Kathy Griffin Banned From Twitter After Impersonating Elon Musk

Comedian Kathy Griffin has been banned from Twitter for violating the social media company's policy of impersonating people. The controversial comedian changed her Twitter display to Elon Musk and began mocking the company's new CEO.

Musk's decision to charge people $8 a month to have a blue checkmark, along with other perks, has caused an uproar among many celebrities and other high-profile people.

Musk personally addressed the situation on Sunday (November 6), tweeting that people who impersonate others will be "permanently suspended."

"Going forward, any Twitter handles engaging in impersonation without clearly specifying "parody" will be permanently suspended," Musk tweeted.

"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 continued.

Musk wrapped up the thread by noting that "any name change at all will cause temporary loss of verified checkmark."

Griffin managed to get around her suspension by using the Twitter account of her late mother, Maggie Griffin, who passed away in March 2020 at the age of 99. She changed the account name to Elon Musk and swapped the photo to the same one Musk is using on his account.

The bio reads: "The OFFICIAL twitter of reality superstar Maggie Griffin!"

Griffin posted several tweets bashing Musk and retweeted others who called for her suspension to be lifted.

Musk later responded to Griffin's suspension by joking, "Actually, she was suspended for impersonating a comedian."

He followed up by saying "But if she really wants her account back, she can have it." Then in another tweet, Musk added, "for $8."

Musk has previously suggested that other people who were permanently banned before he took over the social media company could have their accounts reinstated but cautioned it wouldn't happen for several weeks while Twitter creates a process to determine if they should be allowed back on the platform.

Griffin previously came under fire after she posted photos of herself holding the decapitated head of then-President Donald Trump.