Sally Jessy Raphael, best known for her iconic role as a talk show host in the 1980s and 90s, is currently facing an unexpected challenge on social media. At 89 years old, the former host of The Sally Jessy Raphael Show has expressed her frustration over Instagram’s refusal to verify her account. Despite providing proof of her identity, her account remains unverified, which she highlighted in a recent Instagram post. In the same post, Raphael also pointed out a misleading fake account operating under the name “realsallyjr” and appealed to her followers to help bring this issue to Instagram’s attention.

Raphael’s career in television began in October 1983 with the launch of The Sally Jessy Raphael Show, which became one of the most popular daytime talk shows of the era. The show, which ran until May 2002, was a trailblazer in audience participation and set the stage for other influential talk show hosts, including Oprah Winfrey. Over its 20-season run, Raphael interviewed countless celebrities, and she often described her encounter with Audrey Hepburn as the most memorable, a testament to her ability to connect with Hollywood legends.

Known for her bold red-framed glasses, Raphael’s signature look became a key part of her public persona. The story behind the glasses is both humorous and serendipitous. When she struggled to read the teleprompter at the beginning of her show, she went in search of a new prescription. During her visit to an eye clinic, she was unexpectedly offered a pair of glasses in red—a suggestion she initially resisted, but one that she ultimately embraced. The red glasses became her trademark, and over time, she accumulated a collection of over 200 pairs.

Despite her long-lasting influence in the television world, Sally Jessy Raphael’s Instagram presence is surprisingly modest, with her official account having fewer than 650 followers as of August 2025. This stark contrast between her legendary status and her online visibility has sparked disbelief among her fans, many of whom have rallied for Instagram to verify her account. Some of her supporters have even shown their solidarity by flooding her feed with blue heart emojis as a symbolic gesture in place of the coveted blue checkmark.

Raphael’s struggle to secure a verified account underscores the disconnect between traditional celebrity recognition and the often bureaucratic nature of social media platforms. While her legacy in daytime television is undeniable, the difficulty she faces in gaining recognition on Instagram highlights the challenges that even well-known figures can encounter in the digital age. Through her direct appeal to her followers, Raphael has demonstrated the power of community in navigating the complexities of modern social media, proving that the connection between celebrities and their audiences endures even beyond the television screen.