Fears about the SpaceX founder’s potentially lax stance on content moderation have caused many real users to consider their future on the platform, including some of its famous faces. So while Twitter could long ago welcome back some of its most notorious banned accounts — Donald Trump chief among them — it may soon say goodbye to even more. Here’s a running list of celebrities who are leaving the nest… or threatening to. Stephen king The horror writer has been a regular Twitter user for nearly nine years, but said he would quit if Musk goes ahead with reported plans to move Twitter’s verification badges behind a paid subscription. “$20 a month to keep my blue check? Get paid,” he tweeted to his 6.9 million followers. “If this gets enacted, I’ll be out like Enron.” “We have to pay the bills somehow!” answered Musk, the world’s richest man. “Twitter can’t rely solely on advertisers. How about $8?” Musk has since confirmed that the company will charge $8 a month as part of a Twitter Blue subscription. Toni Braxton Grammy-winning R&B artist Braxton has already come out – telling her two million followers that she was “shocked and disappointed with some of the ‘free speech’” she had seen on Twitter since Musk’s deal fell through. A commitment to free speech was at the heart of Musk’s pitch for the site, though he insisted he won’t let it become a so-called “free-for-all hellscape.” Braxton said: “Hate speech under the guise of ‘free speech’ is unacceptable; therefore I am choosing to stay off Twitter as it is no longer a safe space for me, my sons and other POC.” Sarah Bareilles Another Grammy winner, Bareilles has also moved on with her retirement. “Well. That was fun Twitter. I’m out,” he wrote. “See you on other platforms, I’m tweeting. Sorry, this isn’t for me.” Eric Idle Monty Python favorite Idle echoed King’s concerns about Musk’s payment proposals. “I’m sure Elon will want to start earning his money back,” the 79-year-old said. “But if he charges me to entertain you and leaves the orange monster behind, I think I might refuse.” The “orange monster” is believed to be a reference to Donald Trump. LeBron James The NBA legend did not close his account, but did share his concerns about a reported increase in the use of racist language on Twitter following the Musk buyout. In a tweet to his more than 52 million followers on Oct. 29, the day of his most recent tweet, James said: “I don’t know Elon Musk and, tbh, I could care less who owns twitter. “But I will say that if this is true, I hope he and his people take it very seriously because this is scary. “So many inappropriate people who say hate speech is free expression.” Read more: Super app or ‘Wild West’? The future of Twitter under Elon Musk Alex Winter The Bill & Ted star has already locked his Twitter account and said he won’t be coming back. Going to the actor’s @Winter account page now displays the message: “This account does not exist.” In a statement to NBC News, he explained his decision: “Elon Musk taking over Twitter and making it a private company with less oversight immediately made the platform more susceptible to hate speech, targeted attacks and the spread of misinformation. “If Twitter returns to a public company run by rational actors, many of us will return.” Shonda Rhimes The creator of the hit series Grey’s Anatomy, who had almost two million followers, also packed her bags. “I’m not waiting for anything Elon has planned,” he said. “Goodbye.” Josh Gad Disney and Broadway actor Gadd said he wasn’t “sure” he would stay on Twitter much longer. Commenting on the ‘exit’, he said: ‘Freedom of speech is great. Hate speech intended to hurt (without consequences) is not what I signed up for.”
