In a surprising move, Elon Musk has reversed Twitter’s decision to remove blue tick verification badges from celebrities who refused to subscribe to Twitter Blue. Many high-profile figures, including authors, politicians, and athletes, lost their blue ticks earlier this month as part of Twitter’s new policy. However, Musk has allegedly paid for the blue ticks of some celebrities, including LeBron James, William Shatner, and Stephen King, and has now restored the blue tick verification for all celebrities with millions of followers.
The move has left many celebrities puzzled, with some claiming that they have not paid for the service. Twitch streamer Hasan Piker wrote on Twitter, “I have no clue how this happened, I absolutely did not buy Twitter Blue.” Similarly, author Kara Swisher expressed her surprise, saying, “Good lord, I’ve been LeBroned, Shatnered, Kinged without my consent. No means no, boys.”
Even dormant accounts of deceased celebrities such as Michael Jackson, Kobe Bryant, and Chadwick Boseman have had their blue tick verification restored. It is unclear whether Musk has paid for these accounts as well.
While some celebrities, such as Charlie Sheen, have thanked Musk for paying for their blue tick verification, others have called on him to donate the money to charity instead. Stephen King suggested that Musk donate the $8 fee to the Prytula Foundation, a Ukrainian charity that provides life-saving services. Musk has not responded to King’s suggestion.
Before Musk’s intervention, only notable figures could get a blue tick verification badge on Twitter. The purpose of the badge was to ensure that nobody impersonates them on the platform. However, Twitter’s new policy allowed anyone with money to spare to buy the blue tick, leading to the removal of many legacy blue ticks.
Musk’s move has been met with mixed reactions, with some hailing him as a hero for standing up to Twitter’s new policy, while others criticize him for promoting a system that allows people to buy authenticity. Nonetheless, Musk’s intervention has ensured that celebrities can keep their blue tick verification badges, at least for now.
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The Chenab Times News Desk
