Linda Yaccarino Is Out as CEO of X | Hypebeast
Linda Yaccarino has officially stepped down as CEO of X, the social media company formerly known as Twitter, after serving for two eventful years under Elon Musk’s leadership.
Why She’s Leaving
Yaccarino’s resignation comes just one day after X’s AI chatbot, Grok, stirred controversy by sharing antisemitic content with users. It’s unclear if that incident directly influenced her decision to leave, but the timing has raised eyebrows.
Her exit also follows Musk’s earlier move to fold X into his AI company, xAI, blurring the lines between the social media and artificial intelligence sides of his empire. That merger left many wondering what Yaccarino’s future role would be.
In a farewell post on X, Yaccarino thanked Musk for trusting her “to protect free speech, turn the company around, and build the Everything App.” She ended on a hopeful note, saying, “The best is yet to come as X enters a new chapter with @xAI.”
Musk replied briefly: “Thank you for your contributions.”
Inside the Company: Why This Wasn’t a Shock
According to one current X employee, Yaccarino’s departure didn’t come as a surprise. She was originally brought on to rebuild trust with advertisers—many of whom left after Musk’s controversial statements. That job turned out to be harder than expected.
In late 2023, Musk famously told advertisers who pulled out to “go f**k yourself,” which only made things worse. Since then, X has struggled to win back big brands, and with Musk now deeply focused on AI and less on business strategy, it’s been tough for leaders like Yaccarino to chart a clear path forward.
“There’s been a lot of confusion about what X even is anymore,” said the employee. “And it’s hard to work with partners when we can’t explain our own direction.”
A Tough Job from the Start
Yaccarino, formerly with NBCUniversal, took over in June 2023 after Musk bought Twitter. She was tasked with stabilizing the platform’s business after Musk’s takeover scared off advertisers.
Her time at X was marked by:
- Constant PR crises involving hate speech and false information
- Lawsuits and fights with ad watchdog groups
- A challenging rollout of the Grok AI chatbot
- Competition from new platforms like Threads and Bluesky
- Declining user numbers (from 915.9 million when she joined to 684.2 million now)
She tried to promote a balance between free speech and brand safety, introducing tools for advertisers to avoid controversial content. Still, the platform couldn’t escape repeated scandals.
The most recent blow came when Grok, the chatbot integrated into X, made headlines for repeating antisemitic tropes. xAI responded by deleting offending posts and promised to tighten controls—but questions remain about who’s truly in charge.
Yaccarino vs. Musk: A Power Imbalance
Throughout her tenure, Yaccarino had to constantly manage not just the business, but Musk himself. As CTO, Musk continued to make major decisions—and headlines—leaving Yaccarino to handle the fallout.
“She had to be both CEO and fire extinguisher,” said Jasmine Enberg, an expert from Emarketer. “It’s a miracle she lasted this long.”
Anne Marie Malecha, a crisis management expert, added that Musk’s unpredictable nature made the job even tougher. “He does whatever works for him in the moment,” she said. “That puts any CEO in a very difficult spot.”
The Legacy She Leaves Behind
While X introduced new features like celebrity podcasts and peer-to-peer payments in partnership with Visa, the platform hasn’t quite become the “Everything App” Yaccarino once envisioned.
Her resignation also comes as Musk faces pressure on other fronts—especially at Tesla, where top executives have recently exited, and politically, as his fallout with Donald Trump heats up.
“I don’t think anyone expected her to last this long,” said Malecha. “Given everything going on, this might be the best time for her to walk away.”
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