Taylor Swift, Ryan Reynolds and Chris Hemsworth among celebrities paying to keep blue ticks on Twitter | Science & Tech News

After months of seemingly empty threats to rid Twitter of its verified accounts, Elon Musk has lastly purged the platform of its “legacy” blue ticks.

The multi-billionaire introduced plans to maneuver the checkmarks behind a paywall shortly after his $44bn (£38bn) takeover last October, although an embarrassing episode that left the platform awash with accounts posing as celebrities brands, and politicians put the adjustments on maintain.

However Musk wielded the axe on Thursday and a number of the world’s most high-profile figures have been affected, including Beyonce, JK Rowling, Justin Bieber, and even the Pope.

Now, the morning after has revealed a number of the well-known pop stars, actors, and sporting icons who’ve stumped up the money (as much as £11 a month within the UK) – or had a serving to hand – to remain blue.

The Three Musketeers

Star Trek‘s William Shatner, NBA legend LeBron James, and writer Stephen King have stored their blue ticks on the behest of Musk himself.

James and King had each mentioned they’d not pay for the required Twitter Blue subscription.

When it emerged that King had remained verified post-cull, he tweeted: “My Twitter account says I’ve subscribed to Twitter Blue. My Twitter account says I’ve given a cellphone quantity. I have never.”

Musk revealed that he’s “personally paying” for some celebrities to remain verified.

“Simply Shatner, LeBron and King,” he tweeted.

Movie and TV stars

Ought to there be one other Marvel civil conflict – maybe the dividing line will likely be who’s paid for a Twitter checkmark.

Whereas Robert Downey Jr and Chris Evans are tickless, Chris Hemsworth, Ryan Reynolds, and Hugh Jackman stay verified.

Additionally nonetheless verified are comedians Eddie Izzard and Neil Patrick Harris.

Two of America’s most well-known chat present hosts are additionally paying up – Ellen DeGeneres and Jimmy Fallon.

However there’s one other divide relating to wrestlers turned actors, with Dwayne Johnson tickless however John Cena protecting his.

Musicians

Taylor Swift‘s breakups are the stuff of musical folklore, and it seems she’s not fairly able to say goodbye to her Twitter checkmark simply but.

Ed Sheeran‘s account stands out with a gold checkmark – he’s a reasonably large deal, however these have been purported to be for verified organisations and business, quite than people.

Different music stars who nonetheless have a tick embody Rihanna, The Weeknd, Coldplay, Cardi B, and Miley Cyrus.

Britney Spears can be nonetheless verified, regardless of an obvious try to cover it amongst some emojis.

Sports activities stars

Males’s world tennis primary Novak Djokovic has stored his tick, not like the Serb’s long-time rivals Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Britain’s Andy Murray.

The truth is, the tennis world exposes a effective instance of the marginally nonsensical strategy to verification beneath Musk.

A seek for Nadal reveals whereas his account is now unverified, a fan account does have the checkmark as soon as used to assist folks work out which profiles have been genuine and affiliated with well-known figures.

Jude Bellingham seems to be the one England footballer nonetheless verified, although he has his German membership aspect Borussia Dortmund to thank for that.

And Gary Lineker has additionally stored his tick, so it is positively him ought to he get into hassle with the BBC once more.

Different celebrities

Among the many different well-known figures paying for Twitter Blue are YouTube influencers Logan and Jake Paul, Spotify podcast host Joe Rogan, and Fox Information host Tucker Carlson.

Khloe Kardashian has additionally signed up, not like her sisters.

Musk himself in fact retains a blue tick by way of his affiliation with Twitter, as do different firm workers.

Pre-takeover, Twitter had about 300,000 verified customers beneath the unique blue tick system, which required customers to show they have been who they mentioned they have been.