Elon, as part of his commitment to making Twitter open to everyone, decided to change the rules around verification on Twitter. Now, anyone who wants a blue check can apply to get one and need only pay $8 to get verified. Predictably, that means many woke celebrities aren’t doing so because they don’t want to be seen supporting Elon Musk.
Among them is Bette Midler, who had an Elon-induced meltdown when she lost her blue check on Thursday. Freaking out about that, she said “Elon took my blue check away! I’m unverified! After all these years and thousands of tweets and free content, this worm has the nerve to de-certify me!”
Elon took my blue check away! I’m unverified! After all these years and thousands of tweets and free content, this worm has the nerve to de-certify me!
— bettemidler (@BetteMidler) April 20, 2023
That wasn’t all. Bette, who has a Ukraine flag background image on her profile, continued, saying “Elon, deciding that I’m not me, I’m a fake, & obliging ME, who has contributed mightily to your platform, (at least until you “tweaked the algorithm & tanked my metrics”) to pay monthly because you don’t have enough money & you’re humiliated b/c everyone thinks you’re a pathetic douche, is the funniest thing you’ve ever done. Let that sink in. Sorry to hear about your rocket.”
Commenting on that, one person said, “This right here is some of your best acting. Bravo! Bravo! Bless your little elitist heart.” Another said, “OMG she’s acting like a cast away for pity points. Trying to get a free blue check. Sorry Bette, your acting doesn’t cut the mustard anymore. You could go trans for more attention.
You don’t have to change a thing. You already look the part. Lol”
She wasn’t the only one. Sticking to his Seinfeld character, Jason Alexander, who played George Costanza in the show, refused to pay for the blue check as well. Angrily tweeting about that, he said, “Ok everyone. Twitter has removed my verification. I will no longer be posting on this app. Anyone who posts as me is an imposter. I wish you all well.”
Ok everyone. Twitter has removed my verification. I will no longer be posting on this app. Anyone who posts as me is an imposter. I wish you all well.
— jason alexander (@IJasonAlexander) April 21, 2023
Commenting on Alexander’s cheapness and self-importance, one commenter said, “Look. You’re a terrific actor. And your decision to leave Twitter is of course something anyone can do, at any time! But this seems connected to termination of a -free- benefit, and availability to others of what used to be an exclusive club. Can’t help but think“. They then included a picture of the definition of “entitled”.
The Daily Wire reported that Elon added bluechecks to some of the profiles of those who had pledged they would never pay, just to make them look ridiculous. In its words:
While almost all celebrities lost their blue checkmarks with the update, Musk made sure that three prominent figures who publicly promised they would never subscribe to Twitter Blue kept their verified status despite not paying for it.
NBA star LeBron James, horror author Stephen King, and “Star Trek” actor William Shatner are all still verified on Twitter.
King tweeted on Thursday, “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.”
Musk replied by saying, “You’re welcome namaste.” The world’s richest man later confirmed he had kept blue checks for “just Shatner, LeBron and King.”
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