“Twitter Complaint Hotline Operator” Elon Musk announced in a series of tweets Sunday that Twitter will suspend without warning any account that impersonates another unless they’re labeled “parody.”
The action coming after left-wing comedian Kathy Griffin saw her Twitter account suspended for changing her name to “Elon Musk” and copying his profile picture — she then mocked the new Twitter boss in a tweet advocating for the Democratic Party: “After much spirited discussion with the females in my life, I’ve decided that voting blue for their choice is only right. (They’re also sexy females, btw.) #VoteBlueToProtectWomen.”
Griffin changed her name and profile picture to Musk’s and encouraged followers to vote for Democratic candidates in this Tuesday’s midterm elections. pic.twitter.com/HzQTSbAvFI
— Pop Crave (@PopCrave) November 7, 2022
“Going forward, any Twitter handles engaging in impersonation without clearly specifying ‘parody’ will be permanently suspended, Musk tweeted.
Going forward, any Twitter handles engaging in impersonation without clearly specifying “parody” will be permanently suspended
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 6, 2022
“Previously, we issued a warning before suspension, but now that we are rolling out widespread verification, there will be no warning. This will be clearly identified as a condition for signing up to Twitter Blue,” he said in a follow up, adding, “Any name change at all will cause temporary loss of verified checkmark.”
Any name change at all will cause temporary loss of verified checkmark
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 6, 2022
In what was aptly described as “savage,” Musk would respond in a series of tweets to the suspension with his trademark humor.
“Actually she was suspended for impersonating a comedian,” the Tesla CEO tweeted. “But if she really wants her account back, she can have it. For $8.”
Savage. pic.twitter.com/vKuv82ixZT
— Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) November 7, 2022
As it is, the blue check elite is up in arms over Musk leveling the playing field for all users by launching an $8 monthly subscription fee that includes official verification.
Griffin was far from alone in seeking to cause havoc on the Twitter platform by impersonating Musk — another tactic being deployed by activists on the left is to target Twitter advertisers.
Comedian Sarah Silverman got in on the Musk impersonation game, tweeting under his name, “I am a freedom of speech absolutist and I eat doody for breakfast every day.”
Actress Valerie Bertinelli would also take part in what turned out to be a thing: Taking exception to commoners having the ability to acquire a blue check, Bertinelli would tweet support for Democratic candidates under the billionaire’s name.
Former NFL punter Chris Kluwe reportedly had his verified account suspended when he impersonated Musk.
Apparently @elonmusk has a limit to what is acceptable free speech. pic.twitter.com/Z0KRhVnfK9
— Notorious TDB is not paying to keep her blue check (@TinaDesireeBerg) November 4, 2022
Musk clarified that he’s no thin-skinned liberal elitist, informing Twitter-dom that they can trash him at will — for the tidy sum of $8 per month.
Trash me all day, but it’ll cost $8
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 5, 2022
In addition, the apparently orchestrated chaos with a cause was not limited to the impersonation of Elon Musk alone, as seen here:
Here are the verified two accounts that I’ve seen suspended for impersonating someone other than Elon Musk:
– Someone impersonating right-wing provocateur Andy Ngo, who appealed to Musk personally
– A guy impersonating Keanu Reeves, who did it to troll Musk’s new policy pic.twitter.com/u07Yjd6y4k
— Ben Collins (@oneunderscore__) November 7, 2022
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Tom Tillison grew up in Maryland before moving to Central Florida as a young teen. It is in the Sunshine State that he honed both his passion for politics and his writing skills. Tillison also contributes to BizPac Review.
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