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'Comedy is now illegal on Twitter': Internet in splits as Kathy Griffin banned for 'impersonating' Elon Musk

The move came despite Musk's promise that Twitter will be a place of 'free speech' and 'comedy is now legal on Twitter'

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA: Emmy winner Kathy Griffin's Twitter account has been suspended after impersonating Elon Musk. The suspension came on Sunday afternoon, November 6, after the 62-year-old changed her profile photo to Musk’s photo and also changed her user name to ‘Elon Musk,’ even though her handle remained as ‘@kathygriffin,’ on her blue checkmark account which goes against the company policy against impersonation.

On Saturday, November 6, when Twitter rolled out the controversial new paid subscription system of $8 for people with blue checkmark account, celebrities including Griffin, changed their names on the platform to Musk as protest. Following which, Musk, who bought Twitter on October 27, tweeted, "Going forward, any Twitter handles engaging in impersonation without clearly specifying ‘parody’ will be permanently suspended,” In a follow-up tweet, he wrote, “Previously, we issued 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 also added, "Any name change at all will cause temporary loss of verified checkmark." 

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Many were quick to react to the suspension and had mixed opinions. One pointed out the vow made by Musk who declared Twitter will be a place of “free speech" and "comedy is now legal on Twitter”. A user wrote, "Comedy is now illegal on Twitter." Another wrote, "Wow I had a completely different thing in mind when he said free speech, I’ll have to look up the definition again." A user also took a dig at Musk and tweeted, "Elon Musk: “Comedy is now legal on Twitter.” Also Elon Musk: suspend Kathy Griffin for making fun of me."

In a counter-attack, one said, "Impersonating someone is not free speech it fraud people." While one of many stressed by saying, "Identity theft is not a joke Kathy." One more individual wrote, "FINALLY SHE DID SOMETHING FUNNY BY VANISHING!!!!!" A user jokingly said, "She now needs to make a public apology, attend a Tesla community meeting, donate to Space X and pay the $8."

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.