brit logo
Search
AI  powered

This Week’s Stories

It’s an act of solidarity.

Here’s Why Celebrities Are Boycotting Twitter Today

Here’s Why Celebrities Are Boycotting Twitter Today

Rose McGowan has become one of the most powerful voices speaking out against Harvey Weinstein. Her Twitter account, where she has been the most active and outspoken, was temporarily suspended this week, and while Twitter says it was because one of her tweets violated the site’s terms by including a private phone number, McGowan has suggested that it has to do with her calling out Weinstein. Today, she and many others will boycott the platform “in protest of women’s voices being silenced.”


McGowan tweeted the call for #WomenBoycottTwitter on Thursday night, saying, “At midnight we RISE.” The movement quickly garnered support from many of her Hollywood peers.

Chrissy Teigen is a frequent tweeter who has had a rocky relationship with social media. She is participating in the boycott for many reasons, including “to stand with the victims of sexual assault, online threats and abuse.”

“No secret timeline checking, no tweets, no clicking the bluebird square,” she wrote. “They need to see we matter….Tomorrow. And maybe even forever. #WomenBoycottTwitter.” Three minutes later, she followed up with a depressing snapshot of exactly the kind of online abuse she was talking about.

Many other women joined the cause before the night’s end too:

Terry Crews, who just this week revealed his own experience with sexual harassment in the industry, was one of many men boycotting in solidarity, as well.

Some people raised concerns that the boycott didn’t represent the entirety of all women’s problems, or the attention they are (or are not) given on the platform.

The boycott is intended to last 24 hours, and while a large number of women have declined to participate, it certainly appears as though the platform will be a little quieter today.

(Photo via Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for TCM)