Martin Lewis has come out fighting after being criticised for buying a blue tick for his Twitter account. The social media giant has started removing the once-coveted blue tick verification from thousands of accounts, including those of Beyonce and Cristiano Ronaldo.
The move comes as owner Elon Musk attempts to overhaul the social media company to turn a profit. Users who wish to retain the check beside their name must pay $84 a year (£67) to subscribe to Twitter Blue.
The moneysaving expert had already explained why he had bought a blue tick saying in March: "I've just paid for Twitter Blue verification, but pls don't read-across that this is a recommendation, or support for the changes.
"I'm in a peculiar position that scammers commonly impersonate me to steal from the vulnerable, so I feel obligated to do it to reduce that risk."
As blue ticks started to be removed this week, he came under criticism for keeping his, and he took to the social media platform on Friday afternoon to say: "To the few tweeting to tell me they're unfollowing because I paid for a Blue tick - that is of course ur prerogative, do what u feel is right - but pls there's no need to notify me. I explained why I paid when I did (& it was useful ammunition when pushing Twitter to remove a fake 'verified' account of me)."
When one person replied called him a "hypocrite", he blocked the account.
Another said: "It's a no-win scenario. Don't do it, you've opened the doors to scammers, do it, nothing to stop someone verifying @MartinSLewiss or so on and back to step one."
Another backer said: "The amount of fake Martin Lewis accounts,etc that spring up, I completely understand your reasoning for paying for the blue tick. At least everyone knows you are the real thing."
Not everyone has had to pay like Martin. Elon Musk has revealed he has give "complimentary subscriptions" to the likes of LeBron James, Stephen King and William Shatner.
