Sesame Street faces backlash over Pride Month message
Sesame Street, the iconic children's program, is facing significant online backlash after posting a Pride Month message celebrating love, inclusivity, and respect.
The June 1 post featured colorful puppet arms linked together, symbolizing unity and support for the LGBTQ+ community, and included the caption: 'On our street, everyone is welcome. Together, let's build a world where every person and family feels loved and respected.'
On our street, everyone is welcome. Together, let's build a world where every person and family feels loved and respected for who they are. Happy #PrideMonth! pic.twitter.com/6JJFhxO9dC — Sesame Street (@sesamestreet) June 1, 2025
The annual message was meant to show support for Pride Month, but it quickly drew criticism from some conservative social media users. Critics flooded the replies with accusations of 'grooming,' calls to 'leave the kids alone,' and questions like, 'When is straight month?'
THIS IS GROOMING.
THIS IS CRIMINAL.
THIS IS PERVERSION. https://t.co/VFMtIirI0P — Viva Frei (@thevivafrei) June 1, 2025
Kids aren't gay. Kids aren't sexual. This is disgusting indoctrination and Sesame Street staff/PR deserves all the backlash they get for it.
Gross. pic.twitter.com/V9RkU3c6g2
— Smash JT (@SmashJT) June 1, 2025
Two years ago this month I got blocked by @sesamestreet pic.twitter.com/MZplFDLUHy — Five Times August (@FiveTimesAugust) June 1, 2025
Nothing to see here: just a publicly funded puppet show promoting weird sex stuff to your three-year-old. https://t.co/YPHW7eQToJ — Michael Knowles (@michaeljknowles) June 1, 2025
Despite the backlash, many users defended the post, applauding Sesame Street for continuing to promote empathy and diversity. Supporters noted that the show has long championed inclusion and acceptance, pointing to characters like Bert and Ernie and decades of inclusive messaging.
One user wrote, 'Shoutout to Sesame Street for raising me to be empathetic and caring towards everyone.' Others praised the show for remaining consistent in its values, despite knowing the negative reactions it often receives.
Oh they're mad in the comments
Trump fucked up pissing Sesame Street off
Btw, these were the first gay icons I ever met, idk what these conservatives are mad about. #Pride2025 #GayIconsBertAndErnie #PrideMonth https://t.co/tJkVKpu0dm pic.twitter.com/aVpqytytAB — ✮ riot ✮ 🏳️🌈 (@rrriot_kitty) June 1, 2025
The controversy highlights the ongoing cultural divide over LGBTQ+ representation in children's media. While Sesame Street remains firm in its stance, the polarized responses underscore how even simple messages of kindness and inclusion can ignite heated public discourse in 2025.
Sesame Street has not responded directly to the backlash but continues to stand by its message of welcoming all families and promoting love and respect for everyone.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Express Tribune
5 days ago
- Express Tribune
Sesame Street faces backlash over Pride Month message
Sesame Street, the iconic children's program, is facing significant online backlash after posting a Pride Month message celebrating love, inclusivity, and respect. The June 1 post featured colorful puppet arms linked together, symbolizing unity and support for the LGBTQ+ community, and included the caption: 'On our street, everyone is welcome. Together, let's build a world where every person and family feels loved and respected.' On our street, everyone is welcome. Together, let's build a world where every person and family feels loved and respected for who they are. Happy #PrideMonth! — Sesame Street (@sesamestreet) June 1, 2025 The annual message was meant to show support for Pride Month, but it quickly drew criticism from some conservative social media users. Critics flooded the replies with accusations of 'grooming,' calls to 'leave the kids alone,' and questions like, 'When is straight month?' THIS IS GROOMING. THIS IS CRIMINAL. THIS IS PERVERSION. — Viva Frei (@thevivafrei) June 1, 2025 Kids aren't gay. Kids aren't sexual. This is disgusting indoctrination and Sesame Street staff/PR deserves all the backlash they get for it. Gross. — Smash JT (@SmashJT) June 1, 2025 Two years ago this month I got blocked by @sesamestreet — Five Times August (@FiveTimesAugust) June 1, 2025 Nothing to see here: just a publicly funded puppet show promoting weird sex stuff to your three-year-old. — Michael Knowles (@michaeljknowles) June 1, 2025 Despite the backlash, many users defended the post, applauding Sesame Street for continuing to promote empathy and diversity. Supporters noted that the show has long championed inclusion and acceptance, pointing to characters like Bert and Ernie and decades of inclusive messaging. One user wrote, 'Shoutout to Sesame Street for raising me to be empathetic and caring towards everyone.' Others praised the show for remaining consistent in its values, despite knowing the negative reactions it often receives. Oh they're mad in the comments Trump fucked up pissing Sesame Street off Btw, these were the first gay icons I ever met, idk what these conservatives are mad about. #Pride2025 #GayIconsBertAndErnie #PrideMonth — ✮ riot ✮ 🏳️🌈 (@rrriot_kitty) June 1, 2025 The controversy highlights the ongoing cultural divide over LGBTQ+ representation in children's media. While Sesame Street remains firm in its stance, the polarized responses underscore how even simple messages of kindness and inclusion can ignite heated public discourse in 2025. Sesame Street has not responded directly to the backlash but continues to stand by its message of welcoming all families and promoting love and respect for everyone.
Express Tribune
19-05-2025
- Express Tribune
Netflix expands into kids gaming with Peppa Pig and Sesame Street
Netflix is ramping up its efforts in the kids gaming space by integrating beloved IPs like Peppa Pig and Sesame Street into its platform. The company began streaming new Peppa Pig episodes in the U.S. today and has launched the World of Peppa Pig gaming app directly within Netflix. This move strengthens Netflix's commitment to offering familiar and safe content for young audiences. Lisa Burgess, Netflix's head of kids gaming, emphasized the importance of using well-known intellectual property to build trust and engagement among young users. 'Kids want to interact with characters they know and love — they see them as best friends,' she told Variety. The World of Peppa Pig app includes interactive activities such as puzzles, dress-up games, coloring books, and memory challenges. Designed for ages two to eight, its core audience is preschoolers aged two to five. Netflix also announced it has acquired streaming rights to PBS Kids' Sesame Street, including Sesame Street Mecha Builders, and will be developing original games around these franchises. The strategy ties into Netflix's broader goal of maintaining viewer engagement from early childhood through adulthood. Burgess says the company uses profile data to tailor content recommendations, which now extends to gaming. 'We want to create a smooth content journey for families — from kids games to all-ages titles,' she said. With kids and family viewing accounting for 15% of its total viewership, Netflix is positioning its gaming lineup as an extension of the trusted environment families already rely on — aiming to grow its presence in the competitive kids entertainment market.
Express Tribune
19-05-2025
- Express Tribune
Sesame Street moves from Max to Netflix with global streaming deal
Netflix has acquired the exclusive worldwide streaming rights to the iconic children's series Sesame Street, following the conclusion of the show's five-year run on HBO Max. The new partnership, announced on Monday, gives Netflix the premiere rights beginning with Season 56, set to launch later this year. The streaming giant will also have access to 90 hours of past episodes and will develop video games based on Sesame Street and its spinoff Sesame Street Mecha Builders. Despite the shift, U.S. audiences will still be able to watch new episodes on PBS stations and PBS Kids digital platforms on the same day of release, maintaining a 50-plus-year collaboration between Sesame Workshop and PBS. In a statement, Sesame Workshop celebrated the new deal as a unique public-private partnership involving Netflix, PBS, and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. The organization emphasized the ongoing mission of the show to help children grow 'smarter, stronger, and kinder.' Season 56 will feature a refreshed format, focusing each episode on a single 11-minute story, aiming to enhance character-driven storytelling and humor. A new animated segment titled Tales From 123 will explore the daily lives of beloved characters like Elmo and Cookie Monster within the whimsical apartment building at 123 Sesame Street. Fan-favorite segments including Elmo's World and Cookie Monster's Foodie Truck will return, alongside new additions like Cookie Monster's Cookie Cart and Abby's Fairy Garden. Sal Perez and Kay Wilson Stallings return as executive producers, with Halcyon Person joining as head writer. Person previously served in similar roles for Netflix children's series Karma's World and Dee & Friends in Oz. Netflix highlighted the importance of children's programming, noting that family content accounts for 15% of its total viewing hours.
