Twitter's biggest users refuse to pay for blue checkmarks

White House considers the blue badge to merely serve as 'a verification that the account is a paid user'

After Elon Musk announced removing Twitter's verified legacy users on April 1, many known celebrities and personalities have refused to pay $8/month for a verified checkmark next to their name.

In Musk's new scheme, users will be compelled to subscribe to an $8 subscription to earn the privilege of receiving a blue badge, regardless of who they are.

According to the micro-blogging site's CEO, 42,000 'notable' users on the platform were stripped off their verification badge yesterday.

Many personalities like NBA star, LeBron James and William Shatner, have tweeted their decision to not opt for the new verification programme.

Hey @elonmusk what’s this about blue checks going away unless we pay Twitter? I’ve been here for 15 years giving my ⏰ & witty thoughts all for bupkis. Now you’re telling me that I have to pay for something you gave me for free? What is this-the Colombia Records & Tape Club?🙄

— William Shatner (@WilliamShatner) March 26, 2023

Welp guess my blue ✔️ will be gone soon cause if you know me I ain’t paying the 5. 🤷🏾‍♂️

— LeBron James (@KingJames) March 31, 2023

Friends, there are bigger issues in the 🌎than the blue verified ✔️next to my name on this account. But without it, anyone can allege to be me. So, if I lose that ✔️ know I will leave this platform. Anyone appearing with it=an imposter. I tell you this while I’m still official.

— jason alexander (@IJasonAlexander) March 28, 2023

Hey y’all , I’ll loose the blue tick on Saturday
I’m opposed to spending money on social media .
I’ll go checkless .
Please be careful of
Imposters & money soliciting scams . I will never ask you for money on any social media platform .
Cheers ✌🏽K

— Karl Urban (@KarlUrban) March 28, 2023

Axios has also reported that the White House will not be paying for the verified service as an internal staff email showed the Biden administration considered the blue badge to merely serve as "a verification that the account is a paid user".

Read Twitter checkmark to be free for 10,000 most-followed companies

White House Director of Digital Strategy Rob Flaherty revealed in the leaked email, "It is our understanding that Twitter Blue does not provide person-level verification as a service. Thus, a blue check mark will now simply serve as a verification that the account is a paid user."

Government official accounts like @WhiteHouse and @JoeBiden do still maintain the grey verification badge Musk rolled out for government officials, these badges don't charge a fee.

Major news sources like the New York Times, The Washington Post, and The Los Angeles Times have shared their intention of not purchasing the blue badge for any of their staff or administration members.