The official X account of Elmo, the beloved red puppet from the children’s television show “Sesame Street,” was hacked Sunday night, flooding the feed with a stream of antisemitic, racist and violent messages that included graphic calls for violence and conspiracy theories targeting Jewish people and U.S. political figures.
Users on the social media platform, formerly known as Twitter, reported that the verified account suddenly began posting expletive-filled messages, including: “Kill all Jews,” and, “Elmo says ALL JEWS SHOULD DIE. F--- JEWS. DONALD TRUMP IS NETANYAHU’S PUPPET BECAUSE HE IS IN THE EPSTEIN FILES. JEWS CONTROL THE WORLD AND NEED TO BE EXTERMINATED.” Another post demanded former President Donald Trump release documents allegedly tied to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, calling Trump a “child f---er.”
The posts appeared to be the result of an unauthorized breach and were deleted within about 30 minutes. However, screenshots circulated widely across social media before they were removed, sparking outrage and confusion among users.
In addition to the posts, the account replied to other users with slurs, bizarre conspiracy theories and unverified claims, including the names of individuals allegedly responsible for similar cyberattacks. None of the individuals named have been confirmed as connected to the breach.
The hateful messages were written in Elmo’s signature third-person voice, making the incident especially jarring for many familiar with the character’s role as an educational and inclusive figure. Elmo is one of the most recognizable characters from “Sesame Street,” a program known for its focus on child development and social values.
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The hack raised fresh concerns about the security of social media accounts managed by public-facing organizations, particularly those associated with children’s content and cultural icons.
Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit that produces “Sesame Street,” confirmed the breach in a statement Monday and condemned the posts as “disgusting,” adding that it was working with X to regain control of the account and investigate the incident.