July 15, 2025, 11:35 am | Read time: 2 minutes
Elmo is one of the most well-known and beloved characters from “Sesame Street.” Since 1980, the red furry character has been teaching children about various topics, especially kindness. Over the years, Elmo and other famous puppets have expanded their message beyond traditional TV to other platforms, such as social media. Since November 2012, there has been an official Elmo profile on X (formerly Twitter), where he has been spreading positive messages. However, as reported by “The Guardian,” controversial and hateful messages were posted on the profile last weekend. The reason was a hacker.
Antisemitism and Racism Spread through Elmo
According to the report, the creators of “Sesame Street” openly addressed the issue and confirmed that Elmo’s X account had been hacked. As a result, several “disgusting” posts were published, including antisemitic and racist messages. Threats related to these topics were also made from the account.
Furthermore, the hacker repeatedly referenced Jeffrey Epstein using vulgar language. The investment banker was charged in 2019 with running a human trafficking ring for the sexual exploitation of minors and died by suicide while in custody. Epstein was friends with celebrities and influential politicians, and his death sparked a judicial scandal and numerous conspiracy theories.
Hacker Made Demand to Donald Trump
Some of the messages on Elmo’s X account were reportedly addressed to Donald Trump. The hacker allegedly urged him to release documents related to the Epstein case (“Epstein Files”). This could have been a reaction to the Trump administration’s recent statement that it did not have a list of Epstein’s alleged clients and that he indeed committed suicide—both statements that have caused unrest in right-wing circles.
Truth+ by Donald Trump Launches in Germany: “Madness and Misinformation”
Will Elon Musk Soon Take Over the US Division of TikTok?
Instagram Account Hacked? Here’s How to Recover It
“Sesame Street” Creators Under Pressure
The controversial tweets have since been deleted, but as of yesterday, the “Sesame Street” creators were still struggling to regain full control of the account. The British “Guardian” has reached out to X owner Elon Musk for comment but has yet to receive a response.
Also of interest: What Famous Tech Logos Used to Look Like
The hack comes immediately after Linda Yaccarino’s departure as CEO of X. The platform has repeatedly made headlines and faced issues, with prominent and high-profile accounts, including those of politicians, being hacked multiple times.