Sesame Workshop is trying to regain full control over its Elmo account on the X platform after a hacker gained access and posted a string of racist and anti-Semitic messages.
“Elmo’s X account was compromised by an unknown hacker who posted disgusting messages, including antisemitic and racist posts. We are working to restore full control of the account,” a Sesame Workshop spokesperson said on Monday.
Sesame Workshop is the nonprofit behind Sesame Street and Elmo.
The account was compromised over the weekend and instead of the usual posts of encouragement and kindness, Elmo’s 650,000 followers were given anti-Semitic threats, insults towards US President Donald Trump and a profane reference to the Jeffrey Epstein sex trafficking investigation.
Those tweets were soon deleted.
X did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Elmo’s social media account has lately become a place for mental health awareness.
Last year, the red fuzzy monster, eternally three and a half years old, caused a sensation when he asked: “Elmo is just checking in! How is everybody doing?”
It prompted responses from then-president Joe Biden and Chance the Rapper.
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