Dozens of prominent conservatives are calling out Twitter for removing a significant number of their followers and are suggesting that the move is politically motivated.
Actor James Woods announced that he lost 15,000 followers in a few hours and suggested there was “no point” in continuing to engage on the forum.
Twitter, the “public forum” for free speech, has deleted 15,000 followers from my account in the last few hours.
There is no point engaging in a national conversation on a “forum” that is in actual fact a propaganda organ.
God bless America.
— James Woods (@RealJamesWoods) January 7, 2021
Several of Woods’s followers responded by saying that they had the same issue with their accounts.
Fellow Hollywood conservative Kirstie Alley responded to Woods and said that she lost 9,000 followers herself and suggested a “purge” was taking place.
Now 9,000 lost followers.. so weird .. something strange is happening ..the purge
— Kirstie Alley (@kirstiealley) January 8, 2021
“Yesterday I had 513.4K followers,” author and Bill Clinton rape accuser Juanita Broaddrick tweeted. “Now at 507.9K. Like a lot of you I am losing followers by the hour.”
Yesterday I had 513.4K followers. Now at 507.9K. Like a lot of you I am losing followers by the hour.
It could be that so many are sick of this shit and leaving……but more likely …
Twitter purging conservatives
— Juanita Broaddrick (@atensnut) January 8, 2021
“I don’t care that much anymore, especially compared to our first world problems, but it’s weird that twice in the last few months I reached 312k followers & immediately started losing them,” author David Limbaugh tweeted. “Now down to 308k in a few days. I haven’t tweeted enough lately to alienate that many IMHO.”
I don’t care that much anymore, especially compared to our first world problems, but it’s weird that twice in the last few months I reached 312k followers & immediately started losing them. Now down to 308k in a few days. I haven’t tweeted enough lately to alienate that many IMHO
— David Limbaugh (@DavidLimbaugh) January 8, 2021
“Lost over 11k followers thus far today,” Judicial Watch’s Tom Fitton tweeted. “Big Tech purge accelerating?”
Lost over 11k followers thus far today. Big Tech purge accelerating? https://t.co/W7bqX9avjF
— Tom Fitton (@TomFitton) January 8, 2021
“Dang @jack this is a heck of haircut of followers I’m getting,” Fox Business host Charles Payne tweeted. “Lots of folks complaining as the purge seems vindictive and politically motivated.”
Dang @jack this is a heck of haircut of followers I’m getting. Lots of folks complaining as the purge seems vindictive and politically motivated.
I don’t mind you jettisoning bots but they have free reign. Can you give me something I can share with others expressing concern?
— Charles V Payne (@cvpayne) January 8, 2021
Podcaster Dave Rubin responded to Payne, saying that he’s lost 7,000 followers in 48 hours.
7K+ for me in two days… pic.twitter.com/uwkrvaJJTf
— Dave Rubin (@RubinReport) January 8, 2021
In a statement to the Washington Examiner, a Twitter spokesperson said that the company regularly locks accounts due to policies on spam and platform manipulation.
“As part of our work to protect the integrity of the conversation on Twitter, we regularly challenge accounts to confirm account details such as email and phone number,” the statement read. “Until the accounts confirm additional account information, they are in a locked state and do not count towards follower counts.”
The perceived purge comes the same week that Facebook banned Trump from the platform indefinitely after a group of his supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol building Wednesday. The violent clash left multiple people dead and sparked impeachment calls from Democrats who argued Trump instigated the incident.
Some, including former first lady Michelle Obama, have called on social media platforms to ban Trump permanently.
