Birds of a Feather: Which Celebs Have Quit Twitter After The Musk Takeover?

New Twitter owner and chief executive Elon Musk’s changes to the micro-blogging network have prompted a flock of disgruntled celebrities to leave. The world's richest man finalized the $44Bln acquisition deal on 27 October, and promptly vowed to make Twitter the most reliable source of information, adding that that he bought the network to "help humanity" and to provide a platform for healthy debate, free of violence.

With new sweeping policies revamping the platform's moderation, a $8 (£7) fee for a blue tick verification, and banning unlabeled parody accounts, among others, the adjustments have rubbed some celebs up the wrong way. Here are just some of the names that have flown the Twitter nest.

American television screenwriter, producer, and author, Shonda Rhimes, deactivated her Twitter account shortly after the Elon Musk takeover was finalized. Rhimes, best known as creator and producer of the popular drama series 'Grey’s Anatomy', had been on Twitter since November 2008. She told her 1.9Mln followers on 29 October that Elon Musk's takeover was a signal that it was time for her to leave the platform.

Rhimes, who made it to the Time 100 annual list of the most influential people in the world in 2007, 2013 and 2021, said she had no intention of “hanging around” for the changes that Musk had up his sleeve.

American actor, comedian, and TV show host Whoopi Goldberg did not waste time joining the list of celebrities, quitting Twitter after Elon Musk’s takeover. The Emmy and Grammy-award winner cited several reasons why she feels Twitter is not her cup of tea any longer. In a video clip from the talk show making the rounds on the internet, Goldberg said:

Goldberg pointed out that her decision to quit Twitter was temporary and she might return, but, "as of tonight, I’m done with Twitter”.

Ken Olin, executive producer of the television series 'This is Us', bailed on Twitter just as he had warned he would the moment Elon Musk completed his acquisition. In his goodbye post on the network, the Golden Globe award-winning actor and television director told his followers, "I’m out of here. No judgement."

Mick Foley, a four-time world wrestling champion, honored his earlier warning to deactivate his Twitter account in the event of a Musk takeover. The retired professional wrestler and actor had hinted back in April, when Elon Musk first began the acquisition process, that he might bid the platform goodbye.

The World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) Hall of Famer had written that he would be "giving some serious thought to leaving Twitter for good" as he did not have "a good feeling about where this platform is heading”.

Former Democratic National Committee (DNC) chairman and Vermont Governor Howard Dean ditched Twitter just before the buy-out process by the Tesla chief executive was completed, tweeting that if "Musk takes over Twitter I will be off within a few hours".

“I think Twitter was a decent media outlet because it was a news aggregator and that’s what’s very valuable. So the need to go through 15 or 20 news articles from different places every morning. I, you think I’m gonna trust Elon Musk to lay out real journalism? No, he’s gonna lay out what he wants and there’s gonna be hate speech and crazy stuff. ‘Cause he’s a little full of hate and has a little craziness and oh no, I’m not interested,” Dean was cited as saying by media outlets.

Alex Winter, a British-American actor and filmmaker, deleted his previous Twitter posts and redirected his handle to his Instagram account, saying, "Not here for now." In an interview for US media, he said:

Winter added in an email cited by media that, "If Twitter returns to being a public company run by rational actors, many of us will return."

US supermodel Gigi Hadid, who boasts thirty-five appearances on international Vogue magazine covers, deactivated her Twitter account, explaining her decision in a post on Instagram*. She wrote that the social media platform was "becoming more and more of a cesspool of hate & bigotry".

American actress Tea Leoni, best known for starring on the CBS political drama 'Madam Secretary', also tweeted to her followers to say she was going to be off Twitter until "the dust settles".

Embattled actress Amber Heard's Twitter account disappeared on 3 November, coming just days after Elon Musk took over the platform. Since the the 'Aquaman' actress previously dated Musk, fans speculated on what had prompted actor Johnny Depp's ex-wife to quit Twitter.

Some recalled that she had faced a huge backlash from Depp fans online for her accusations against him. Others suggested she might still have "something to hide".

The nearly 2Mln followers of Grammy-winning R&B singer Toni Braxton were told by the artists that she was appalled at the content she had seen on Twitter since the Musk takeover. Writing that she was "shocked" she wrote: "Hate speech under the veil of 'free speech' is unacceptable". She confirmed that she was opting to steer clear of Twitter as "it is no longer a safe space for myself, my sons and other POC [People of Color]".

Grammy-winning singer Sara Bareilles told her almost 3Mln followers that, much as she had enjoyed being on Twitter, she was "out". She also urged her fans to seek her out on other social media platforms, adding, "Sorry, this one's just not for me," and rounding off her post with some heart and prayer-hands emojis.

*Instagram is banned in Russia over extremism.