Celebrities on Twitter were in for a rude awakening as they found their blue checkmarks disappearing from their profiles, and their fans are not too happy about it.
The social media giant has been busy removing legacy badges from users, including famous personalities such as singer Beyonce and Pope Francis, reported first by Reuters.
Even LeBron James and Stephen King managed to keep their verified statuses only after several dramatic twists and turns.
CLEVELAND, OH - NOVEMBER 04: Beyonce performs on stage during a Get Out The Vote concert supporting Hillary Clinton at Wolstein Center in Cleveland, Ohio on November 4, 2016, in Cleveland, Ohio.
Pay Now, Keep the Blue Check
Despite numerous complaints and objections from prominent figures across various fields, Twitter remains resolute in its decision to strip away the coveted legacy blue checkmarks from user profiles, opting instead to push for individuals to pay a nominal fee of $8 to $11 and verify their phone numbers to regain their verified status.
However, the cost can be as steep as $1,000 per month for organizations, with an additional $50 charge for every affiliated account.
The arrival of Elon Musk on the Twitter scene shook things up for the social media giant, which had been chugging along as usual until the top billionaire threw a wrench in their plans.
One of the most momentous announcements made last year was Twitter's subscription-based program, Twitter Blue, which promised to grant verified checkmarks to everyone who can pay.
Several high-profile individuals lost their verified badges, including former US President Donald Trump, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, footballer Cristiano Ronaldo, and reality TV star Kim Kardashian.
Even comedian Ricky Gervais was stripped of his badge and tweeted to his 15.1 million followers, "My blue tick has gone. I'm not sure if I'm really me or not," accompanied by a close-up image of himself.
Read Also: Elon Musk to File Lawsuit Against Microsoft for Removing Twitter from Smart Campaigns Ad Platform
The Rise of Twitter Blue
Since Elon Musk took over the helm of Twitter, users' verification process has drastically changed, and the once-revered blue checkmark is now a highly sought-after commodity.
In November 2022, Musk revealed that Twitter would introduce a new revenue stream by charging $8 per month for the coveted badge. However, not all users were pleased with the new system. Some high-profile personalities protested against being required to pay for verification, arguing that it should be a free service.
Twitter pledged to combat misinformation and clamp down on verified accounts that incited public disorder.
Twitter strengthened its policy that non-paying users would lose their cherished blue checkmarks. The day of reckoning has arrived for formerly verified accounts, who now no longer see the coveted badge on their social media profiles unless they sign up for Twitter Blue and pay the monthly subscription fee.
Related Article: Elon Musk BBC Interview Goes Viral! Twitter CEO Is His Dog? Here are Other Unbelievable Things He Said
