Sesame Street Slams “Disgusting” Posts on Elmo’s Account After Hack

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Elmo’s social media has been hacked.

A sequence of messages with derogatory comments towards people of Jewish descent and criticisms of former U.S. President Donald Trump were found on the verified social media account that once belonged to a character from Sesame Street (formerly Twitter), based on extensively shared screenshots.

As a reaction, Sesame Workshop, the charitable group responsible for the enduring TV show, released a statement criticizing the offensive messages, which were subsequently removed.

On July 14, a representative from the company informed NBC News that an unidentified hacker had breached Elmo’s account and published offensive content, such as antisemitic and racist remarks. The team is currently taking steps to regain complete control of the compromised account.

In May, Elmo found himself at the center of another online buzz when Trump issued an executive order aimed at reducing federal funding for PBS and NPR. This decision raised concerns about the future of ‘Sesame Street’, but subsequently, Sesame Workshop secured a collaboration with Netflix to keep the series in production.

Following the reductions, a post emerged on LinkedIn suggesting that the longstanding, approximately 3.5-year-old position was no longer occupied.

Regrettably, due to recent federal budget reductions, Elmo has been let go from his position at Sesame Street after 45 years of service. Despite this, Elmo remains saddened by the turn of events and cherishes the time spent working there.

However, Sesame Workship subsequently confirmed that the post was merely a parody.

In a statement made to Deadline, the company expressed that both Sesame Workshop and PBS share a strong dedication towards leveraging public television for delivering essential early learning experiences to children across the country. For over five decades, they have been honored to collaborate with each other, bringing the cherished characters from Sesame Street and their research-backed curriculum to families all around the nation.

The statement further emphasized that the organization stands resolutely behind the crucial public funding essential for PBS to carry on its significant tasks.

For more on Sesame Street, keep reading.

The iconic children’s TV series, Sesame Street, holds the record for winning the most Emmys, a total of 227 awards, surpassing all other television programs. This show is enjoyed by over 150 million kids worldwide. Currently, there are more than 150 adaptations of the program being produced in about 70 different languages. Additionally, approximately one million children engage with Sesame Street toys on a daily basis as stated by Sesame Workshop.

The concept for the show emerged from a dinner conversation in 1966, when Joan Ganz Cooney, the co-founder of Sesame Workshop who was then a producer, was questioned, “Can television teach anything?” as reported by _The Hollywood Reporter_.

3. The 6-year-old, towering 8-foot-2, iconic yellow character named Big Bird is one of the pioneers on Sesame Street and has become a beloved figure in popular children’s entertainment across cultures.

Caroll Spinney, a remarkable individual, was responsible for bringing the beloved puppet character to life until his retirement in 2018. After that, Matt Vogel stepped into the role. Tragically, Spinney passed away at the age of 85 in 2019.

4. Inside the costume, Spinney couldn’t see, so there was a small monitor inside the chest that provided him with a view of himself through a camera. Since he controlled Big Bird’s head with his right hand, Big Bird’s right arm remained mostly inactive. The costume itself was designed based on Henson’s sketches and utilized over 4,000 feathers.

In 1998 during its 30th season, Elmo was granted his very own segment, Elmo’s World, because of the character’s soaring popularity.

6. It seems evident now that it was a wise move indeed, given the significant impact Elmo has made on our beloved show and the frenzy caused by the Tickle Me Elmo toy in 1996. Stores couldn’t keep up with the demand as they sold out at unprecedented rates before Christmas. As a devoted follower, I can say that this decision has proven to be a game-changer for us.

As an obsessed fan, I can’t help but share my frenzy for the iconic Tickle Me Elmo during that unforgettable holiday season. People were apprehended due to their passionate brawls over the doll, while some New York City parents, driven by desperation, tried to forcefully invade a delivery truck in search of the coveted stuffed toy. The mania peaked during a Midnight Madness sale on December 14, when a Wal-Mart employee in Canada was harmed amidst the Elmo-mania chaos as 300 shoppers chased him down upon spotting the box of toys. That season, an astonishing one million Tickle Me Elmos were sold!

In 2004, the character known as Cookie Monster, originally created by puppeteer Jim Henson for advertisements, disclosed that his genuine first name was Sid. He earned his famous moniker following his initial taste of a cookie.

In the 2000s, as childhood obesity gained more attention, there were whispers on the internet that Cookie Monster might get a new name, Veggie Monster. However, it seemed his love for cookies remained unchanged in the show.

At that point, his representative clarified that they weren’t restricting his diet with a specific plan. Instead, they were focusing on teaching him about moderation, rather than completely avoiding sugar.

In the latest update, the Muppet character learned a fresh tune titled “A Cookie Can Be an Occasional Treat,” and fresh characters joined in to provide advice on balanced diets and exercise.

10. In response to a past author’s claim in an interview that Bert and Ernie were something beyond mere roommates, Sesame Workshop issued a statement shedding light on the true nature of their relationship within the show since its inception, as seen from my perspective as a dedicated follower.

Just as we’ve consistently emphasized, Bert and Ernie are inseparable friends. They were specifically designed to demonstrate to preschoolers that it’s possible to maintain strong friendships with individuals who are noticeably different from oneself,” the statement explains. “Although they are portrayed as male characters and share numerous human-like qualities (as is common among Sesame Street Muppets), they remain puppets, and do not possess a sexual orientation.

As a die-hard fan, let me tell you, none other than the legendary Carol Burnett graced our screens as the very first celebrity guest on Sesame Street way back in 1969! She shared with THR her delightful memories of visiting the show, saying, “I simply couldn’t resist the allure. I think one time they even dressed me up as an asparagus!

The roster of retired Muppets encompasses Professor Hastings, Harvey Kneeslapper, and Bruno the Trashman. In the ’90s, a neighborhood section called “Around the Corner” was closed down following a five-year run due to children becoming perplexed by the alleyway (which subsequently became a parking lot).

In the beginning, Kermit the Frog was among the first Muppets on Sesame Street, but after the first season, Jim Henson anticipated that Kermit would become his most famous Muppet. So, he temporarily left the show. Kermit returned in season three and continued to appear occasionally. Meanwhile, another character named Herbert Birdsfoot took over for a while, but was eventually replaced by the end of season five. However, Grover, who worked as Kermit’s assistant, gained popularity among fans instead.

One instance, broadcasted only once and subsequently prohibited due to a surge of complaints from parents, was an episode aired in 1976. This episode brought back Margaret Hamilton reprising her famous portrayal as the Wicked Witch of the West, a character initially introduced in The Wizard of Oz.

Two Muppet characters, Roosevelt Franklin and Don Music, were taken off the show due to controversies during the 1970s and ’80s. Roosevelt Franklin, who was the first African-American puppet character, faced criticism for being racist, with some parents and critics claiming that his portrayal led to racial tensions. The other character, Don Music, was a composer Muppet known for banging his head against his piano. Some parents complained that their children were imitating this behavior, leading to Don Music’s retirement from the show.

Rosemarie Truglio, Sesame Street’s senior VP of curriculum and content, stated to THR that we would no longer promote behaviors like that because current research emphasizes the importance of helping children develop self-regulation skills. In other words, repeatedly hitting one’s head is not a productive method for managing feelings.

15. In 1970, the television broadcast of “Sesame Street” was prohibited in Mississippi due to racial reasons, as the State Commission for Educational Television decided to pull it off air. According to a report from the New York Times, some members of the commission had strong objections to the series because it featured a diverse cast of children. A member of the committee stated at the time that they were against showing the program due to its integration. However, this decision was overturned just under a month later.

In 2012, Kevin Clash, the puppeteer responsible for Elmo, stepped down from the show following allegations that he had engaged in a sexual relationship with an individual who was 16 at the time of their first encounter. However, Clash refuted these claims.

Mr. Hooper was one of the initial four human characters on the show and operated Hooper’s Store. Will Lee portrayed the shopkeeper until his passing in 1982. Instead of replacing him, the producers opted to address the real-life event by teaching children about death in a special episode that aired on Thanksgiving Day in 1983.

Dulcy Singer shared that they decided to address the issue directly because, if left unmentioned, children might pick up on it. Their intuition led them to choose openness and transparency in their approach.

2002 marked a significant shift in the format of the show during its 33rd season. The producers opted for a more story-driven approach, stating that this change was largely influenced by the growing preference among their audience, which was skewing increasingly younger towards kids aged 2 to 4.

In an interview with “The San Francisco Gate,” co-executive producer Arlene Sherman explained, “We fundamentally restructured the show. It no longer follows a magazine format; instead, it’s structured more like ‘Sesame Street.’ The structure should make it easier for children to understand.” Alongside these changes, Cookie Monster and Count von Count were given expanded roles, and a new daily Spanish segment was introduced.

19. It might seem surprising, but the initial two seasons of Sesame Street carried an advisory: “Sesame Street: Old School is for adults only: These early episodes of Sesame Street were designed for grown-ups and may not align with the preferences of modern preschoolers,” as reported by The New York Times.

If you happen to be wondering about how to reach Sesame Street, let me tell you: You can take either the R or V subway train in New York City; get off at Steinway Street station. After exiting, walk west on 34th Avenue for approximately three blocks until you reach 36th Street. Take a left onto 36th Street and you’ll find the entrance to Kaufman Astoria Studios in Queens right there, mid-block.

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2025-07-14 17:19