I really hope Elmo – and whoever else is running the social media accounts Sesame Street – gets vacation.
Over the course of a week, the poor puppet became a vessel for the internet’s collective trauma dump and vent session and was attacked live Today from His fieldcreator Larry David, and then further criticized by David after the popular comedian said he would “do it again” if given the chance. Poor Elmo!
Elmo is doing very poorly, not a good week started on Monday when the official Elmo account on X asked how people were doing. The Original tweet said, “Elmo is checking in! How is everyone?” Clearly the question struck a nerve because the tweet went viral as thousands of people flooded the replies to the question. At the time of publication, the original tweet had over 18,000 replies and had been retweeted over 58,000 times. Many of which focused on how terrible things are for people in general right now.
Elmo is checking in! How are you all?
– Elmo (@elmo) January 29, 2024
One representative tweet summed it up: “Elmo, we’re tired.” But many other responses were even darker; as one said: “Every morning I can’t wait to go back to sleep. Every Monday I can’t wait for Friday to come.” Elmo’s replies and retweets essentially became a repository for everyone on the internet’s sad feelings – but he remained friendly throughout. The next day, the doll was magnanimous enough to turn it into a learning moment: “Wow! Elmo is glad he asked! “Elmo learned that it’s important to ask a friend how he’s doing.” After the incident, the Sesame Street
The tweet ended up being so big, NBC’s talk show, TodayHe invited Elmo as a guest. And on Thursday he performed with his father Louie – and on the same day as His field-Creator Larry David was a guest on the show. In my opinion, Elmo did a great job talking about the importance of mental health. But that didn’t protect him from what was to come.
After speaking to the audience about the tweet, David stood up from behind the camera and attacked Elmo on live television, seemingly without provocation. David then shook the doll by the throat and later shouted off-camera: “Someone had to do it!”
David reluctantly apologized to Elmo Todaybut then apparently took him back into conversation Late Night with Seth Meyers. He said: “He was talking about mental health and I had to listen to every word and I said: Oh dear God! Oh dear God! I don’t think I could take another second of this” said David, imitating Elmo’s voice, “I couldn’t stand it! And you know what, I would do it again.”
The actual absurdity of someone like Larry David – who created the role of a miser for himself – feels strangely appropriate and seems like something straight out of his show. Curb your enthusiasm. Still, I can’t help but feel for Elmo. He was always quick to forgive and always wants to be there for all of us. I just hope after such a long week one of his friends can contact him; As his mentions show, it’s tough out there.