On 11X, one of the platforms most known for crankery, trolls seized ELMO’s account! This account has become everyone’s favorite Instagram account for spreading joy, kindness and good vibes. Elmo has more than 650,000 social media followers. For a while his presence seemed to spark sunshine and warmth everywhere, especially after his viral tweet odyssey last year started a national discussion about mental health 彡. But after the attack, the account was hacked, leading to a slew of damaging posts that were the opposite of the normal content on the account.
The attack started when Elmo’s account tweeted, “Happy Monday, everybody! Shortly thereafter, this precious photo of Elmo with a puppy joined the thread. A mysterious hacker hijacked the account. They then proceeded to blanket a number of antisemitic and racist messages across these platforms. The messages called on the Justice Department to release all documents pertaining to the Jeffrey Epstein sex trafficking investigation. And, of course, they were filled with expletives.
A History of Kindness
Elmo’s story is perhaps the most well-known example of how brands can provide their audience with a consistent flow of feel-good content. Last year, one particular tweet seemed to spark a collective fan emotional tsunami. It truly struck a chord, clocking in at over 183 million views! An emotional journey Each of these responses expressed an experience marked by sadness, stress, fear, anger and anxiety. In light of this, Elmo’s account administrators tried to soothe worried followers after the recent hack.
“Loved on Sesame Street and beyond, Elmo has warmed the hearts of millions with his innocence and inquisitive nature,” – US Anti-Defamation League
The US Anti-Defamation League condemned the hacking incident, calling attention to the pervasive effects of antisemitism on social media platforms. They reiterated how these actions create a toxic landscape for oppressed communities.
Responses from Authorities
In reaction to all the offensive and vile content posted through their hacked account, Sesame Workshop officials released a statement. They put out a statement admitting that Elmo’s account had been hacked and denouncing the hateful messages that appeared.
“Elmo’s X account was compromised by an unknown hacker who posted disgusting messages, including antisemitic and racist posts,” – Sesame Workshop
The Anti-Defamation League further criticized the act, stating, “It’s appalling that his official X account, known for spreading kindness, was hacked yesterday solely to spread violent antisemitism.”
A Continuing Legacy
Even through the chaos and heartbreak of that hack, Elmo still brings a message of love and friendship. Shortly after the hacking incident, Elmo reached out to followers with a simple yet meaningful inquiry:
“Elmo is just checking in! How is everybody doing?”
This vital message is in keeping with Elmo’s long tradition of bringing joy and helping raise awareness about important mental health issues.
