In an unexpected development, Twitter has reinstated verification badges for numerous prominent celebrity accounts, each boasting millions of followers, just days after the social media platform stripped legacy blue checkmarks from non-paying users.
This decision is particularly noteworthy given that Indian celebrities and prominent politicians, including Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, recently lost their verified blue ticks. This came after the Elon Musk-led platform began removing checkmark icons from accounts that did not subscribe to the new verification model.
The coveted blue ticks have made a sudden reappearance on the profiles of these celebrities. This includes revered cricketers such as Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli, who also saw their blue ticks restored.
It remains unclear whether these accounts have opted to pay for verification under the new system.
Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who regained the blue tick on his Twitter account, tweeted that he had not made any payment for it. He quipped, “Apparently I’ve paid for Twitter Blue & given them a phone number to verify except that I haven’t. Mr. Musk, are you paying for mine as well?”
Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai also expressed her surprise and happiness upon receiving the reinstated blue tick, tweeting, “I don’t know what happened but I’m happy to have my blue tick back so everyone knows I am still Malala.”
While Twitter has not provided official confirmation regarding the reinstatement of blue ticks, reports suggest that the company is restoring verified status to accounts with substantial follower counts.
Interestingly, the accounts of some late global icons, such as Chadwick Boseman, Kobe Bryant, and Michael Jackson, have also regained their blue tick statuses.
Earlier this week, Twitter commenced the removal of blue checkmarks from countless celebrities, politicians, and journalists who had not subscribed, leading to significant losses among high-profile users.
Nevertheless, a select number of well-known individuals, including U.S. author Stephen King, NBA star LeBron James, and legendary actor William Shatner, managed to retain their blue ticks after Musk announced he would personally cover the verification costs for these accounts.
