Gabrielle Union has officially spread her wings and flown away from Elon Musk’s Bird app, X, and social media is abuzz with reactions to her “dramatic” exit.
The actress and activist made headlines yesterday after issuing a statement on her account on the platform, citing concerns over its newly introduced terms of service. Fans and followers are left divided as the fallout continues to unfold.
If you’re on Twitter/X, you might have observed a sudden wave of prominent accounts leaving the platform post-election. This departure is due to a new Terms of Service document implemented on November 15.
While the company has not made any official statements regarding this, the updated Terms of Service grant owner Elon Musk permission to use your tweets, images, and videos to train his AI bot, Grok.
“By submitting, posting, or displaying Content on or through the Services, you grant us a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free license to make your Content available to the rest of the world,” read the terms of service.
These new policies reportedly include stricter content moderation rules and potential restrictions on user engagement. While the billionaire entrepreneur claims these changes aim to “improve user experience and enhance platform safety,” critics, including Gabrielle Union, argue that the new rules threaten freedom of expression.
In a post shared on Friday, Union wrote, “There are pivotal moments in life when we must declare that enough is enough, and for me, today is that day. Platforms like X were founded on authentic connections, true engagement, and creative expression, all anchored in respect for user privacy and trust. Yet, with the recent and upcoming changes to the terms of service — and the return of volatile figures — I find myself at a crossroads, facing a direction I can no longer fully support. I am committed to engaging in spaces that truly value inclusivity, respect, and integrity in the digital world. Sometimes, that means recognizing the last straw and knowing when to step away.”
She thanked her followers for their support and entertainment over the years, adding that they can still find her on Instagram, Threads, TikTok, Spill, Facebook, and the rising Twitter competitor, BlueSky. “Thank you all for being such an incredible part of this journey!” she wrote. “Let’s keep spreading love and light to one another in the ways that truly matter.”
Gabrielle Union isn’t the sole celebrity to bid farewell to Twitter. Recently, Jamie Lee Curtis disclosed that she had shut down her account, while Don Lemon stated that he departed from the platform because it has ceased to function as a space for “honest debate and discussion, transparency, and free speech.”
As debates about free speech, content moderation, and corporate ethics continue, many wonder whether more high-profile figures will follow their lead.
