Jack Black: Blue ticks on Twitter are embarrassing
“Maybe it’s cooler not to have checks,” Black said. “It’s definitely not cool to pay for it.”
Another week, another series of hastily introduced changes to Twitter that seem to annoy everyone. As Elon Musk continues to transform the social media platform he bought for $44 billion to find new revenue streams, the company has embarked on a major overhaul of its verification system.
The famous “blue ticks,” originally given to high-profile users to verify their accounts were linked to the real person and not an impersonator, have been retooled as an add-on that anyone can buy. Additionally, Musk has announced that verified users who choose not to pay for the service will have the tick removed in the coming weeks.
The topic has sparked plenty of discussion about how the move might facilitate the spread of false information on Twitter — it even made its way to the Los Angeles premiere of The Super Mario Bros. Movie.
In a red carpet interview with Variety, Jack Black offered his two cents about the changes happening at the social media giant. The actor and comedian, who voices Bowser in the video game adaptation, made it clear he has no interest in paying for verification.
“I don’t know if I’m going to pay for it,” Black said. “To be honest, I’m a bit embarrassed about the blue check. Maybe it’s cooler not to have checks. It’s definitely not cool to pay for it. I’ll see what happens if I don’t pay for it. I’ll call his bluff to see if he’s really stealing my check.”
Black’s co-star Chris Pratt, who is voicing Mario in the upcoming animated film, gave a slightly more diplomatic response when asked a similar question.
“I don’t know,” Pratt said when asked if he plans to pay to keep his Twitter verification. “Everything is very important to me [my followers]. I’ll do anything to stay a part of their life because I respect their attention and I like to use it as an opportunity to talk to them when I’m making films and stuff like that.”
The Super Mario Bros. Movie hits theaters on Wednesday, April 5th.
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https://www.indiewire.com/2023/04/jack-black-twitter-blue-check-embarassing-1234825035/ Jack Black: Blue ticks on Twitter are embarrassing
