Nineties TV legend, 89, unrecognisable as she complains Instagram don’t believe it’s her on social media account
ICONIC US star Sally Jessy Raphael has pleaded with Instagram to officially verify her after they refuse to believe who she is.
The 89-year-old talk show host, who hosted her own show Sally from 1983 to 2002, was one of the 90s most defining faces, providing daytime viewers with hard-hitting and topical interviews.
However, despite supplying proof of who she is, Meta – the company that own Facebook and Instagram – have refused to verify her, despite other people pretending to be her.
She’s now made a post calling for her to get the all-important blue tick, which asserts an account is authentic for a celebrity or public future.
She wrote: “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.”
The account only went active in April, but during this time Sally has been posting throwbacks to some of her more notable interviews, as well as intimate pictures of her life now.
This includes pictures of her on holiday, on boats and enjoying cake at a restaurant.
However, because so few people knew she’d got an account she has less than 600 followers at the time of writing.
Famed for her red reading glasses, Sally later dyed her hair to match and has maintained her signature bright and bold colour.
Fans are now desperate for her to get the recognition she deserves.
“The Icon, the Legend of daytime TV, Ms. Sally Jessy Raphael needs her blue check mark. Hello!!!!!” wrote one fan.
“That’s pretty crazy that someone as famous as you are is having trouble with being recognized,” said another, adding they ‘didn’t understand what the issue was’.
“Keep, sharing the link to your IG on Facebook and hopefully Meta catches on! ” they added. “Loved watching you growing up & Still do ”
Sally Jessy Raphael was ground-breaking when it came to TV talk shows, with her daily chats on subjects ranging from out of control kids to extreme religious beliefs.
The format was later replicated and adapted, launching the careers of stars including Oprah Winfrey, who started her talk show three years after Sally did.
In 1990 she won an Emmy for Outstanding Daytime Talk Series.
Her show lasted for 20 seasons before she stepped away, with the show beginning to dip in ratings when popularity for the genre faltered.