Twitter CEO Elon Musk and left-wing author Stephen King have been sparring the past few days over the social media platform’s coveted blue checks — Twitter just removed most legacy blue checks, which were determined by previous management, in favor of an $8 monthly subscription service that includes a blue check.
Well-known elitist celebrities and other personalities pushed back with a “Block the Blue” campaign, suggesting that the blue checks now have no value and anyone with a blue check should be blocked — lo and behold, Twitter suddenly restored the blue checks for some of the rabble-rousers with hilarious results.
King took to Twitter last week to make a point that he did not subscribe to the Twitter Blue subscription service, prompting Musk to fire back, “You’re welcome namaste,” — namaste being a respectful Indian greeting.
You’re welcome namaste
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 20, 2023
At the time, Musk said he had restored the blue checks for just King, William Shatner and NBA player LeBron James, who threw a hissy fit over the issue.
Determined to get the last word in, King came back to tell Musk what he could do with his blue check.
“I think Mr. Musk should give my blue check to charity,” King tweeted. “I recommend the Prytula Foundation, which provides lifesaving services in Ukraine. It’s only $8, so perhaps Mr. Musk could add a bit more.”
Of course, King was fairly clueless about that which he spoke, and that became painfully obvious when the Chief Twit counter-fired.
“I’ve donated $100M to Ukraine, how much have you donated? (We turned down the DoD money btw),” Musk tweeted.
I’ve donated $100M to Ukraine, how much have you donated?
(We turned down the DoD money btw) https://t.co/wpLa6dTnP6
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 23, 2023
The dollar figure cited being a reference to the financial hit SpaceX has taken to fund its Starlink service in Ukraine, paying for terminals, new satellites, satellite launches and satellite maintenance, according to Fox News.
This is the best King could do after being check-mated:
Musk has given $100 million to Ukrainian charities. Excellent. Slava Ukraini!
— Stephen King (@StephenKing) April 23, 2023
Social media users had a field day piling on the liberal author… here’s a quick sampling of some of those responses from Twitter:
Checkmate
— MAGS (@TAftermath2020) April 23, 2023
Uh oh Mr King may have entered a battle arena he now regrets
— greg (@greg16676935420) April 23, 2023
This has to be satire
— Ncryption (@Ncryption) April 23, 2023
Elon is a modern savior
Twitter is the only pure free speech zone
— Kevin Svenson (@KevinSvenson_) April 23, 2023
He once wore a Ukraine flag lapel pin to a cocktail party. Does that count?
— Arthur Schwartz (@ArthurSchwartz) April 23, 2023
stephen king has left the chat (crying) pic.twitter.com/ipoDBL3ncA
— Alex K. • Tiny Blogger (@alexyoungkwon) April 24, 2023
Mr. King, you just got REKT! pic.twitter.com/11h3iQn5Eb
— Brick Suit (@Brick_Suit) April 23, 2023
they’re just mad because all of us peasants have a way to get one of those little blue checks too… if it’s not special and unique, that means they are not special and unique, and Lord knows they can’t have that…
— eddmoo (@realeddmoo) April 23, 2023
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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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