• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia

Trendingnow

1

Now worth $200 million, Sarah Jessica Parker credits being ‘one of eight kids that struggled financially’ for her hunger, ambition, and work ethic

2

The Pentagon said Iran War costs $29 billion, but the real cost is closer to $200 billion—and counting

3

Amazon's record Prime Day masks a darker truth: Americans are spending more and getting less

1

Now worth $200 million, Sarah Jessica Parker credits being ‘one of eight kids that struggled financially’ for her hunger, ambition, and work ethic

2

The Pentagon said Iran War costs $29 billion, but the real cost is closer to $200 billion—and counting

3

Amazon's record Prime Day masks a darker truth: Americans are spending more and getting less
Tech

Twitter cofounder Evan Williams says Elon Musk’s purchase of the company made him ‘sad’: ‘He’s brilliant. But no one’s brilliant on everything’

By
Chloe Taylor
Chloe Taylor
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Chloe Taylor
Chloe Taylor
Down Arrow Button Icon
June 9, 2023, 7:08 AM ET
Evan Williams speaks onstage at the Vanity Fair New Establishment Summit at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts on October 7, 2015.
Twitter cofounder Evan Williams, pictured in 2015, has publicly discussed Elon Musk’s takeover of the company for the first time.Michael Kovac—Getty Images for Vanity Fair
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

Twitter cofounder Evan Williams seems pretty upset over how things are panning out at the company under new owner Elon Musk.

Recommended Video

In his first interview since Musk took Twitter private in a landmark $44 billion deal, Williams told Bloomberg’s The Circuit With Emily Chang that he originally believed the notion of Musk taking over Twitter was “interesting and fun.”

However, he revealed, by the time the deal closed, his stance had changed, and he was in fact “sad when the purchase actually went through.”

After attempting to pull out of the acquisition, citing concerns over the number of bot—or fake—accounts on the platform, Musk, the world’s wealthiest person, eventually decided—under legal pressure—to buy the company.

Williams, who was Twitter CEO between 2008 and 2010, is no longer a Twitter shareholder, but as one of the company’s first stakeholders has been closely watching the drama around the Musk-led Twitter unfold.

“I don’t think he’s dialed it in quite right yet,” Williams said of Musk in the interview, which aired Thursday night. “I think he’s brilliant. But no one’s brilliant on everything.”

Musk under fire

Musk, who said he wanted to buy Twitter so that he could make the social network “a platform for free speech,” has come under fire for how he’s been running the company since the deal closed late last year.

Under his stewardship, Twitter has faced accusations of becoming a “far-right social network,” seen its value plummet by two-thirds thanks largely to fleeing advertisers, and lost four in five workers either through mass layoffs or voluntary resignations. The site itself has suffered a slew of technical problems, including during the recent launch of divisive Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’s presidential campaign.

This week saw Musk step down as CEO of Twitter to be replaced by Linda Yaccarino, former advertising chief at media giant NBCUniversal, as the company seeks to rebuild revenue lost in the site’s advertiser exodus. Many of the company’s top advertisers turned their back on the platform as a result of its new moderation policies, sparking concerns that a Musk-owned Twitter would see their ads appearing alongside controversial, divisive, or harmful content.  

In Thursday’s interview, Williams said moderating content on a platform like Twitter is like “hosting a party,” with people posting inappropriate content “ruining the vibe.”

While he said there was a chance Musk could still turn Twitter into a “good party,” the platform’s brand may be irreversibly damaged.

“I think brand recovery is much harder, and now the brand is very linked to Elon,” Williams said.

Advertisers weren’t alone in fleeing Twitter post–Musk’s acquisition, with users of the social network leaving the platform in droves in protest over the way the site was changing, and new competitors scooping them up.

Williams predicted on Thursday that Twitter could be headed toward a fate similar to that of Myspace or Yahoo, both of which were immensely popular in their early years but saw their brand power dwindle as poor leadership prompted users to turn to other, more relevant, platforms.

He said Twitter’s tumultuous seven months under Musk had made him question whether he and his cofounders—Jack Dorsey, Biz Stone, and Noah Glass—had made the right call in creating the platform altogether.

“Maybe we just had the wrong idea with Twitter, and now it’s time to move on to some other idea,” he said. “The idea of ‘social media’ is probably the thing I’m questioning the most right now.”

Dorsey criticism

Dorsey himself has also criticized the way Musk has steered Twitter since buying the company in late October—despite being an early supporter of the Tesla founder running the firm.

Last month, Dorsey argued that Twitter had “gone south” since Musk took over, adding that Musk should have “walked away” from the acquisition.

A year earlier, he’d said that “Elon is the singular solution I trust” when it came to finding a buyer for Twitter.

“This is the right path,” Dorsey noted at the time of accepting Musk’s proposed acquisition. “I believe it with all my heart.”

On Thursday, Williams said he was “not mad at Jack,” but said he believed his former business partner “made a mistake” in trusting Musk.

“I’m guessing it’s not going the way he was hoping,” Williams said.

Twitter did not respond to Fortune’s request for comment on the Bloomberg interview with Williams.

About the Author
By Chloe Taylor
LinkedIn iconTwitter icon
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

Latest in Tech

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in Tech

Man in a suit and tie
InvestingAmazon
Bill Ackman, David Tepper, and other billionaire fund managers are quietly piling into Amazon
By Amanda GerutJune 25, 2026
4 hours ago
A college graduate in regalia rests his chin in his hand.
Future of WorkGen Z
Gen Z graduates are blaming AI for their unemployment woes when they should be looking somewhere else
By Sasha RogelbergJune 25, 2026
4 hours ago
Getting past the pilot: Why so many AI test projects have trouble scaling
SuccessBrainstorm Tech
Getting past the pilot: Why so many AI test projects have trouble scaling
By Alexei OreskovicJune 24, 2026
12 hours ago
‘Godmother of AI’ and tech entrepreneurs draw investors by pivoting from chatbots to ‘world models’ saying AI has to read the room, not just books
AIRobots
‘Godmother of AI’ and tech entrepreneurs draw investors by pivoting from chatbots to ‘world models’ saying AI has to read the room, not just books
By The Associated PressJune 24, 2026
14 hours ago
‘We are in agony’: Today Show host Savannah Guthrie begs public for help as reports surface her missing 84-year-old mom might be dead
North AmericaMedia
‘We are in agony’: Today Show host Savannah Guthrie begs public for help as reports surface her missing 84-year-old mom might be dead
By The Associated PressJune 24, 2026
14 hours ago
Asia’s defense boom is rewiring the global arms supply chain
Commentaryarms, weapons, and defense
Asia’s defense boom is rewiring the global arms supply chain
By Chris OberoiJune 24, 2026
14 hours ago

Most Popular

Now worth $200 million, Sarah Jessica Parker credits being ‘one of eight kids that struggled financially’ for her hunger, ambition, and work ethic
Success
Now worth $200 million, Sarah Jessica Parker credits being ‘one of eight kids that struggled financially’ for her hunger, ambition, and work ethic
By Orianna Rosa RoyleJune 24, 2026
1 day ago
The Pentagon said Iran War costs $29 billion, but the real cost is closer to $200 billion—and counting
Economy
The Pentagon said Iran War costs $29 billion, but the real cost is closer to $200 billion—and counting
By Jacqueline MunisJune 24, 2026
1 day ago
Amazon's record Prime Day masks a darker truth: Americans are spending more and getting less
Retail
Amazon's record Prime Day masks a darker truth: Americans are spending more and getting less
By Nick LichtenbergJune 24, 2026
20 hours ago
After forcing workers back to the office, Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan Chase are now letting their staff work remotely—but only for the World Cup
Success
After forcing workers back to the office, Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan Chase are now letting their staff work remotely—but only for the World Cup
By Orianna Rosa RoyleJune 23, 2026
2 days ago
Ray Dalio just finished a 10-day trip to China. He says global leaders know America ‘doesn’t have what it takes to fight to maintain its empire’
Asia
Ray Dalio just finished a 10-day trip to China. He says global leaders know America ‘doesn’t have what it takes to fight to maintain its empire’
By Nick LichtenbergJune 24, 2026
22 hours ago
Trump’s international student crackdown kicked off a domino effect that could shave nearly $500 billion off the economy
Economy
Trump’s international student crackdown kicked off a domino effect that could shave nearly $500 billion off the economy
By Tristan BoveJune 24, 2026
17 hours ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.