Gabrielle Union is the latest celebrity to announce that she’s abandoning X, formerly Twitter .
“There are pivotal moments in life when we must declare that enough is enough,” wrote Union in her last-ever post on the platform. “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 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 via X, formerly Twitter.
Ever since Elon Musk took over Twitter in 2022, he has made a series of controversial changes to the platform, including unbanning hateful figures like Andrew Tate and turning verification into a paid subscription. He also changed how blocking works, allowing blocked users to see the content of people who want nothing to do with them, though they cannot interact with it.
Other changes include the platform’s name, which doesn’t seem to be catching on despite Musk’s efforts. However, one of the most concerning changes for many users is the update to the terms of service, which now states that user data will be used to train AI.
“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. Any and all content posted on the platform can be used to train machine learning and artificial intelligence models, which is bad news for many artists and creatives worried about their work being stolen or rendered obsolete.
By contrast, BlueSky has announced that it will not use user data and content to train AI models. As reported by the Financial Times in September, there’s been a decline in monthly active users in the US and UK since Musk made many changes. In the UK, for instance, active daily users have fallen by a third, while in the US the number has fallen by “about a fifth.” It remains to be seen if the news of data scrubbing for AI models will have another major impact on active users.
Union isn’t the only celebrity to have said goodbye to Twitter. Recently, Jamie Lee Curtis revealed that she had deactivated her account, while Don Lemon said he left the platform because it no longer serves as a place for “honest debate and discussion, transparency, and free speech.”
X’s new terms of service state, “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.”
