Latest news with #SesameWorkshop
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Sesame Street responds to Elmo's X account posting vile antisemitic and racist content
Sesame Workshop has again addressed the embarrassing hack it suffered on Monday when a hacker accessed the Elmo account and posted a series of shocking posts targeting Jewish people and trolling President Donald Trump. 'On Sunday, Elmo's X account was briefly hacked by an outside party, in spite of the security measures in place,' read a tweet from the Sesame Workshop. The statement continued, 'We strongly condemn the abhorrent antisemitic and racist content, and the account has since been secured. 'These posts in no way reflect the values of Sesame Workshop or Sesame Street, and no one at the organization was involved.' A spokesperson for Sesame Workshop previously confirmed the digital security breach to Daily Mail on Sunday evening. 'Elmo's X account was compromised today by an unknown hacker who posted disgusting messages, including antisemitic and racist posts,' the rep said. 'We are working to restore full control of the account.' Following the post from the Sesame Workshop, a number of followers on the platform peppered in responses that ranged from jokes to troubleshooting. 'I don't believe you were hacked,' said one user. 'I think the real Elmo came out.' Another user wryly chimed in, 'Big Bird's silence on this issue has been deafening.' One user went on a long rant at the character, saying, 'Elmo, I've been crying and throwing up ever since you posted those very hateful things. 'The truth of it is you were a role model to me growing up and because of that I would always tickle you whenever you asked. The statement ended, 'After what happened on Sunday I was forced to throw you in the dumpster out back my local Chili's and will no longer be having you in my life. Goodbye old friend.' Multiple users rejected Sesame Workshop's denial anyone from their side was involved. 'Sesame workshop has become beyond woke and I guarantee it was someone internal,' one user said. 'If I allowed some sort of breach like this at my job, I would be fired. @SesameWorkshop take accountability. The user said the late Sesame Street founder Jim Henson 'would be horrified' at the lack of accountability in the wake of the humiliating security breach. Another added: 'Serious question. Is anyone ever hacked by an "inside party?" Your inability to apologize MUCH SOONER is weak. But most concerning is that no one believes you were hacked. 'We believe you have an employee who did this intentionally but you haven't explained this because then, of course, we'd all want to know who did it and then expect them to be fired, etc. 'See, the longer you all don't provide details, the more the pressure grows to know more.' The account for Elmo, under the handle @elmo, has more than 639,800 followers, and has been on the platform since November of 2012. 'Elmo lives on Sesame Street and was told to tell you that Elmo is official!' a bio line on the social media page read. On Sunday, it was clear the account had been commandeered by rogue actors, as a series of messages posted called for violence against Jewish people. The post repeated a series of antisemitic tropes and called for harm against Jewish people. The post also took aim at the president, saying, ' DONALD TRUMP IS NETANYAHU'S PUPPET BECAUSE HE IS IN THE EPSTEIN FILE.' One message tagged in President Donald Trump that read: 'RELEASE THE FILES @readDonaldTrump' along with an offensive term directed at Trump. The hacker also peppered in more sharp responses to people who condemned the racist prank. When one person expressed their frustration with the posts from the account, a profane response used a racial epithet aimed at Black people. When another person said they were going to mute Elmo, a response from the Elmo account contained a transphobic slur. The unlikely hack and subsequent shock messages led for Elmo to become a trending topic on the platform, with a number of different takes on the incident. 'Hacking the official Elmo account gotta be one of the most diabolical things this app has ever seen,' one response read. The account for Elmo, under the handle @elmo, has more than 639,800 followers, and has been on the platform since November of 2012 One social media user said that the incident provided an insight into how deeply antisemitism is embedded in some people A few people made reference to rapper Kanye West's history of antisemitic X posts, which he has since distanced himself from. 'Kanye and Elmo should collab sometime,' one user said, while another asked, 'Who let Kanye on Elmo's account?' One user posted a long-circulating meme of the Sesame Street character standing in front of flames to aptly summarize the situation with the hacker. One social media user said that the incident provided an insight into how deeply antisemitism is embedded in some people. 'This is a real tweet from the Elmo X account. It has since been deleted,' said the user. 'We're dealing with depraved immoral sociopaths who target even a beloved children's character in order to incite violence and hate against Jews.'
Los Angeles Times
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
Elmo returns to his wholesome self, promoting love instead of racism and Epstein claims
Elmo's everlasting mission of kindness and all things wholesome is back in full swing, days after the puppet's official X account platformed racist and antisemitic remarks, and popular claims about the sex-trafficking investigation of Jeffrey Epstein. 'Thank you for being kind to Elmo and all the people in your neighborhood,' the iconic 'Sesame Street' furball tweeted Tuesday. 'Elmo loves you.' Earlier this week, the permanently 3½-year-old mascot shocked followers when he posted numerous hateful tweets, including those threatening violence against the Jewish community and others demanding that President Trump release Epstein's purported 'client list.' In the series of since-deleted posts, Elmo dubbed Trump a 'puppet' for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and alleged the president was involved in Epstein's sex-trafficking operation. The tweets, obviously out of line with Elmo's regular playful programming on social media, naturally went viral as users circulated screenshots of the disturbing posts. 'The Daily Show' and host Jon Stewart also had their fun with Elmo's uncharacteristic tweets, creating a segment that generated more out-of-pocket takes for the normally innocuous puppet. Amid the online buzz, the 'Sesame Street' organization Sesame Workshop alleged in a statement that Elmo's X account was 'compromised by an unknown hacker' and condemned the 'disgusting messages.' A spokesperson for X told The Times that it could not comment 'on the specifics of individual accounts,' adding that it encourages all users to 'leverage the security methods' outlined in its help center page. While X did not confirm the takeover of Elmo's account, the alleged hacker left a link — that has since been deleted — on the character's page directing followers to a user's Telegram channel. On Telegram, the user appears to take credit for the hack and also shared a message praising Adolf Hitler and Ye, the rapper formerly known as Kanye West. In a Tuesday statement shared to Elmo's X account, Sesame Workshop doubled down on its allegations that a hacker was behind the disturbing tweets 'in spite of the security measures in place.' Sesame Workshop echoed disapproval of the 'abhorrent' posts and assured fans it has since regained control of Elmo's account. Sesame Workshop added: 'These posts in no way reflect the values of Sesame Workshop or Sesame Street, and no one at the organization was involved.'
Al Bawaba
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Al Bawaba
Elmo returns to X after 'kill all Jews' and Epstein client list posts
Published July 16th, 2025 - 05:57 GMT ALBAWABA - Just days after Elmo's official account on X (formerly known as Twitter) was hacked, resulting in posts calling for the death of Jews and the release of the Epstein client list, the account has returned to its rightful owner. Three days prior, the hacked Elmo account referred to itself as "mechahitler" while calling US President Donald Trump the puppet of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and a client on the notorious Epstein list. The viral incident sparked widespread controversy on social media due to the posts' political topics. Elmo returns to X after 'mechahitler' and Epstein client list posts On Sunday, Elmo's X account was briefly hacked by an outside party, in spite of the security measures in strongly condemn the abhorrent antisemitic and racist content, and the account has since been secured. These posts in no way reflect the values of Sesame Workshop… — Elmo (@elmo) July 15, 2025 Elmo's X account released a statement condemning the hacker's words, which read, "On Sunday, Elmo's X account was briefly hacked by an outside party, in spite of the security measures in place. We strongly condemn the abhorrent antisemitic and racist content, and the account has since been secured." The statement added, "These posts in no way reflect the values of Sesame Workshop or Sesame Street, and no one at the organization was involved." Before posting the statement, the account wrote on X, "Thank you for being kind to Elmo and all the people in your neighborhood. Elmo loves you." The statement resulted in a flood of comments from angry parents demanding an apology from Elmo. A parent wrote on X, "I now can't stop my kids from repeating the words and language you used that day. Thanks Elmo." Another parent added, "This is bigger than an apology. How can parents know @sesamestreet apps are safe for kids? sorry does not get to the root for how this happened. What safety measures have been taken to ensure it never happens again?" Reports about Jeffrey Epstein were reignited by the US Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) after they revealed that he committed suicide during his prison sentence and didn't have a client list for his notorious island. In addition to its official claims, the DOJ released a video that captured Esptein in his cell alone during the night he died, revealing no foul play or an external factor. However, the closure of years of speculation, conspiracy theories, and political tensions didn't sit well with many individuals, sparking more debate and rumors on social media. © 2000 - 2025 Al Bawaba (
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Sesame Street responds to vile hacking of Elmo's X account
Sesame Workshop has again addressed the embarrassing hack it suffered on Monday when a hacker accessed the Elmo account and posted a series of shocking posts targeting Jewish people and trolling President Donald Trump. 'On Sunday, Elmo's X account was briefly hacked by an outside party, in spite of the security measures in place,' read a tweet from the Sesame Workshop. The statement continued, 'We strongly condemn the abhorrent antisemitic and racist content, and the account has since been secured. 'These posts in no way reflect the values of Sesame Workshop or Sesame Street, and no one at the organization was involved.' A spokesperson for Sesame Workshop previously confirmed the digital security breach to Daily Mail on Sunday evening. 'Elmo's X account was compromised today by an unknown hacker who posted disgusting messages, including antisemitic and racist posts,' the rep said. 'We are working to restore full control of the account.' Following the post from the Sesame Workshop, a number of followers on the platform peppered in responses that ranged from jokes to troubleshooting. 'I don't believe you were hacked,' said one user. 'I think the real Elmo came out.' Another user wryly chimed in, 'Big Bird's silence on this issue has been deafening.' One user went on a long rant at the character, saying, 'Elmo, I've been crying and throwing up ever since you posted those very hateful things. 'The truth of it is you were a role model to me growing up and because of that I would always tickle you whenever you asked. The statement ended, 'After what happened on Sunday I was forced to throw you in the dumpster out back my local Chili's and will no longer be having you in my life. Goodbye old friend.' Multiple users rejected Sesame Workshop's denial anyone from their side was involved. 'Sesame workshop has become beyond woke and I guarantee it was someone internal,' one user said. 'If I allowed some sort of breach like this at my job, I would be fired. @SesameWorkshop take accountability. The user said the late Sesame Street founder Jim Henson 'would be horrified' at the lack of accountability in the wake of the humiliating security breach. Following the post from the Sesame Workshop, a number of followers on the platform peppered in responses that ranged from jokes to troubleshooting Another added: 'Serious question. Is anyone ever hacked by an "inside party?" Your inability to apologize MUCH SOONER is weak. But most concerning is that no one believes you were hacked. 'We believe you have an employee who did this intentionally but you haven't explained this because then, of course, we'd all want to know who did it and then expect them to be fired, etc. 'See, the longer you all don't provide details, the more the pressure grows to know more.' The account for Elmo, under the handle @elmo, has more than 639,800 followers, and has been on the platform since November of 2012. 'Elmo lives on Sesame Street and was told to tell you that Elmo is official!' a bio line on the social media page read. On Sunday, it was clear the account had been commandeered by rogue actors, as a series of messages posted called for violence against Jewish people. The post repeated a series of antisemitic tropes and called for harm against Jewish people. The post also took aim at the president, saying, ' DONALD TRUMP IS NETANYAHU'S PUPPET BECAUSE HE IS IN THE EPSTEIN FILE.' One message tagged in President Donald Trump that read: 'RELEASE THE FILES @readDonaldTrump' along with an offensive term directed at Trump. The hacker also peppered in more sharp responses to people who condemned the racist prank. When one person expressed their frustration with the posts from the account, a profane response used a racial epithet aimed at Black people. When another person said they were going to mute Elmo, a response from the Elmo account contained a transphobic slur. The unlikely hack and subsequent shock messages led for Elmo to become a trending topic on the platform, with a number of different takes on the incident. 'Hacking the official Elmo account gotta be one of the most diabolical things this app has ever seen,' one response read. The account for Elmo, under the handle @elmo, has more than 639,800 followers, and has been on the platform since November of 2012 One social media user said that the incident provided an insight into how deeply antisemitism is embedded in some people A few people made reference to rapper Kanye West's history of antisemitic X posts, which he has since distanced himself from. 'Kanye and Elmo should collab sometime,' one user said, while another asked, 'Who let Kanye on Elmo's account?' One user posted a long-circulating meme of the Sesame Street character standing in front of flames to aptly summarize the situation with the hacker. One social media user said that the incident provided an insight into how deeply antisemitism is embedded in some people. 'This is a real tweet from the Elmo X account. It has since been deleted,' said the user. 'We're dealing with depraved immoral sociopaths who target even a beloved children's character in order to incite violence and hate against Jews.'
Al Bawaba
4 days ago
- Politics
- Al Bawaba
Elmo returns to X after 'mechahitler' and Epstein client list posts
Published July 16th, 2025 - 05:57 GMT ALBAWABA - Just days after Elmo's official account on X (formerly known as Twitter) was hacked, resulting in posts calling for the death of Jews and the release of the Epstein client list, the account has returned to its rightful owner. Three days prior, the hacked Elmo account referred to itself as "mechahitler" while calling US President Donald Trump the puppet of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and a client on the notorious Epstein list. The viral incident sparked widespread controversy on social media due to the posts' political topics. On Sunday, Elmo's X account was briefly hacked by an outside party, in spite of the security measures in strongly condemn the abhorrent antisemitic and racist content, and the account has since been secured. These posts in no way reflect the values of Sesame Workshop… — Elmo (@elmo) July 15, 2025 Elmo's X account released a statement condemning the hacker's words, which read, "On Sunday, Elmo's X account was briefly hacked by an outside party, in spite of the security measures in place. We strongly condemn the abhorrent antisemitic and racist content, and the account has since been secured." The statement added, "These posts in no way reflect the values of Sesame Workshop or Sesame Street, and no one at the organization was involved." Before posting the statement, the account wrote on X, "Thank you for being kind to Elmo and all the people in your neighborhood. Elmo loves you." The statement resulted in a flood of comments from angry parents demanding an apology from Elmo. A parent wrote on X, "I now can't stop my kids from repeating the words and language you used that day. Thanks Elmo." Another parent added, "This is bigger than an apology. How can parents know @sesamestreet apps are safe for kids? sorry does not get to the root for how this happened. What safety measures have been taken to ensure it never happens again?" Reports about Jeffrey Epstein were reignited by the US Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) after they revealed that he committed suicide during his prison sentence and didn't have a client list for his notorious island. In addition to its official claims, the DOJ released a video that captured Esptein in his cell alone during the night he died, revealing no foul play or an external factor. However, the closure of years of speculation, conspiracy theories, and political tensions didn't sit well with many individuals, sparking more debate and rumors on social media. © 2000 - 2025 Al Bawaba (
