Elmo’s official X (formerly Twitter) account was taken over by a hacker who used the platform to post a series of antisemitic, explicit, and politically charged messages, triggering swift backlash from users and prompting an official response from Sesame Street.
The attack occurred on Elmo’s verified account, which has a following of nearly 650,000. The posts were unmistakably out of character for the beloved Sesame Street puppet, known for spreading messages of kindness and emotional well-being. Instead, the account began publishing messages that promoted antisemitic violence, made crude accusations against political figures, and referenced the late Jeffrey Epstein.
Among the posts was a statement telling all Jews to “die,” alongside claims that “Jews control the world and need to be exterminated.” The attacker also made reference to former President Donald Trump, calling him a “child f**ker” and accusing him of being “Netanyahu’s puppet,” referring to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The messages included repeated demands for the release of Epstein-related files.
A spokesperson for Sesame Street confirmed to Fox News that Elmo’s account had been compromised. The identity of the attacker remains unknown at this time, and the offensive posts have since been deleted.
The hack appears to be connected to ongoing conspiracy theories surrounding the death of Jeffrey Epstein. Recently, the U.S. Department of Justice released a memo reaffirming that Epstein died by suicide in jail and stated that no “incriminating client list” was found during a systematic review of his files, databases, and hard drives. This conclusion contradicted prior claims made by public figures and officials who suggested that such a list existed and was being reviewed.
One such claim came from former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi, who previously told Fox News that Epstein’s client list was “on her desk” and under review. With the DOJ’s memo now putting the issue to rest, at least officially, conspiracy theorists have reignited their efforts to challenge the findings—this time through a high-profile hijacking of a well-known children’s character’s social media.
The Elmo hack joins a growing list of celebrity and brand accounts being used to spread extremist or conspiratorial content. Social media platforms, particularly X, have faced mounting criticism over lapses in security and content moderation. The incident underscores how attackers continue to exploit trusted online voices to amplify harmful narratives and provoke public reaction.