Reports describe how Pope Francis lost the blue verification badge on Twitter after Elon Musk’s platform began removing the free verification tags from accounts. Reuters has covered the development, noting the broader shift in how verification is granted and displayed on the social network.
With the rollout of Twitter Blue, the subscription service introduced a paid path to verification. Under this model, users who want a verified badge must pay a monthly fee, and the system previously visible to the public has undergone a clean sweep, with many historic verification marks removed. The change has affected a wide range of high-profile individuals, including not only the pope but also former U.S. President Donald Trump, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, fashion icon Kim Kardashian, superstar Beyoncé, and other public figures who previously enjoyed verified status. The transition has sparked conversations about identity, authenticity, and the evolving role of badges on social platforms.
Reports indicate that Elon Musk personally approved the verification status for a small number of individuals after the new policy took effect. Notable names linked to these occasional verifications include basketball star LeBron James, prominent author Stephen King, and veteran actor William Shatner. The selective gesture by the owner has drawn both attention and debate, highlighting how verification can become a symbol with mixed signals in the digital age.
In related developments, a widely circulated image of Pope Francis wearing a stylish Moncler jacket on social media sparked discussion about the source and authenticity of online visuals. The image is cited as having been produced by a neural network, a reminder of how synthetic media can mimic real figures. The controversy contributed to the decision by the creators of Midjourney to adjust access levels, temporarily reducing free usage in response to the spread of convincing fakes. This episode underscores the ongoing tension between AI-generated content and the responsibility of platforms, creators, and users to verify claims and maintain trust in the feed.