he was considering changes like loosening free-speech rules and allowing banned users back on Twitter. 

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These shifts, some users say, could allow hate speech to circulate more easily. Musk tweeted that people removed for violating Twitter's rules will not be allowed back on the platform until the company has a transparent process. That could take at least a few weeks to implement.

Twitter has more than 237 million users. Singer Sara Bareilles known for hits including "Brave" and "King of Anything," wrote on Twitter this past weekend that she would see people on other platforms.

R&B artist Toni Braxton known for songs including "Un-Break My Heart," tweeted, "I am choosing to stay off Twitter as it is no longer a safe space for myself, my sons, and other POC," using the abbreviation for people of color.

Actress Téa Leoni known for starring in the CBS show "Madam Secretary," and other movies and TV shows, tweeted, "I'm coming off Twitter today—let's see where we are when the dust settles." "Today, the dust has revealed too much hate."

In the days before Musk closed his deal with Twitter, Brian Koppelman, the "Billions" showrunner, said his followers could find him on Meta Platforms Inc META Instagram and TikTok. "Gonna really try to take a breather from here for a minute or a month come deal close time," Koppelman tweeted.

Actor and producer Ken Olin, known for "This Is Us," wrote, "Hey all — I'm out of here." "Let's keep the faith. Let's protect our democracy."

Showrunner and producer Shonda Rhimes, behind hit shows such as "Grey's Anatomy" and "Scandal" wrote, "Not hanging around for whatever Elon has planned. Bye."

Actor Josh Gad known for voicing Olaf in the "Frozen" movies, said he was leaning toward staying on Twitter, but he wasn't sure. "Hate speech intended to incite harm (with no consequences) ain't what I signed up for," he wrote. He has tweeted frequently since then.

Author Stephen King found himself at the center of Musk's debate over charging a monthly fee for verified accounts. "If that gets instituted, I'm gone like Enron," he wrote. Musk responded that his company had to pay the bills somehow. 

Musk later announced that Twitter would indeed implement the fee. King has since remained active on Twitter.

In an expanding exodus of Twitter's top management, officials, including its advertising and marketing chiefs, left the company in the past few days.