Adam McKay and More Delete Facebook Over Data Scandal, While Jim Carrey Slams Zuckerberg in New Painting
Zack Sharf
UPDATE (March 21, 2018): Mark Zuckerberg has released an official statement reacting to the data scandal. You can read it in its entirety on his official Facebook page.
The Facebook/Cambridge Analytica scandal is causing directors, actors, and more to delete their Facebook accounts and say goodbye to the social media platform. News broke earlier this month that data analysis company Cambridge Analytica took private information from more than 50 million Facebook profiles to influence the 2016 election.
The data scandal was revealed by whistleblower Christopher Wylie in an interview with ITN Channel 4 News. Wylie, who helped found Cambridge Analytica, said he developed a Facebook app that paid individuals to take a survey. Any user that took the survey but did not adjust his or her privacy settings had as much account data as possible taken and recorded by Analytica.
According to Wylie, the data was of interest to Steve Bannon. The former head of Breitbart served as the Chief executive of Trump’s presidential campaign and wanted to use the Cambridge Analytica data “to influence and galvanize the views of the American public” on behalf of Trump.
The scandal has caused Adam McKay, Tea Leoni, and Jim Carrey to abandon Facebook. Actors like Kumail Nanjiani who don’t even have Facebook profiles aren’t staying silent either. “The Big Sick” Oscar nominee recently tweeted: “I don’t know how anybody can continue using Facebook.”
“Facebook account officially deleted,” McKay posted on March 20. “I’m a free man.”
“This week, I’m leaving Facebook,” Leoni announced. “It’s the spreading of misinformation during and since the 2016 election, and the unauthorized sharing of personal information—just can’t be here under these circumstances. I hope Facebook finds a better path. For now, I’ll be on Twitter.”
Carrey announced at the beginning of February he was leaving Facebook because the social media company “profited from Russian interference in our elections.” On the heels of the Cambridge Analytica data scandal, the comedian released a new painting on his Twitter page that slammed Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg.
Who are you sharing your life with? #regulatefacebook pic.twitter.com/r7B7Ajkt0V
— Jim Carrey (@JimCarrey) March 20, 2018
Facebook account officially deleted. I’m a free man. I’m naked on a junk in the Hong Kong harbor now doing Tai Chi. Oh shit. I’m trapped in an HSBC commercial. Ahhh!
— Adam McKay (@GhostPanther) March 21, 2018
This week, I’m leaving Facebook. It’s the spreading of misinformation during and since the 2016 election, and the unauthorized sharing of personal information—just can’t be here under these circumstances. I hope Facebook finds a better path. For now, I’ll be on Twitter. xoxtéa
— Téa Leoni (@TeaLeoni) March 20, 2018
I don’t know how anybody can continue using Facebook.
— Kumail Nanjiani (@kumailn) March 19, 2018
