Celebrities, Influencers React to TikTok Ban: ‘This Is so Dystopian’

• TikTok went darkish for 170 million US customers on Saturday.
• Customers took to different corners of the web to react to the shutdown.
• Web persona James Charles, who boasted over 40 million followers, known as the transfer “dystopian.”

Celebrities, influencers, and enterprise leaders reacted to the shutdown of TikTok within the US after it went darkish on Saturday.

The likes of Elon Musk, Mark Cuban, James Charles, and Alix Earle took to different corners of the web to react to the lack of the hit video-sharing app after it went darkish for 170 million US customers on Saturday.

Singer Lizzo, who has over 25 million followers on TikTok, headed to Instagram to react to the information.

“In Loving Reminiscence, Takesha ‘TikTok’ Woods,” the publish reads.

“They actually took her… MY SHAYLA,” Lizzo added within the caption, referencing a current development on the app.

Web persona James Charles, who boasted over 40 million followers on TikTok, additionally posted his response to the shutdown on Instagram.

In a single video, Charles stated: “I am unable to consider I am making an Instagram Reel proper now as a result of usually when one thing occurs on this planet, I am going to TikTok.”

“I do not know what to do! Oh my god, I’ve already opened and closed the app most likely six instances already simply to maintain getting the identical silly warning message. That is so dystopian!” Charles added in a follow-up video.

One other Instagram émigré was Alix Earle, an influencer who rose to fame on the app in 2022 and who had greater than 7 million followers.

Earle posted a video of herself tearfully clutching a glass of wine in mattress. “How I will sleep tonight,” she wrote over the video. “Thank god for this wine rn.”

Key figures from the enterprise world have additionally weighed in on the state of affairs.

Elon Musk stated that he had lengthy been towards a ban on TikTok because it “goes towards freedom of speech.”

“That stated, the present state of affairs the place TikTok is allowed to function in America, however X isn’t allowed to function in China is unbalanced,” he stated in a publish on X. “One thing wants to alter.”

TikTok’s shutdown got here after a monthslong authorized battle over a ban-or-divest regulation handed by Congress final 12 months.

TikTok had challenged the regulation, arguing that it violated the First Modification rights of TikTok and its creators. However the Supreme Courtroom dominated towards the corporate.

Posting on Bluesky, Mark Cuban stated it could be fascinating to see what number of customers moved to the platform from TikTok.

The social media app has seen a surge in customers since President-elect Donald Trump was elected in November. In December, the corporate stated it had grown from 3 million customers to 25.9 million.

It’s at present within the closing levels of elevating new funding led by Bain Capital Ventures, which might worth the corporate at round $700 million, as Enterprise Insider beforehand reported.

Previous to the shutdown, Cuban stated he hoped TikTok could be “disabled tonight at midnight and all day tomorrow and Monday.”

“Which implies the largest story on Monday will probably be… And the response from the newly put in President will probably be…” he wrote.

Cuban has stated he beforehand tried to put money into TikTok’s precursor, Musical.ly, however that the corporate turned him down.

In an interview with Jules Terpak in December, Cuban stated the platform was extra pleasing beneath its former identify and that it had grow to be “extra company” since it has been often called TikTok.

“I preferred it higher when it was dances and music,” Cuban stated. “Now it is a enterprise.”

The forged of “Saturday Night time Stay” additionally tackled the TikTok shutdown in final evening’s episode.

Throughout the Weekend Replace section, comedians Michael Longfellow and Michael Che addressed the state of affairs whereas poking enjoyable at criticism the app has confronted previously.

“I really feel it’s my duty to return out right here and defend TikTok’s proper to stay right here in these United States,” Longfellow stated, posing as a typical app consumer. “It is the primary political opinion I’ve ever had.”

TikTok is banking on Trump

At round 10:30 p.m. Jap Time Saturday, a message started popping up on customers’ screens: “Sorry, TikTok is not obtainable proper now. A regulation banning TikTok has been enacted within the U.S. Sadly, which means you may’t use TikTok for now.”

Within the message, TikTok additionally indicated that it was now counting on Trump to save lots of the app.

“We’re lucky that President Trump has indicated that he’ll work with us on an answer to reinstate TikTok as soon as he takes workplace. Please keep tuned!” it stated.

Trump on Sunday introduced that he’d signal an govt order to postpone the ban with a view to “make a deal to guard our nationwide safety.”

Shortly after the president-elect’s remarks, TikTok stated in a press release to Enterprise Insider it was “within the technique of restoring service” to its US customers.

“We thank President Trump for offering the mandatory readability and assurance to our service suppliers that they are going to face no penalties offering TikTok to over 170 million People and permitting over 7 million small companies to thrive,” TikTok stated.

It is a main pivot for Trump.

In 2020, Trump unsuccessfully sought to ban TikTok. Nevertheless, in the course of the 2024 presidential election, he embraced the social media app, which gave his marketing campaign immense attain throughout a marketing campaign the place he was competing with Vice President Kamala Harris for the help of youthful People.