Kathy Griffin Suspended from Twitter Shortly After Impersonating New CEO Elon Musk: '#FreeKathy'

Mar. 15, 2025

Kathy Griffin; Elon Musk.Photo: Michael Kovac/Getty Images; Theo Wargo/Getty Images

Kathy Griffinhas beensuspended from Twittershortly after she impersonated the social media platform’s new CEO,Elon Musk.

The 62-year-old comedian’s page was suspended Sunday, the same day she changed her account’s name to “Elon Musk” and mocked the Tesla founder, 51, in a tweet.

It is not immediately clear, however, if Griffin’s suspension came as a result of her mockery — or if it will be permanent — though Musk announced that same day that Twitter accounts that impersonate celebrities and other notable figures would be suspended, unless they’re labeled “parody.”

“Going forward, any Twitter handles engaging in impersonation without clearly specifying ‘parody’will be permanently suspended,” Musk wrote in one tweet.

In another, he referenced Twitter’s new$8 monthly subscription service, Twitter Blue, which will allow any Twitter user to easily attain a blue checkmark symbol, something that was previously reserved to verify government accounts and notable figures, such as celebrities, politicians and journalists.

“Previously, weissued 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, adding in one other follow-up: “Any name change at all will causetemporary loss of verified checkmark.”

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A representative for Twitter did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.

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Kathy Griffin’s Twitter account suspended.Kathy Griffin Twitter

Griffin had previously used her “Elon Musk” account Sunday tourge Americans to vote for Democrats in the upcoming midterm electionson Tuesday and help secure abortion rights.

“I’ve decided that voting blue for their choice is only right,” theMy Life on the D-Liststar wrote as Musk, NBC News reported.

Griffin then logged into her late mother’s Twitter account after her suspension,where she tweeted, “#FreeKathy.”

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Twitter logo.Chesnot/Getty Images

Musk poked fun at Griffin’s suspension on Twitter at one point, tweeting, “Actually, she wassuspended for impersonating a comedian.”

Griffin, from her late mother’s account, replied back, “I mean … you stole that joke, you a–hole. People have been posting that joke for hours, you hack. Look,please do a better job running this company. It used to mean something. This is KG btw.”

Musk then said that Griffin could regain access to her Twitter account, on one condition.

“If she reallywants her account back, she can have it,” Musk tweeted, addingin a follow-up, “For $8”— a reference to Twitter Blue’s monthly pricing.

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The ordeal between Griffin and Musk came about not long afterValerie Bertinellichanged her name on Twitter to Musk’s as well, toshow that the platform’s new verification system is flawed, she said.

“The blue checkmark simply meant your identity was verified. Scammers would have a harder time impersonating you,” Bertinelli, 62, tweeted on Saturday, “That no longer applies. Good luck out there!”

TheOne Day at a Timealum eventually ended her tweeting spree on Sunday, writing, “Okey-dokey I’ve had my fun andI think I made my point.”

Musk announced the new verification system after hebought the platform for $44 billionlast month, following a legal battle that ensued after he previouslybacked out of the dealin July.

Twitterrolled out a new updateon Saturday for the app, highlighting its new paid verification system, but the company has since decided todelay its rollout until after the midterm elections, perTheNew York Times.

source: people.com