Mark Hamill in Conversation with Frank Oz at 92Y

Mark Hamill Wonders If He’s Losing Followers Due To New Twitter Owner Elon Musk

Home / Stars / Mark Hamill Wonders If He’s Losing Followers Due To New Twitter Owner Elon Musk

By Kristin Myers on October 28, 2022 at 9:15 AM PDT

There are many good reasons to follow "Star Wars" alum Mark Hamill on Twitter.

Besides the dad jokes, the puns, and the behind-the-scenes information he provides, he has also been known to post a few cute animal videos too.

However, in the past few days, "The Fall of the House of Usher" actor revealed that he has lost over 6,000 Twitter followers and openly wondered if it's all due to Twitter's new owner, Elon Musk.

Article continues below advertisement

Elon Musk Takes Over Twitter: 'The Bird Is Freed'

In April, Tesla CEO Elon Musk agreed to buy Twitter for $54.20 per share. The $44 billion dollar deal was on hold several times over the past few months, with the 51-year-old billionaire expressing concern about the number of bot and spam accounts on the platform. However, after Twitter filed a lawsuit to force him to follow through with their agreement by legal means, Musk suddenly changed his mind and said that he would go through with the deal only days before he was about to be deposed.

Article continues below advertisement

Musk had to complete the deal by Friday, October 28 at 5 PM, or else a new trial date would be scheduled in Delaware Chancery Court next month. It looks like he went through with the deal with hours to spare, but not everyone is happy that Musk is Twitter's new owner. Chief Executive Parag Agrawal, Chief Financial Officer Ned Segal, and Vijaya Gadde, Twitter’s head of legal policy, were all fired when Musk assumed control of the company.

That being said, the three executives aren't the only ones leaving Twitter. Many are leaving the platform and closing their accounts, concerned about what changes Musk might make to the social media platform.

Article continues below advertisement

Is 'Star Wars' Alum Mark Hamill Losing Twitter Followers Due To New 'Chief Twit' Elon Musk?

On Friday morning, the 71-year-old actor took to Twitter to reveal that he has been losing followers over the past few days. "So, I've lost almost 6000 followers in the last three days. Is it because of the new twit owner... or not posting enough cute animal videos lately?" he tweeted, sharing a video of a baby pig being groomed with a brush.

It's possible that users were closing their accounts ahead of Musk assuming control of the company. It's also possible that Musk was "cleaning house" and attempting to get rid of some of the bot and spam accounts on the platform prior to him assuming control of the company.

Article continues below advertisement

Most fans seemed to believe that the sharp drop in followers was due to the number of bot and spam accounts on the site being reduced. "It's because they're not real accounts, Mark," one follower commented.

Article continues below advertisement

Another follower replied, “It’s because we’re all leaving Twitter and nothing to do with you. I’ll be deleting my account later today. Thanks mark for all the great tweets and so long.”

“Yes I have lost a mass load. So have lots of accounts,” another user commented. “I checked socialblade. The only accounts that have a mass load of new followers in the last 24 hours are the likes of MTG and Don Jr.”

“It's likely due to not deletion. That happens sometimes,” another fan ventured. “I lost some a few weeks ago but am currently gaining followers at an increased rate compared to normal. Tis the strange and mysterious ways of the digital world.”

Article continues below advertisement

Even though no one believed that Mark Hamill's drastic decrease in followers was a result of a lack of cute animal videos, fans quickly rushed to provide them all the same. "I believe it's because of the lack of piggies. Have you seen this?" one fan asked, sharing a video that featured a piglet wearing a tiny hat and running on a tiny pink ball along the street. 

Article continues below advertisement

Another fan shared a video of a baby flamingo attempting to stand on one leg. They added, "There are never enough cute animal videos or pics."

Article continues below advertisement