The official X account of Elmo, the cherished red muppet from “Sesame Street,” was taken over by a hacker who used the platform to post a series of offensive and politically charged messages. The incident has left social media users in disbelief and raised questions about the security of high-profile accounts, as well as drawing political scrutiny toward PBS funding.
A Beloved Muppet’s Account Is Compromised
The X account for Elmo, which has over 640,000 followers, was hacked on Sunday. The hacker used the account to post a series of “offensive and antisemitic messages” that shocked many. These messages included hateful language and calls for violence against Jewish people. The account also replied to several users with similar offensive language. All of the posts and replies were later deleted.
Political Messages and Reactions
Beyond the offensive content, the hacker’s posts included direct attacks on political figures. One message referred to President Donald Trump as a “puppet” of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Another post demanded that Trump “release the Epstein documents.” The incident has also prompted renewed scrutiny from some Republican lawmakers who have pushed to cut federal funding for PBS, especially after “Sesame Street” celebrated LGBTQ “Pride” Month.
The Public Responds with Shock and Humor
The hack drew widespread reaction from social media users, many of whom were shocked by the adult language coming from a children’s character’s account. Some users mocked the situation, while another commenter stated, “I’m forever scarred by Elmo.”
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Sesame Workshop’s Statement and Response
A Sesame Workshop spokesperson confirmed the hack, saying, “Elmo’s X account was compromised today by an unknown hacker who posted disgusting messages, including antisemitic and racist posts. We are working to restore full control of the account.”