In a stunning escalation of tension between two cultural titans, legendary horror author Stephen King has quit X (formerly Twitter) after claiming Elon Musk effectively “kicked” him off the platform. The move has sparked an international firestorm over free speech, censorship, and the growing chaos on Musk’s social media empire.

King, a frequent critic of Musk, posted a final message to his 7 million followers:

“This isn’t about disagreement — it’s about dignity. I won’t be part of a platform that treats dissent like a disease.”

Sources close to the situation suggest that King’s account faced repeated algorithmic throttling, shadow bans, and sudden “violation” warnings — all following a series of scathing posts slamming Musk’s political views and management style. Some insiders allege that King was deliberately targeted by Musk’s team.

Shortly after King’s exit, Musk cryptically posted:

“He wasn’t kicked. He walked out when the room stopped clapping.”

The post, dripping with sarcasm, was interpreted by many as a final jab at the author — but critics aren’t laughing.

Human rights organizations and high-profile figures from Hollywood to Capitol Hill have condemned Musk’s handling of the situation. “It’s a digital purge,” said one media watchdog. “If Stephen King isn’t safe to speak his mind, who is?”

The hashtag #IStandWithStephen began trending within hours, with thousands of users deactivating their accounts in protest. Meanwhile, Musk loyalists applauded the move, accusing King of being “elitist,” “overdramatic,” and “desperate for attention.”

This isn’t the first time King and Musk have clashed. In 2022, King threatened to leave X over Musk’s plan to charge users for verification, prompting a rare concession from Musk. But this time, the parting appears final — and far more bitter.

As the backlash grows, experts warn that Musk’s increasingly combative style could further fracture the platform’s user base and ignite new calls for regulation of tech billionaires wielding unchecked influence.