15 Lifeless Celebrities Elon Musk Has Branded With Twitter’s Controversial Checkmark

Twitter CEO Elon Musk has modified his thoughts on the social media platform’s “blue checkmark” so many occasions it may be arduous to maintain observe. However the billionaire’s newest transfer is probably the most perplexing.

Musk stripped “legacy” checkmarks from notable Twitter accounts on Thursday earlier than he began doling them out like a badge of disgrace to celebrities who didn’t need them. Stephen King, LeBron James and Jason Alexander had been just some of the individuals who obtained a free checkmark after very publicly saying they wouldn’t pay $8 per thirty days to preserve a meaningless image.

Even Twitter’s legendary comedy account Dril was given a checkmark a number of occasions on Saturday, with the pseudonymous comic continuously altering his identify on the platform in an effort to eliminate the checkmark. However Dril saved getting branded with the blue test, lastly accepting his destiny.

Then one thing even weirder began to occur on Saturday afternoon. Twitter began giving anybody with a big following, roughly 1 million followers or extra, a free checkmark. The one drawback? By doing that, Musk has given checkmarks to individuals who’ve died. And whenever you click on on the blue checkmark on their profiles it not solely says they’ve subscribed to Twitter Blue, it says they’ve handed over their telephone quantity.

Who owns the Twitter accounts that Musk has defiled along with his cringeworthy gesture? Under I’ve collected an inventory of notable figures—the estates of which could have an issue with the truth that Musk is utilizing their dormant accounts to suggest they endorse his product.

Twitter checkmarks used to imply the identification of a given person had been verified, a function that was rolled out after baseball legend Tony La Russa filed a lawsuit in opposition to the social media firm again in 2009 over an impersonator. However Twitter doesn’t confirm anybody’s identification anymore, which means a checkmark is nothing greater than a standing image. Or, given what the mark has was in just some quick days, a digital dunce cap.

Twitter responded to questions late Saturday with a poop emoji, an automatic response arrange by Musk that goes to all reporters.

Kobe Bryant

Basketball celebrity Kobe Bryant, who died in a helicopter crash in 2020, has been given a blue checkmark.

Anthony Bourdain

Well-known chef Anthony Bourdain, who died in 2018, was given a blue checkmark. As you’ll be able to see should you go to his account, it reads, “This account is verified as a result of they’re subscribed to Twitter Blue and verified their telephone quantity.”

Chadwick Boseman

The Marvel star of Black Panther, Chadwick Boseman, was additionally given a blue checkmark. Boseman died of most cancers in 2020.

Chris Cornell

Chris Cornell, the musician well-known for bands like Soundgarden and Audioslave who died in 2017, has a blue checkmark.

Jamal Khashoggi

Jamal Khashoggi, a contributor to the Washington Publish, was killed and dismembered on the order of Saudi Arabia’s ruler Mohammed bin Salman in 2018. Khashoggi has been given the blue test.

Kirstie Alley

Actress Kirstie Alley, who died in 2022 from most cancers, now has a blue checkmark. Like all the different movie star accounts, Alley’s Twitter feed reads, “This account is verified as a result of they’re subscribed to Twitter Blue and verified their telephone quantity.”

Chester Bennington

The Linkin Park frontman Chester Bennington, who died in 2017, now has a blue checkmark.

Barbara Walters

Journalist Barbara Walters, who died in 2022, has been given a brand new blue checkmark.

Bob Saget

Comic Bob Saget, who died in 2022, has been given a blue checkmark.

John McAfee

The software program developer John McAfee, who died by suicide in 2021, has a blue checkmark.

Michael Jackson

Pop singer Michael Jackson, who died in 2009, now has a blue checkmark.

Pele

Pele, the legendary soccer participant who died in 2022, has a blue checkmark now.

Norm Macdonald

Comic Norm Macdonald, who died in 2021 and was a prolific Twitter person, now has a blue checkmark.

Terry Pratchett

Fantasy writer Terry Pratchett, who died in 2015, was given a blue checkmark however Pratchett is the one one on this checklist with lower than 1 million followers. Pratchett’s daughter, who has sparred with Musk on-line, tweeted that she didn’t paid for the checkmark.

John McCain

John McCain, a U.S. Senator from Arizona who died in 2018, has been given a checkmark.