Twitter has recently taken a new approach to its verification process by granting blue checkmarks to the accounts of deceased celebrities. This comes shortly after Elon Musk announced that Twitter would start charging for verification, describing the previous system as “bullshit.” Now, the platform is providing verification to celebrity users and accounts with more than one million followers, even if they did not pay for the service.
Unexpected verification surprises users
Prominent individuals like author Neil Gaiman and actor Ron Perlman have received verification without subscribing to Twitter Blue or providing their phone numbers. Gaiman expressed his confusion about the platform’s current state, while other celebrities shared similar sentiments. The number of users who have been re-verified in this manner remains unclear.
On Friday, Musk claimed to be personally paying for the Twitter Blue subscriptions of some celebrities, including LeBron James and Stephen King. Over the weekend, late celebrities’ accounts, including Chadwick Boseman, Kobe Bryant, and Anthony Bourdain, were reverified. Clicking their blue checkmarks shows a message about Twitter Blue subscription and verified phone numbers.
It is still uncertain whether someone paid to verify those accounts or if Twitter granted them blue checkmarks without charge. Twitter does not have a public relations department that could be reached for comment. Understandably, many of those who received their checkmark for free are upset that Twitter implies they paid for Twitter Blue. Some users joked about the situation, mentioning the Lanham Act. This federal law outlines what constitutes false endorsement in the United States.
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