Sally Jessy Raphael claims Instagram won’t verify her account

Once a household name on daytime television in the 1980s and ’90s, Sally Jessy Raphael is facing an unexpected modern-day challenge: proving her identity online. The iconic talk show host recently took to Instagram to vent her frustration with the platform after being denied a verification badge, despite submitting proof of who she is. “Instagram doesn’t want to give me my blue check – no matter what proof I send them,” she wrote in a post featuring a large blue checkmark. “AND there’s a fake account called ‘realsallyjr’, and that’s NOT ME!” She called on fans to help spread the word in hopes that the platform will finally take notice.

Raphael, born Sally Lowenthal, became a daytime television fixture when The Sally Jessy Raphael Show launched in 1983. Known for its tabloid-style topics and pioneering audience interaction, the show ran for nearly two decades until 2002. It played a key role in shaping the talk show genre and opened doors for other female hosts—including Oprah, whose own show premiered three years later. Over the years, Raphael interviewed countless celebrities, but one guest stood out above all: Audrey Hepburn. “I was so awestruck, I could hardly ask a question,” she recalled. “Everything she had done in her life I found to be exemplary.”

One of the most distinctive parts of Raphael’s image was born out of necessity. Early in the show’s run, she realized she couldn’t read the teleprompter and needed new glasses. A quirky ad offering an eye test, glasses, and a Pap smear led her to a provider who had only one option in stock—red frames. She took them, unaware they’d become her signature. “I had to fight to have the glasses,” she once shared. “Producers tried to change them. Those shadowy figures objected to everything.” Since then, she’s owned over 200 pairs of red glasses, making them as iconic as her name.

Today, despite her legendary status, Raphael has fewer than 650 followers on Instagram. Still, the love from fans remains strong. Supporters are rallying in the comments, calling her a legend and encouraging Instagram to grant her the verification she deserves. “The Icon, the Legend of daytime TV, Ms. Sally Jessy Raphael needs her Blue Check Mark,” one wrote. Another added, “We should flood your feed with blue hearts—it’s better than a blue checkmark anyway.”

Did you grow up watching Sally on TV? Let us know in the comments—and maybe help her get that blue check while you’re at it.