Valerie Bertinelli Was NOT Suspended From Twitter For Impersonating Elon Musk
By Kristin Myers on November 7, 2022 at 11:15 AM EST
New "Chief Twit" Elon Musk decided to suspend comedian Kathy Griffin - but not Valerie Bertinelli - despite the fact that they both impersonated him on Twitter over the weekend.
On Sunday, the Tesla CEO changed Twitter's policies on impersonating accounts. Although users typically received a warning before permanent suspension, Musk decided to permanently suspend impersonating accounts without giving a warning.
It looks like those that impersonated him were the first to go; however, although Kathy Griffin was suspended, Valerie Bertinelli somehow managed to escape Musk's ire.
Elon Musk Suspends Kathy Griffin For Impersonating Him On Twitter... Valerie Bertinelli Is Still There
The blue checkmark simply meant your identity was verified.
Scammers would have a harder time impersonating you.
That no longer applies. Good luck out there!— valerie bertinelli (@Wolfiesmom) November 5, 2022
On Sunday, the Golden Globe winner changed her name on Twitter to Elon Musk to mock his new $8-a-month blue checkmark verification fee.
“The blue checkmark simply meant your identity was verified. Scammers would have a harder time impersonating you. That no longer applies,” she tweeted. “Good luck out there!”
She also retweeted articles about the midterm elections and added the hashtag #VoteBlueToProtectYourRights, all under Musk’s name.
Okey-dokey I’ve had my fun and I think I made my point. 😬 I’m just not a ‘trending’ kind of gal. Never have been, never want to be.
Have a safe Sunday everyone! xo 🤍— valerie bertinelli (@Wolfiesmom) November 6, 2022
On Sunday night, Bertinelli appeared to have had enough fun and decided to change her name back. "Okey-dokey I’ve had my fun and I think I made my point. 😬 I’m just not a ‘trending’ kind of gal. Never have been, never want to be," she tweeted. "Have a safe Sunday everyone! xo 🤍."
Although her account was still active on Monday, it looks like not everyone managed to save their account.
Elon Musk Suspends Kathy Griffin For Impersonating Him
Actually, she was suspended for impersonating a comedian
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 7, 2022
On Sunday, Kathy Griffin also decided to have some fun at Musk's expense, by changing her name and profile photo to match his. Griffin, as Musk, tweeted, “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 quickly found herself facing a permanent suspension from the platform. "Actually, she was suspended for impersonating a comedian," Musk tweeted in response to the news adding, "But if she really wants her account back, she can have it. For $8."
I’m using my beloved mothers account. PS my IG and Facebook have also been hacked. Please remember. Today it’s me, tomorrow it will be you. Can any high profile onliners please amplify this for me? @ACLU_SoCal @elijahdaniel @BoutrousTed @StormyDaniels @JeniferLewis @sarahkendzior https://t.co/JiON3SsY1N
— Maggie Griffin (@TipItMaggieG) September 16, 2019
However, Griffin wasn't about to back down from Elon Musk. Instead, she hopped on her mother's account, tweeting, "I’m using my beloved mothers account. PS my IG and Facebook have also been hacked. Please remember. Today it’s me, tomorrow it will be you. Can any high profile onliners please amplify this for me?" She tagged the ACLU and Stormy Daniels, among others.
Musk Says That He Will Not Ban Accounts Labeled 'Parody'
Going forward, any Twitter handles engaging in impersonation without clearly specifying “parody” will be permanently suspended
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 6, 2022
On Sunday, Musk tweeted out a new Twitter policy: "Going forward, any Twitter handles engaging in impersonation without clearly specifying 'parody' will be permanently suspended."
"Previously, we issued a warning before suspension, but now that we are rolling out widespread verification, there will be no warning," he wrote. "This will be clearly identified as a condition for signing up to Twitter Blue. Any name change at all will cause temporary loss of verified checkmark."
However, it appears that may not totally be the case. Co-host of the popular show H3H3, Ethan Klein, also had his Twitter account suspended after he impersonated Musk to test the new policy. The popular YouTuber had tweeted a joke about Musk's alleged friendship with Jeffrey Epstein and quickly found himself permanently suspended as well.
After his account was suspended, the H3H3 show account tweeted, “Comedy is dead on Twitter and Elon Musk killed it.”