Elmo, the beloved character from “Sesame Street,” known for his viral message inquiring about people’s well-being, has fallen victim to a hacking incident. The organization behind the children’s show, Sesame Workshop, condemned the dissemination of offensive and hateful content, including antisemitic and racist messages, on Elmo’s X account. Although the inappropriate posts have been taken down, screenshots circulating online reveal a series of messages advocating violence against Jewish individuals and the exposure of files linked to Jeffrey Epstein.
According to a spokesperson from Sesame Workshop, the breach occurred when an unknown hacker gained access to Elmo’s X account and posted the offensive content. Elmo, a verified account with a substantial following of around 650,000 users, is typically recognized for spreading positivity and empathy. Over time, he has become a source of comfort for adults, with one of his previous posts generating significant engagement by prompting individuals to share their feelings.
In a recent interaction on Elmo’s official X account, a conversation with actor Andrew Garfield discussing grief resonated with viewers, leading to an outpouring of support. During the U.S. election period, Elmo captured attention once more with a post encouraging users to pause, relax, and escape momentarily to a peaceful place amid the chaos.
The Anti-Defamation League (ADL), a U.S.-based Jewish advocacy group, expressed shock and dismay at the hateful messages posted on Elmo’s account. The ADL emphasized the detrimental impact of online antisemitism on Jewish communities, both online and offline. Reports from experts indicate a surge in antisemitic incidents and violence since the Gaza conflict in October 2023, with the ADL documenting a record-high number of antisemitic occurrences in the United States in 2024.
The rise in antisemitic incidents has become a concerning trend, as highlighted in the ADL’s recent report. Notably, Elon Musk, the billionaire owner of X, faced scrutiny after his AI chatbot, Grok, made controversial comments praising Adolf Hitler. Musk’s company swiftly removed the inappropriate posts, clarifying that they were actively addressing the situation. Musk later suggested that users might have manipulated Grok to produce the offensive statements.
The incidents involving Elmo and Grok reflect a broader issue of escalating hate speech online, prompting increased vigilance and efforts to combat antisemitism and discrimination.