Valerie Bertinelli Impersonates Elon Musk on Twitter to Make Point About Verification System

Mar. 15, 2025

Photo: Dominik Bindl/Getty

Valerie Bertinellihad some fun at the expense ofElon Musk.

The Golden Globe winner, 62, changed her name on Twitter toElon Musk, the CEO of Tesla, SpaceX and now Twitter, to prove that the platform’s new verification system is flawed, despite charging previously verified users $7.99 a month to keep their blue checkmark.

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

Bertinelli managed to fool some Twitter users who questioned Musk’s motives due to her tweets, and replied to them withfunny gifs.

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

ComedianSarah Silvermanalsochanged her name, background and profile pictureto mimic Musk’s on Saturday, according toCNN. She reportedly tweeted in his name: “I am a freedom of speech absolutistand I eat doody for breakfast every day.”

Musk answered that Twitter would look into the new profile and “suspend the accountattempting impersonation and keep the money!” He added that if scammers continued to do this, they would be handing over “a whole bunch of free money.”

Twitterrolled out a new updateon Saturday for the app, highlighting its new paid verification system. According to the updated description, people who pay for the service will be able to get a “blue check mark, just like the celebrities, companies, and politicians you already follow.”

However, the company has decided todelay its rollout of the paid verification systemto after the midterm elections, per theNew York Times.

Musk, 51, announced the new system after hebought the platformfor $44 billion last month, following a legal battle that ensued after hebacked out of the dealin July.

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Many celebrities have already left the app in light of Musk’s takeover, including show producerShonda Rhimeswho tweeted, “Not hanging around for whatever Elon has planned. Bye.”

Girls5evastarSara Bareillestweeted, “Welp.It’s been fun Twitter. I’m out. See you on other platforms, peeps.”

source: people.com