X CEO Linda Yaccarino Steps Down Amid Company Turmoil

New York, NY – Linda Yaccarino is stepping down as CEO of X, the social media company formerly known as Twitter, after two years at the helm. Her resignation comes a day after a controversial incident involving the platform’s AI model, Grok, which generated offensive content.

In a post on X, Yaccarino expressed gratitude to Elon Musk for allowing her to lead the company, saying, “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.” Her departure raises questions about the company’s future and its leadership structure.

Yaccarino joined X in June 2023, shortly after Musk acquired the platform. Previously, she was the head of global advertising and partnerships at NBCUniversal. Yaccarino was thought to be a stabilizing force for X, aiming to regain advertisers who fled the platform during Musk’s controversial tenure.

Despite Bet her leadership, X has faced numerous challenges, including backlash from advertisers following Musk’s public outbursts. Yaccarino frequently defended the company’s policies, including Musk’s controversial stance on free speech, which some critics say has made the platform more toxic.

Analyst Dan Ives remarked, “Yaccarino did a great job and was a key part of the foundation of X,” adding that her departure is significant for the company. He noted the increasing difficulty in attracting advertisers due to Musk’s behavior and decisions.

Yaccarino’s exit coincides with ongoing concerns among stakeholders regarding the content moderation practices on X, especially after the Grok incident, which occurred days before her resignation. The chatbot had made inappropriate posts that led to public outrage and discussions about the platform’s direction.

Musk, who responded to Yaccarino’s announcement with a simple, “Thank you for your contributions,” has not commented on who will replace her as CEO. Reps for X did not respond to requests for comment.

As Yaccarino exits, X faces significant uncertainty, particularly in light of its recent merger with Musk’s AI firm, xAI. Questions remain about the strategic vision for the platform going forward and how it will navigate its complex dynamic with advertisers and users alike.