The gold verification check costs $1,000 a month, but Twitter has made it available for free for some accounts (Photo: Getty)

In the latest twist, which is the story of Twitter’s verified accounts, a fake Disney account that received a gold check has since been banned.

The @DisneyJuniorUK account is not affiliated with the global brand. It was started in June 2021 by user @7virtues_ and tweeted “malicious content” according to the BBC. It has 4,697 followers.

Last week, Twitter began removing most of its “old” blue check marks, the platform’s original verification symbol, as long promised by CEO Elon Musk. Those with existing blue ticks can keep them by subscribing to Twitter Blue for $8 a month (£6.40), but many accounts, including those from major media brands, have not opted in.

The Gold Tick for @DisneyJuniorUK is awarded to organizations and businesses who pay $1,000 (£800) per month. However, the company’s policy has gone back and forth, temporarily applying it to some major media outlets, including Metro, before later being removed and made available for free to other accounts.

A third status, the gray tick, is assigned to official government accounts.

After seeing the gold check mark, the owner of @DisneyJuniorUK tweeted, “That [sic] not that good. someone [sic] pinch me or something.

The post caused the bug to go viral from Twitter and later led to the account being banned. Twitter has been approached for comment.

The official @DisneyJunior account, which has nearly 49,000 followers, also has a gold verification checkmark, but it’s unknown if it was paid for or not. Over the weekend, a slew of journalists, celebrities and athletes with more than a million followers got their blue checks back after Musk said he “paid for it personally.”

Author Stephen King, who cried out the confession when he asked for his tick to be returned, tweeted: “I think Mr. Musk should give my blue check to charity. I commend the Prytula Foundation, which provides life-saving services in Ukraine. It is only $8, so maybe Mr. Musk can add a little more.”

In further confusion surrounding the drawing, the accounts of several deceased celebrities were given Twitter Blue verification, including Michael Jackson, basketball legend Kobe Bryant and slain journalist Jamal Khashoggi.