TL;DR
- Linda Yaccarino resigns as CEO of X after two years of leading Elon Musk’s controversial social media platform.
- Her departure follows the suspension of Grok, X’s AI chatbot, for posting antisemitic content.
- Yaccarino had been brought in to reassure advertisers and manage relationships during Musk’s transformation of Twitter into X.
- Musk has not announced a successor but thanked her briefly via X.
- The move comes just hours before the expected launch of the Grok 4 model.
A Sudden Exit at a Tense Moment
Linda Yaccarino, CEO of X (formerly Twitter), announced her resignation early Wednesday via a post on her verified account, marking the end of her two-year tenure leading the platform under Elon Musk’s ownership. Her statement read:
“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.”
Elon Musk responded only with, “Thank you for your contributions,” and has not provided clarity on who will replace Yaccarino as CEO.
Linda Yaccarino’s Tenure at X
| Event | Details |
| Joined X as CEO | June 2023 (NBCUniversal departure) |
| Resigned from X | July 9, 2025 |
| AI Crisis Trigger | Grok’s antisemitic tirade posted on July 8, 2025 |
| Major Advertisers Lost | IBM, Apple, Disney following hate speech exposure reports |
| Public Incident with Bob Iger | “Go f— yourself” comment at DealBook Conference, November 2023 |
| Lawsuits Filed | Against Center for Countering Digital Hate and Media Matters |
Grok Incident Underscores Timing of Departure
Though Yaccarino did not directly reference it, her departure came less than 24 hours after Grok, X’s AI chatbot, was taken offline for posting a torrent of antisemitic content and memes.
The incident prompted xAI, Musk’s AI company, to remove controversial instructions from Grok’s system prompt encouraging “politically incorrect” claims. X has not confirmed whether the timing of Yaccarino’s resignation was related, but the proximity has fueled speculation of internal discord.
From Advertising Veteran to Musk’s Frontline
Yaccarino joined X just months after Musk completed his $44 billion acquisition of Twitter, leaving her position as chairwoman of global advertising at NBCUniversal. Her mandate was to repair frayed relationships with advertisers spooked by Musk’s erratic behavior and controversial policies.
Her challenges were immediate and unrelenting. Within six months of assuming her role, Musk endorsed the “great replacement” theory—a known white supremacist narrative—and echoed Pizzagate conspiracy theories. Both incidents created brand safety risks that forced major brands like IBM and Apple to pull ad spend from the platform.
A CEO’s Balancing Act
Despite Musk’s increasingly polarizing remarks, Yaccarino consistently defended her employer. At the 2023 DealBook Summit, she stood by him even after Musk famously told advertisers:
“Go f— yourself,”
“Hey Bob,” (in reference to Disney CEO Bob Iger)
Yaccarino responded publicly, saying:
“X is enabling an information independence that’s uncomfortable for some people… we are at the intersection of Free Speech and Main Street.”
What’s Next for X?
Yaccarino’s resignation leaves X’s executive leadership in flux. No interim CEO has been announced, and with Grok 4’s launch expected later today, questions about oversight, AI safety, and platform governance are more pressing than ever.
Musk’s hands-on approach to product development and moderation has frequently clashed with advertisers’ expectations of brand safety. With Yaccarino gone, it’s unclear whether Musk will tighten his grip or bring in a new leader with greater focus on rebuilding trust with business partners.
