Linda Yaccarino Loses Blue Checkmark | X (Twitter) Updates

A Notable Change for Former X CEO

Update, 9:00 PM ET, 7/10/25: The verified badge has been reinstated to her profile.

Linda Yaccarino, the previous Chief Executive Officer of X, appears to have departed from the company under amicable circumstances. Notably, Elon Musk has refrained from public criticism, a pattern not typically observed with those he opposes.

However, a small detail has emerged that suggests a potentially different narrative may be unfolding.

The blue verification checkmark has been removed from Linda Yaccarino’s X profile!

Prior to her resignation, Yaccarino’s account displayed a blue checkmark alongside the X logo, indicating her official affiliation with the platform. Currently, both of these indicators are absent.

It’s reasonable to assume that Yaccarino was not subscribing to X Premium. Considering her former position as CEO, it seems unlikely she would need to purchase verification. Would prominent figures like Ted Sarandos pay for Netflix access, or Mark Cuban acquire Dallas Mavericks tickets through resale platforms?

The purchase of a blue checkmark is available to all users, and X occasionally grants verification to recognized accounts to confirm their authenticity. (A suggestion: exclusive blue checks for verified notable individuals to combat impersonation? Perhaps too pragmatic.) Yet, Yaccarino’s account currently lacks this feature.

The Significance of the Removal

Removing the affiliation badge is understandable given her departure from X. But the removal of the blue check itself raises questions.

Transitions within corporations can present complexities. Personal experience confirms this; TechCrunch was sold by Yahoo during a company-wide March Madness bracket competition. A question arose regarding the prize for winning – a Yahoo Sports sweatshirt – and whether it would still be awarded. This concern wasn't addressed in the provided transition documentation, which prioritized matters like health insurance enrollment.

Fortunately, the sweatshirt was received. Similarly, Linda Yaccarino deserves to retain her verified badge. She recently concluded a role that involved navigating challenging situations, such as Elon Musk’s controversial remarks directed at advertisers during a large-scale, live event. Allowing her this small recognition seems appropriate.