LeBron James thumbs down paying for Twitter blue check mark

 LeBron James #6 of the Los Angeles Lakers walks off the court after the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center on March 31, 2023 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Lakers defeated the Timberwolves 123-111. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement.   David Berding/Getty Images/AFP (Photo by David Berding / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)

FILE–LeBron James #6 of the Los Angeles Lakers. David Berding/Getty Images/AFP 

NBA superstar LeBron James refuses to shell out money for a blue checkmark on his account as Twitter’s policy on verification is set to take effect.

The four-time NBA MVP from the Los Angeles Lakers, one of the world’s highest-paid athletes with a net worth of $1 billion according to Forbes, made his stand clear against the social media platform’s new rule on user verification.

“Welp, guess my blue (check) will be gone soon ‘cause if you know me, I ain’t paying the 5,” LeBron, who has close to 53 million Twitter followers, said on Saturday (Manila time).

LeBron’s tweet elicited laughs from fans and players alike including former Lakers teammate Kyle Kuzma.

James and the Lakers are fresh off a 123-111 victory over Minnesota Timberwolves. LeBron had 18 points and 10 rebounds in the win.

Twitter owner Elon Musk announced recently that as of the beginning of April, “Legacy-verified” gold checkmarks will officially be taken off the platform.

To be classified as verified on Twitter, users—public figures or not—will have to pay $8 per month.

Along with James, US sports publication Sports Illustrated (SI) has also declined to subscribe to the new Twitter rule.

Superbowl MVP Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs also said that he doesn’t plan on paying for the Twitter verification.

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