Elon Musk’s recent announcement regarding the shift in Twitter’s verification process has sparked significant conversation. He boldly labeled the previous system of verification as “bullshit,” criticizing the legacy “lords & peasants” hierarchy that existed on the platform. Just a few days after this announcement, Twitter began distributing blue verification ticks to well-known personalities and accounts boasting millions of followers. Notably, several users who received the coveted verification, including acclaimed author , prominent actor , as well as the renowned and Twitter comedian dril, claimed they had not subscribed to the service.

In a surprising twist, author Neil Gaiman remarked, “For the curious, I’m not subscribed to Twitter Blue,” via a tweet on Sunday afternoon. He expressed his dismay by stating, “I haven’t given anyone my phone number. What a sad, muddled place this has become.” Other celebrities echoed similar frustrations about the changes. Dril humorously lamented, “Ah they got me. I’m fucked,” only to later lose his verification mark. This seems to have been influenced by the account’s owner, who is known for their satirical and often absurd content, raising questions about the platform’s current state.

The total number of users who have been re-verified through this new method remains unclear. On Friday, Musk tweeted that he was “personally” covering the Twitter Blue subscription fees for several celebrities, including basketball legend LeBron James and bestselling author Stephen King. Additionally, accounts previously belonging to late celebrities like , , and were also re-verified over the weekend. Clicking on any of these blue checks reveals a message stating, “This account is verified because they are subscribed to Twitter Blue and verified their phone number,” raising concerns about the transparency of the verification process.

It remains uncertain whether users paid for their verification or if Twitter granted them free access to the blue checks. Unfortunately, Twitter does not have a public relations division for Engadget to contact for clarification. Understandably, many users who received their verification marks without charge are frustrated that Twitter implies they paid for Twitter Blue. Dril humorously commented, “It’s okay he in charging telling him it’s illegal,” referencing a screenshot of the Wikipedia page detailing the Lanham Act, which outlines what constitutes false endorsement in the United States, hinting at the potential legal implications of the platform’s actions.