Summary: Freenode is now down to just 13,194 online users, which makes it the 6th biggest IRC network. Months ago it was #1 with almost 6 times as many users as those below it. The graph above shows what the latest blunder has done (another massive drop in less than a week, with a poem and the all-time chart at the very bottom).
Freenode is FOSS
So said the BOSS
ROOT gave a TOSS
Wanted us to trust the ToS
Onboard came the edgy
It seemed kind of sketchy
Database down with the wedgie
IRC.com is fund-hedgy
No more anon access
Users and channels gettin' nervous
A "RITUAL DEFAMATION" thesis
But self-harm being the Nemesis
In any democratic, functioning institution they would not even ask if he can continue another term; he would be summarily sacked and investigated over the corruption, the cocaine, the racism and so on
The crowd/audience Linus Torvalds panders to is paid by GAFAM to go attend and dominate (speak at) LF events. They're people whose employer forces them to use slop, it's inorganic.