Gene Simmons, the iconic bassist and co-lead vocalist of KISS, announced on November 18, 2023, that he will no longer be posting on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter. In his final message on the platform, Simmons directed his followers to his other social media accounts, including Instagram, TikTok, and Threads

While Simmons did not explicitly state his reasons for leaving X, his departure coincides with a period of heightened controversy surrounding the platform’s owner, Elon Musk. Musk recently faced backlash for endorsing an antisemitic conspiracy theory, prompting responses from public figures and organizations. The White House condemned Musk’s remarks, stating, “We condemn this abhorrent promotion of antisemitic and racist hate in the strongest terms.”

Simmons’ exit from X aligns with similar actions taken by other prominent artists. Neil Young also announced his departure from the platform, citing concerns over Musk’s comments and their broader implications. On his website, Young wrote, “We are stopping all use of X we can control. For reasons that should be obvious to the richest man on Earth, we are taking this action against his company.”

The controversy has led to significant repercussions for X, including major advertisers like Disney and Warner Bros. pausing their advertising on the platform due to concerns about their ads appearing alongside antisemitic content. Musk has responded by threatening legal action against media watchdogs and denying allegations of antisemitism, clarifying that his comments were directed at specific groups rather than all Jewish people

Simmons, who is Jewish and has been an advocate against antisemitism, has not publicly detailed his motivations for leaving X. However, his departure adds to the growing list of public figures distancing themselves from the platform amidst ongoing controversies.