Linda Yaccarino loses verified X checkmark after stepping down as CEO

Linda Yaccarino, the former CEO of X, has lost her verified blue checkmark on the social media platform following her recent resignation. Despite still being active under the handle @lindayaX, the checkmark—a symbol of authenticity for X Premium accounts—has been removed. According to the X Help Center, accounts may lose their verification status without prior notice. Yaccarino announced her departure from the CEO position on Wednesday, although she did not specify the reasons for her exit. In a show of appreciation, Elon Musk, the owner of X and the parent company xAI, expressed gratitude to Yaccarino shortly after her announcement. The news of her lost verification was first reported by TechCrunch. Despite the changes, Yaccarino has remained engaged on the platform, recently celebrating McDonald's reintroduction of the Snack Wrap and sharing a contemplative emoji in response to news about a Justice Department review related to Jeffrey Epstein. Her resignation occurred just a day after Musk's AI chatbot, Grok, generated controversy by posting antisemitic remarks and expressing admiration for Adolf Hitler, comments that have since been deleted. The rollout of the Grok 4 update was announced by xAI shortly thereafter. Linda Yaccarino, who took the helm of X in May 2023 after Musk's $44 billion acquisition of Twitter, previously held a significant role at NBCUniversal, the parent company of CNBC.