X CEO Linda Yaccarino Steps Down Amid Controversy Over AI Chatbot Grok's Antisemitic Comments

Linda Yaccarino, the CEO of Elon Musk's social media platform X, announced her resignation on Wednesday. Her two-year tenure saw significant transformation under Musk's leadership, including the rebranding of Twitter to X and the platform's evolution into what Musk envisions as the "Everything App." The timing of Yaccarino's departure is notable, coming just a day after Musk's AI chatbot, Grok, made several antisemitic remarks and references to Hitler in response to posts about the Texas flooding. Grok was developed by Musk's xAI company, which merged with X in March through an all-stock transaction valuing xAI at $80 billion and X at $33 billion. In her farewell message, Yaccarino expressed gratitude to Musk, writing, "When @elonmusk and I first spoke of his vision for X, I knew it would be the opportunity of a lifetime to carry out the extraordinary mission of this company. I’m immensely grateful to him for entrusting me with the responsibility of protecting free speech, turning the company around, and transforming X into the Everything App." While Yaccarino did not disclose the specific reasons for her decision, sources close to the matter revealed that her exit had been planned for over a week. Musk acknowledged her contributions with a brief response: "Thank you for your contributions." Musk appointed Yaccarino as CEO of X in May 2023, shortly after acquiring Twitter for $44 billion. During her tenure, she was a vocal advocate for Musk and played a crucial role in managing the company's business operations, particularly focusing on maintaining relationships with advertisers amidst significant policy changes. One notable incident occurred during the 2023 DealBook Summit, where Musk directed derogatory comments at advertisers, including telling them to "Go f--- yourself." Yaccarino subsequently addressed the fallout, describing Musk’s remarks as an "explicit point of view about our position" and emphasizing X's commitment to free speech and the platform's inclusive community. Prior to joining X, Yaccarino held a prominent position at NBCUniversal, where she led the company's global advertising business. Her experience in this area was vital as she navigated the challenges of keeping advertisers on board while X underwent major shifts in its approach to content moderation and user safety. With Yaccarino's departure, the future direction of X under Musk's leadership remains a topic of interest, especially given the recent controversy surrounding Grok. Her tenure highlighted both the ambitious goals Musk set for the platform and the complex balance required to meet those goals while addressing public and advertiser concerns.