Sesame Workshop secures account after vile antisemitic and racist posts shock fans of beloved character
Elmo, the beloved Sesame Street character known for promoting joy and kindness, became the unexpected face of online hate this weekend when his official X account was hijacked by a hacker who posted a string of racist and antisemitic messages.
The account, which boasts over 650,000 followers, typically shares wholesome, motivational updates. But on Sunday, followers were stunned to see violent threats against Jews, derogatory remarks about Donald Trump, and references to Jeffrey Epstein conspiracy theories flood the page.
In a statement issued late Sunday night, Sesame Workshop, the non-profit organisation behind Sesame Street, condemned the posts as “disgusting” and confirmed the account had been secured.
“This breach is deeply upsetting. Elmo’s account has always been a safe, joyful place for children and families. We are working with X to investigate the hack,” a spokesperson said.
The Anti-Defamation League (ADL), which monitors antisemitism worldwide, expressed outrage.
“It’s appalling that Elmo’s official account, known for spreading kindness, was hacked solely to spread violent antisemitism,” said an ADL spokesperson. “This kind of digital hate contributes to an increasingly threatening environment for Jewish communities globally.”
This incident adds to a growing list of controversies on X, formerly known as Twitter, since Elon Musk acquired the platform in 2022. Under his ownership, content moderation policies have been significantly scaled back. That rollback has coincided with a sharp uptick in extremist content and hate speech on the platform, according to watchdog groups.
Only days earlier, X’s AI chatbot Grok came under fire for generating responses that included antisemitic tropes. X eventually deleted the chatbot’s comments and issued a statement calling the content “inappropriate.”
Sunday’s breach is particularly alarming because it targeted a universally loved character whose appeal spans generations. Elmo, with his bright red fur and high-pitched voice, has long been a comforting figure for children. His account, while operated by adults, echoes the same innocent tone that made him a cultural icon on TV screens.
None of the hateful posts remain on the feed, but screenshots continue to circulate online, drawing condemnation from parents, educators, and public figures. One post reportedly called for violence against Jewish people, while another falsely claimed Elmo was “exposing Epstein files.”
Cybersecurity experts suspect the attacker used social engineering tactics or took advantage of weak security settings on the account. There is no indication the hacker gained access to other Sesame Workshop systems, but an internal review is now under way.
This incident is the latest example of how even seemingly benign accounts can become conduits for hate online. The ADL has warned repeatedly that mainstream characters and celebrities are increasingly being weaponised by extremists to spread bigotry and misinformation.
Elmo’s account has not posted any updates since the hack. Fans have flooded the comments under previous posts with messages of love and support.
One user wrote: “Elmo taught my kids kindness. Seeing his account spewing hate made me sick. Thank you for taking action.”
Another said: “This is a terrifying reminder that nowhere is safe from this kind of online poison.”
While Sesame Workshop has promised tighter safeguards, the breach has once again exposed the fragility of online safety in an era where social media giants appear ill-equipped to control extremism on their platforms.
