On November 18, 2023, Gene Simmons, the legendary bassist and co-lead vocalist of the rock band KISS, made a significant announcement regarding his social media presence. He revealed that he would no longer be posting on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. In his final message to his millions of followers, Simmons encouraged them to follow him on other platforms, such as Instagram, TikTok, and Threads, signaling his shift away from X. While the iconic musician did not provide a detailed explanation for his decision to leave the platform, his departure comes at a time when X is embroiled in significant controversy.
This announcement comes amid a growing wave of criticism surrounding X’s owner, Elon Musk, and his recent actions. Musk has been at the center of a storm after endorsing an antisemitic conspiracy theory, which has sparked outrage from numerous public figures, activists, and organizations worldwide. In response to these comments, the White House issued a strong condemnation, saying, “We condemn this abhorrent promotion of antisemitic and racist hate in the strongest terms.” Given that Simmons is Jewish and has long been an outspoken advocate against antisemitism, his decision to leave the platform could be seen as a direct reaction to Musk’s remarks and the broader climate of controversy surrounding X.
Simmons’ departure from X aligns with similar moves by other high-profile artists and public figures. Renowned musician Neil Young also announced his decision to stop using X, citing concerns over Musk’s comments and their potential wider impact on the platform. In a statement on his website, Young expressed his disapproval, writing, “We are stopping all use of X we can control. For reasons that should be obvious to the richest man on Earth, we are taking this action against his company.” This growing exodus of influential individuals from the platform highlights the increasing dissatisfaction with the direction X has taken under Musk’s ownership.
The ongoing controversy has had significant consequences for X, with major advertisers such as Disney and Warner Bros. halting their advertising campaigns on the platform due to concerns about their brands being associated with harmful and antisemitic content. In response to these concerns, Musk has threatened legal action against media watchdogs and denied accusations of antisemitism, asserting that his comments were intended to target specific groups, rather than the Jewish community as a whole.
While Simmons has not publicly disclosed the exact reasons behind his decision to leave X, his exit adds to the growing list of public figures who are distancing themselves from the platform. With ongoing controversy surrounding Elon Musk’s leadership of X, the future of the platform and its relationship with users, advertisers, and public figures remains uncertain. Simmons’ departure from X underscores the complex and evolving landscape of social media, where the intersection of personal beliefs, public figures, and corporate interests continues to shape online interactions.
