They took away Linda Yaccarino’s blue check!

In an unexpected development following her departure from X (formerly Twitter), former CEO Linda Yaccarino found her iconic blue verification badge mysteriously removed from her profile. This incident, initially observed on July 9, 2025, sparked considerable speculation regarding the nature of her exit, despite initial reports suggesting an amicable separation from Elon Musk’s company.

Update (July 10, 2025, 9:00 PM ET): The blue checkmark has since been reinstated on Linda Yaccarino’s X profile.

Yaccarino’s departure from the social media giant was widely reported as a smooth transition, notably devoid of the public disparagement often associated with high-profile exits from Elon Musk’s ventures. However, the disappearance of her blue checkmark—a symbol often indicative of a premium subscription or notable affiliation—immediately drew attention. Prior to stepping down, her X profile prominently displayed both the blue check and an accompanying X logo badge, signifying her direct company affiliation. Both badges were conspicuously absent after her departure.

It is largely assumed that Yaccarino, in her capacity as CEO of X, would not have been personally subscribing to X Premium for her verification. Such privileges are typically extended as part of an executive role. While the removal of the X affiliation badge is understandable given her new status as a former employee, the simultaneous removal of the blue check, which can be purchased by any user or granted to notable accounts to confirm legitimacy, raised numerous questions.

The incident briefly highlighted the evolving and often perplexing landscape of verification on X. Despite the platform’s policy allowing users to purchase blue checks, and occasionally granting them to prominent figures, Yaccarino’s account remained unverified for a period. This situation brought to light the platform’s protocols for managing the digital identities of its former executives, particularly one who had the challenging task of navigating controversial periods, including Elon Musk’s public remarks to advertisers to “go f— yourself.”

Corporate transitions, even those framed as amicable, often contain subtle intricacies. For an executive who managed the public face of a platform that includes AI tools like Grok, sometimes mired in controversy, the simple courtesy of maintaining a legacy verification might seem a minor consideration. While the checkmark has now been restored, its brief disappearance offered a peculiar glimpse into the ongoing complexities of digital identity and corporate exits within the dynamic world of social media.