Gigi Hadid is the latest celebrity to depart Twitter following Elon Musk takeover

After Elon Musk bought Twitter for $44 billion, issues with free speech and mass layoffs within the company have driven celebrities to leave the social media app. 

Gigi Hadid is the latest to take a stand as she took to Instagram and told her 76 million followers she would no longer be on Twitter. “With its new leadership, it’s becoming more and more of a cesspool of hate and bigotry,” said the model.

Hadid reposted a statement by Human Rights Counsel Shannon Raj Singh following news that Twitter staff members were fired over email. The message was obtained by The Washington Post and noted that “cuts were necessary to ensure the company’s success moving forward.” 

The report also stated that Twitter letting go of staff without notice violates California and federal employment law. The Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification act requires at least a 60-day notice before conducting mass layoffs.

Hadid added she was “sorry to the fans” who she loved connecting with but felt she “can’t say it’s a safe space for anyone, nor a social media platform that will do more good than harm.” 

The model follows the likes of accredited screenwriter Shonda Rhimes, actress Téa Leoni and actor Mick Foley. Singer Toni Braxton was also amongst those to leave, who tweeted her final message on the platform she feels is allowing “hate speech under the veil of ‘free speech’” and that “it is no longer a safe space for myself, my sons and other POC.”