On 4/20, Twitter took away the blue checkmarks from all the legacy verified users, as Musk promised, ending the "lords & peasants system." So now you do not need to be "authentic, notable, and active," for the blue checkmark in front of your name. All you need is a phone number and $8 or Rs 650, not even that if you are Lebron James, Stephen King or William Shatner.
These are the chosen ones for whom Musk has decided to pay for their Twitter Blue subscription personally. In a tweet, Musk confirmed that he is indeed paying for their subscription, writing, “Just Shatner, LeBron and King,” in reply to a tweet that alleged that Musk is paying for some celebrities.
To his surprise, Stephen King, who has previously railed against the idea of paying to keep the "blue check," as it is against principles, expected to have lost his checkmark today, but it was still there, with the label showing that he subscribed to Twitter Blue.
“My Twitter account says I’ve subscribed to Twitter Blue. I haven’t. My Twitter account says I’ve given a phone number. I haven’t.” tweeted King. To which, Musk replied, “You’re welcome namaste,” suggesting that the Twitter owner is covering his subscription.
Lebron James, known for his vocal opposition to paid verification on Twitter, has said, "I ain't paying the $5,” though it is $8 in the US. However, upon checking his profile, it is apparent that he has a verified badge. Further investigation reveals that James' account is verified due to his subscription to Twitter Blue, which Musk is paying for.
Musk did not say why he chose to pay for their Blue subscription, or for how long he plans to pay for it.
If you are not Shatner, LeBron and King, then you will need to pay up $8 or Rs 650 out of your pocket.
Start a Conversation
Post comment