Veteran talk show host Sally Jessy Raphael has revealed she is struggling to get verified on Instagram because they “don’t know who she is.”
The 89-year-old former TV star took to her social media page saying the company has refused to give her a blue check despite her supplying proof.
Guys, 89-year-old Sally Jessy Raphael (@SJRaphael ) is trying to get verified by Instagram. She currently has under 600 followers!
Let’s all go pay some respect on her name!
She’s thesallyjessy on Insta. pic.twitter.com/paRjVZOdDm
— Starcasm (@starcasm) August 2, 2024
The red-spectacled icon said, “So, Instagram doesn’t want to give me my blue check – no matter what proof I send them. AND there’s a fake account called ‘realsallyjr’, and that’s NOT ME! Help me let Instagram know, so we can fix this.”
Fans of the former talk show host said they couldn’t believe the company hadn’t recognized her. One person said, “That’s pretty crazy that someone as famous as you are is having trouble with being recognized.” Another added, “The Icon, the Legend of daytime TV, Ms. Sally Jessy Raphael needs her blue check mark. Hello!!!!!”
Raphael is known as the first woman to host a syndicated talk show on TV, paving the way for Oprah and all the other women who came after. Her eponymous talk show ran in the height of tabloid chat shows in the ’80s and ’90s and lasted for 20 seasons. Raphael’s red frames became her signature look, and over the years, she amassed an enormous stockpile of around 200 eyeglasses in the standout color.
She previously told DailyMail.com, “When we started, I looked at the teleprompter and I said ‘I can’t read that! I’m going blind!'”
In her search to get a new prescription, she saw a bizarre ad that offered an eye test, glasses, and a Pap smear all for the price of one and figured, why not. Raphael said during the appointment “the guy of course tried to trade me up [to a more expensive pair]” and was told they “only have these red ones.” Wanting the deal advertised, Raphael replied, “You got it. I had to fight to have the glasses. Producers tried to change them. Those shadowy figures objected to everything.”
The beloved TV megastar, 89, says she can’t get Instagram to give her the blue checkmark because they don’t know who she is. So do you recognise her?: Veteran talk show host Sally Jessy Raphael has revealed she is struggling to get… https://t.co/WTnKhQWB41 #Instagram #tvshowbiz
— WhatsNew2Day (@whatsn2day) August 2, 2024
Prior to her commercial success, Raphael worked for the Associated Press and United Press International, as well as in local news on TV and radio. She previously told DailyMail.com in an exclusive interview that the landscape of talk shows today is more akin to “game shows.”
According to Raphael, the three most important things hosts should have are experience, a large, colorful vocabulary, and timing. Raphael said most hosts today don’t have the latter, explaining, “The most important thing is timing. You need to know when to hold, when to fold.”
Throughout her illustrious career, Raphael interviewed countless guests, many of them celebrities. Sally said Audrey Hepburn was her favorite guest of her career, admitting she nearly fumbled during the sit-down in 1992 because she was such a fan of the actress.
According to Instagram policy, they only verify users once they confirm “it is an authentic account for the public figure, celebrity, or global brand it represents.”
Key Points:
i. Instagram Verification Issue: Sally Jessy Raphael, 89, struggles to get verified on Instagram despite providing proof, as the platform “doesn’t know who she is.”
ii. Fake Account Concern: Raphael highlights the existence of a fake account impersonating her and urges followers to help get her verified.
iii. Legacy in Talk Shows: Known as the first woman to host a syndicated talk show, Raphael paved the way for future talk show hosts like Oprah.
iv. Iconic Red Frames: Her signature red eyeglasses became a notable part of her look, with an extensive collection of around 200 pairs.
v. Career Highlights: Raphael’s show ran for 20 seasons, and she has interviewed numerous celebrities, including her favorite guest, Audrey Hepburn.
Al Santana – Reprinted with permission of Whatfinger News
