X-odus? These popular X accounts have exited the Elon Musk owned social media platform in recent times

Ever since Elon Musk took control of Twitter (now rebranded to X), the platform has seen a steady stream of notable departures. From Hollywood stars to global companies, many have chosen to step away. Whether driven by disagreements with Musk’s management style, controversial platform changes, or shifts in user experience, the exodus has raised eyebrows across the tech and cultural landscapes.

Here’s a look at some of the most notable exits.

Celebrities saying goodbye

Ellen DeGeneres

Ellen DeGeneres left X shortly after Musk took over. Known for her massive influence on social media, Ellen’s departure was considered by many to be a blow to the platform. But that’s not all! After Donald Trump’s Presidential election win, she made headlines for leaving the country, adding to her “digital and literal exit” narrative.

LeBron James

Basketball legend LeBron James has also opted out of X — kind of. While he hasn’t explicitly stated why, many speculate it aligns with the usual frustrations around misinformation and platform instability. Nevertheless, his last post on the platform mentions that he’s hopping off social media altogether, not just X.

Stephen King

Author Stephen King, initially vocal in his criticism of Musk’s decisions, is another big name missing from X. His departure came as no surprise to fans who followed his pointed remarks about changes like paid verification.

Jamie Lee Curtis

Oscar-winner Jamie Lee Curtis quietly stepped away from X, joining a growing list of celebrities choosing other platforms to engage with fans.

Elton John

The legendary musician Elton John left X, citing concerns about the rise of misinformation. He tweeted before leaving, expressing disappointment over the platform’s direction under Musk.

Mia Farrow, Whoopi Goldberg, Jim Carrey, and Alyssa Milano

Hollywood stars Mia Farrow, Whoopi Goldberg, Jim Carrey, and Alyssa Milano have all bid farewell to X. These departures reflect an ongoing trend of high-profile users questioning the platform’s evolving policies and tone.

Mark Hamill

Mark Hamill, known as Luke Skywalker to Star Wars fans, left X amid growing concerns about the platform’s functionality and user safety. Even before his exit, Mark constantly posted against Musk and Trump on the platform. Trump’s election win was the final nail in the coffin for him. Here’s his final post:

Barbra Streisand, Lizzo, and Gabrielle Union

Music and entertainment icons like Barbra Streisand, Lizzo, and Gabrielle Union have joined the growing list of celebrities who’ve moved on, signaling that even long-time users are losing patience.

Public figures and experts

Allan Lichtman

Political historian and professor Allan Lichtman, best known for predicting U.S. presidential election outcomes, claimed he’s done with X. Though, it’s worth pointing out that Lichtman’s predictions for this election outcome were far off. Furthermore, not long after announcing his departure from the platform, he was seen posting again:

Jack White and Matthew Lillard

Musician Jack White and actor Matthew Lillard have also left, making waves in their respective fan communities.

Guillermo del Toro

Oscar-winning filmmaker Guillermo del Toro has been vocal about his frustrations with X, eventually deciding to leave.

Bette Midler

Broadway and Hollywood legend Bette Midler is another big name no longer tweeting, further thinning the platform’s celebrity presence.

Media organizations moving on

NPR

NPR was among the first major media outlets to leave, citing Musk’s “government-funded media” label as a breaking point. The news outlet left a post on X telling its readers where they can find them after their departure from the platform.

The Guardian

The Guardian also recently followed NPR’s path, parting ways due to dissatisfaction with platform policies and moderation issues. The Guardian’s editorial team felt that the platform, under Elon Musk’s leadership, had become a toxic media environment that negatively impacted its journalism. In response to The Guardian’s departure, Musk called the outlet “irrelevant” and a “laboriously vile propaganda machine.”

Australia’s ABC

Australia’s ABC decided to leave X due to a combination of factors. The public broadcaster cited increasing toxicity and negative interactions on the platform as a significant reason. Additionally, ABC’s managing director, David Anderson, mentioned that the platform had become costly to use and that the ABC’s social media audience was more active on other platforms like YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.

La Vanguardia

Spanish newspaper La Vanguardia has also left, signaling that dissatisfaction isn’t limited to English-speaking outlets.

Brands and businesses stepping away

3M, Best Buy, and Eli Lilly

Major brands like 3M, Best Buy, Target, Medtronic, and pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly have all exited X. For Eli Lilly, the decision came after a viral prank tweet impersonating the company caused a stock drop — a direct result of X’s controversial paid verification model.

Balenciaga and the Berlin Film Festival

Luxury fashion brand Balenciaga and cultural institutions like the Berlin Film Festival have both left, prioritizing other platforms to engage with their audiences.

Playbill and Magers & Quinn Booksellers

Playbill, a staple for theater lovers, and independent bookstore Magers & Quinn have also signed off. Their departures mark a shift in how cultural organizations are choosing to communicate with their audiences.

Public sector and government entities

Devon County Council and North Wales Police

Even public institutions like Devon County Council and North Wales Police have left X. These organizations have cited issues with declining trust and misinformation, which hinder their ability to serve communities effectively.

Victoria’s Department of Families, Fairness, and Housing

In Australia, Victoria’s Department of Families, Fairness, and Housing has also stepped away, joining a growing trend of governmental bodies abandoning X.

Healthcare and education

Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital and UnitedHealth Group

The Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital and UnitedHealth Group have both exited. Over the past year, RNOH claims to have observed a rise in hate speech, abusive commentary, and the spread of misinformation, particularly around vaccinations and other critical issues. UnitedHealth Group also decided to move its posts and advertising dollars to other platforms to create a safer environment for dialogue.

What’s driving the X-odus?

The departure of celebrities, companies, and public figures from X (formerly Twitter) can largely be attributed to pivotal changes following Elon Musk’s acquisition in 2022. The introduction of a pay-for-verification system was seen as a commercialization move that diluted the value of account authenticity, leading to concerns about impersonation and loss of credibility.

This, coupled with shifts in content moderation that seemed to tolerate more misinformation or controversial content, has pushed many to seek platforms with stricter content policies and less commercialized verification processes. The fear of reputational damage in an environment where the balance between free speech and misinformation is precarious has significantly influenced this migration.

Additionally, the emergence of alternative platforms has provided more appealing options for digital interaction. Platforms like Bluesky and Threads offer features like decentralization, better privacy, and environments tailored for different engagement types, which contrast with X’s design which critics argue oversimplifies complex discussions through brevity.

This just shows some people want to shift towards platforms that allow for more nuanced, controlled, and professional interactions, moving away from the generalist, often chaotic nature of X. But, at the end of the day, the main reason for the mass exodus seems to be just politics. Before Musk, Twitter was hand-in-glove with the government attempting to silence the opposition, including the former President, Donald Trump. Now, the roles seem to have been reversed. So it’s only natural to expect push-back from the other side.

The Future of X

The ongoing exodus is undoubtedly a challenge for Musk, who has been vocal about his desire to transform X into an “everything app.” However, the loss of influential users may jeopardize that vision. But it’s something only time will tell. Despite all the negative drama unfolding, Musk recently revealed a record usage of the platform post the election results. So while multiple media outlets paint a dark picture, I’d suggest taking it with a grain of salt. Many predicted X would face massive issues following the major reduction of employees, but that never happened. That said, feel free to drop a comment below letting us know if you’re considering ditching X for other platforms like Bluesky. Personally, I’m going nowhere, even though X seems to be taking up way too much of my screen time.