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Last week, Elon Musk officially bought Twitter for $44 billion—reportedly twice its valuation. The South Africa born mogul already faced harsh criticism with his management style, especially in regards to the changes he claims he will implement.
Musk revealed he planned on charging an $8 monthly subscription fee for users to acquire and retain the blue verification check mark.
Musk didn't seem to mind his decision ruffled many feathers.
\u201cTo all complainers, please continue complaining, but it will cost $8\u201d— Elon Musk (@Elon Musk) 1667354776
Though his announcement was met with backlash, Musk took it one step further and claimed his decision was influenced by a Monty Python sketch.
Musk tweeted:
"Totally stole idea of charging for insults and arguments from Monty Python tbh."
Musk also included the sketch in his tweet.
\u201cTotally stole idea of charging for insults & arguments from Monty Python tbh https://t.co/oFKRyp3BS7\u201d— Elon Musk (@Elon Musk) 1667354776
Here's the video Musk shared.
Argument - Monty Pythonyoutu.be
However, Monty Python co-founder Eric Idle was having none of it.
Idle tweeted:
"So you're allowed to steal but you wish to charge us to verify who we are?"
"Good luck with that then."
\u201cSo you're allowed to steal but you wish to charge us to verify who we are? Good luck with that then.\u201d— Eric Idle (@Eric Idle) 1667415734
Idle's tweet was met with support, many stating that the verification check benefits them, not the actual verified user.
\u201c@elonmusk Being a verified user and being willing to pay eight dollars for a blue check mark are two unrelated concepts.\n\nThe symbol will no longer mean what it used to mean.\u201d— Elon Musk (@Elon Musk) 1667354776
\u201c@elonmusk I don't get it. So if the real Stephen King refuses to pay and loses his blue tick, and a different Stephen King pays and gets a blue tick, then pretends to him, how does that stop the bots and trolls again?\u201d— Elon Musk (@Elon Musk) 1667354776
\u201c@elonmusk So if anyone with $8 can get verified, how are you going to distinguish those that need it for security and authenticity from those that need it for vanity?\n\nI thought verification was done because of what someone does not because they can afford it.\n\nNo more authenticity right?\u201d— Elon Musk (@Elon Musk) 1667354776
\u201c@elonmusk just an idea....maybe let some of the earned blue checks stand...they had it before- JS\nI mean--- Eric Idle wants to go, isn't that the kind of mind you actually WANT in a free speech forum?\u201d— Mark Osborne (@Mark Osborne) 1667632894
\u201c@elonmusk So are you saying that if Eric Idle doesn\u2019t pay his $8 a month, I can be verified as Eric Idle by paying the eight bucks?? Oooo, what fun. Talk about an argument.\u201d— Elon Musk (@Elon Musk) 1667354776
\u201c@EricIdle @Animall68376717 \ud83d\udc4d\ud83d\udc4d\ud83d\udc4d \nEric Idle weighing in on Elon Musk charging to publish creator's content on Twitter by stealing from Eric Idle & Monty Python could be a Monty Python skit.\u201d— Eric Idle (@Eric Idle) 1667415734
\u201c@EricIdle Yes, except he's not charging for verification. No verification at all in the new system. Anyone can call themselves Eric Idle and be verified.\u201d— Eric Idle (@Eric Idle) 1667415734
\u201c@EricIdle @DavidCornDC Elon isn't going to verify who we are, he's only going to verify that we have $8. \ud83d\ude44\u201d— Eric Idle (@Eric Idle) 1667415734
\u201c@EricIdle The check mark is earned through celebrity, not sold.\u201d— Eric Idle (@Eric Idle) 1667415734
Some pointed out Idle was not in the mentioned sketch.
The writer and actor had previously displayed his disdain for Musk's Twitter takeover.
On October 31, Idle tweeted:
"I'm sure Elon will want to start making his money back."
"But if he charges me to entertain you, and he lets the orange monster back, I think I may decline."
"I say go back to PythOnline where I first did this in the nineties..."
\u201cI'm sure Elon will want to start making his money back. But if he charges me to entertain you, and he let's the orange monster back, I think I may decline. I say go back to PythOnline where I first did this in the nineties...\u201d— Eric Idle (@Eric Idle) 1667244054
It seems Musk's MP tweet was the nail in the coffin for Idle.