Microsoft executive says mass layoff report is "100% made up"

Microsoft communications chief Frank X. Shaw called a TipRanks report claiming 11,000–22,000 job cuts "100% made up," and the article notes Microsoft cut roughly 9,000 employees in July 2025.

Microsoft's chief communications officer, Frank X. Shaw, publicly dismissed reports that the company is preparing mass layoffs. The claim, published on TipRanks and shared on social platforms, said Microsoft might cut between 11,000 and 22,000 jobs across Azure Cloud, Xbox and global sales. Windows Central editor Jez Corden also called the Xbox-specific portion of the report false. Shaw replied to commentary and described the story as wrong and "100% made up". Key points: - A TipRanks report said Microsoft was "considering massive layoffs" of roughly 11,000–22,000 roles across Azure Cloud, Xbox, and global sales teams. - Windows Central editor Jez Corden said the Xbox portion of the report was false. - Microsoft Chief Communications Officer Frank X. Shaw dismissed the report in public posts and called the claims wrong and "100% made up." - The article notes Microsoft previously cut about 9,000 employees in July 2025, with Xbox head Phil Spencer describing those reductions as necessary and reporting some game cancellations and studio closures at the time. - Despite prior cuts, Microsoft reached a valuation of $4 trillion in late July 2025, as reported. Summary: Shaw's statement disputes the TipRanks report and addresses the versions circulating on social platforms. The company has recently undertaken significant workforce reductions, which is part of the background to this story. Undetermined at this time.