Twitter executive responsible for content safety resigns after Elon Musk criticism
San Francisco, Jun 3: A top Twitter executive responsible for safety and content moderation has left the company, her departure coming soon after owner Elon Musk publicly complained about the platform's handling of posts about transgender topics.
The departure pointed to a fresh wave of turmoil among key officials at Twitter since Musk took over last year.
Ella Irwin, Twitter's head of trust and safety, confirmed her resignation in a pair of tweets late Friday. She did not say in the message why she was leaving, but her departure came shortly after Musk criticized Twitter's handling of tweets about a conservative media company's documentary that questions transgender medical treatment for children and teens.
Musk was responding to complaints by Jeremy Boreing, co-CEO of the media company, the Daily Wire. Boreing said in tweets and retweets of conservative commentators Thursday that Twitter was suppressing the movie by flagging posts about it as hate speech and keeping the movie off lists of trending topics.
Boreing tweeted that Twitter canceled a deal to premiere "What is a Woman?" for free on the platform "because of two instances of misgendering.'" Twitter rules prohibit intentionally referring to transgender individuals with the wrong gender or name.
"This was a mistake by many people at Twitter. It is definitely allowed," Musk tweeted back. "Whether or not you agree with using someone's preferred pronouns, not doing so is at most rude and certainly breaks no laws."
Irwin tweeted Friday that "one or two people noticed" she left the company the day before, and she noted speculation about whether she was fired or quit. She teased that she would post 24 tweets to explain her departure.
Then she posted that she was just kidding about the long narrative.
"In all seriousness, I did resign but this has been a once in a lifetime experience and I'm so thankful to have worked with this amazing team of passionate, creative and hardworking people. Will be cheering you all and Twitter as you go!"
Next to Musk, Irwin had been the most prominent voice of the company's ever-changing content policies in recent months.
Twitter has struggled to bring back advertisers turned off by Musk's drastic changes and loosening of rules against hate speech since he bought Twitter for USD 44 billion in October. Twitter also has an incoming CEO, Linda Yaccarino, known for decades of media and advertising industry experience, but she hasn't started yet.
Irwin and Twitter didn't respond to requests from The Associated Press for comment.
Twitter has been in turmoil including mass layoffs and voluntary departures since the billionaire Tesla owner bought the San Francisco company and took it private. The company's head of trust and safety left shortly after the takeover, and turnover in the top ranks has continued. Last month, Twitter fired two more top managers.
So one or two people noticed that I left Twitter yesterday. I know there’s been a lot of speculation regarding what happened. Was I fired? Did I quit? Why?? Here’s what really happened: š§µ1/24.
— Ella Irwin (@ellagirwin) June 2, 2023
Just kidding folks. š There’s no thread. In all seriousness, I did resign but this has been a once in a lifetime experience and I’m so thankful to have worked with this amazing team of passionate, creative and hardworking people. Will be cheering you all and Twitter as you go!
— Ella Irwin (@ellagirwin) June 3, 2023
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
India International Coffee Festival from Feb 12
Bengaluru (PTI): The India International Coffee Festival beginning from February 12 is expected to attract over 20,000 visitors, officials said on Monday.
The three-day festival will be held at Chamara Vajra, Jayamahal here with the support of the Specialty Coffee Association of India (SCAI), Coffee Board of India and presented by NESCAFA, Nestle India, they said.
The festival brings together the entire spectrum of India's coffee ecosystem on a single platform, officials said.
Addressing a press conference here, Kurma Rao M, CEO and Secretary, Coffee Board of India termed the India International Coffee Festival (IICF) as the country's only dedicated coffee festival.
He said IICF 2026 will convene coffee growers, processors, exporters, roasters, equipment manufacturers, cafe brands, baristas, and consumers.
Positioned as an industry-led forum, the festival focuses on collaboration, knowledge exchange, innovation, and market access at a time when India's coffee sector is transitioning towards quality-led growth, he added.
"Indian coffee is gaining recognition for its quality and diversity. Platforms such as IICF play an important role in connecting producers with markets, encouraging best practices, and supporting the long-term growth of both domestic consumption and exports," Rao told reporters here.
IICF organiser and SCAI president Hamsini Appadurai said, "India's coffee sector is steadily moving from a commodity-led approach to a quality and experience-driven market."
"This edition of IICF reflects that shift with greater scale, deeper business engagement, and a strong focus on showcasing the diversity and potential of Indian coffee across domestic and global markets," she said.
According to a statement, the festival, which is structured around a farm-to-cup framework, offers insights into production, processing, roasting, and brewing through curated tastings, workshops, and cupping sessions.
These experiences highlight regional coffee profiles, processing techniques, and flavour development, encouraging informed consumption and a deeper appreciation for quality and traceability, it said.
The 2026 edition will also host the National Coffee Championships, where winners from regional rounds will earn the opportunity to represent India at international competitions, reinforcing India's presence on the global coffee stage, Rao said.
