Linda Yaccarino Takes a Bow as CEO of X Amid AI Controversy and Leadership Strain

Linda Yaccarino has announced her resignation as CEO of 𝕏, marking the end of a turbulent chapter in the company’s evolution under Elon Musk.

“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,” she wrote on her official X page.

Musk responded within an hour: “Thank you for your contributions.”

The timing of Yaccarino’s departure has raised eyebrows, coming just hours after 𝕏 pulled its AI chatbot Grok offline following backlash over antisemitic responses. Her exit also coincided with the planned release of Grok 4, the next major update of the platform’s AI assistant.

Yaccarino, a longtime advertising executive and former NBCUniversal chair, took the helm of 𝕏 during a volatile period after Musk’s takeover of Twitter. Her primary task was to restore advertiser confidence while navigating Musk’s push for unfiltered speech and a transformation into a so-called “Everything App.”

That mission proved difficult. Musk’s frequent incendiary posts, including conspiracy-laden content and public clashes with watchdog groups, spurred a wave of advertiser boycotts. Nonprofit reports revealed that ads from top brands were appearing next to extremist content, prompting major players like Apple and IBM to pause spending on the platform.

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Yaccarino attempted to rebuild those bridges. But her efforts were often undercut by Musk himself. In one of the most high-profile clashes, Musk told advertisers to “Go f— yourself” at the 2023 DealBook Summit, directly singling out Disney CEO Bob Iger. Though he later apologized, the statement further damaged brand relationships.

Throughout her tenure, Yaccarino stood by the company’s core principles, casting 𝕏 as a “platform for information freedom” and championing its role in the evolving media landscape. But the tension between radical free speech and the demands of a stable ad-driven business model appeared increasingly unsustainable.

Her resignation leaves the future of 𝕏’s leadership in question, especially as the platform faces renewed scrutiny over its handling of AI and misinformation.

No successor has yet been named.