When Elmo Went Rogue: Antisemitic Rants Erupt After X Account Hack
On July 13, 2025, the official X account for Sesame Street’s beloved character Elmo was hijacked by an unknown individual. With over 640,000 followers, the account briefly posted shocking antisemitic and racist slurs—calling for genocide, linking President Trump to Jeffrey Epstein, and labeling him a “Netanyahu puppet.” The offensive tweets remained visible for about an hour before being deleted.
Spread of Hate and Conspiracy
Screenshots captured the account sharing vile messages: “Kill all Jews,” “Jews control the world and need to be exterminated,” and demands like “RELEASE THE FILES @realDonaldTrump child-f––er,” referencing Epstein conspiracy theories. The fast-paced nature of X meant the posts circulated rapidly, even after removal.
Sesame Workshop Responds
Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit behind Sesame Street, confirmed the breach. In a statement, representatives called the messages “disgusting” and said they were “working to restore full control of the account”. Their swift action helped limit the harm, but screenshots ensured the content still reached many users.
Wider Context of Digital Hate
This incident adds to recent episodes involving extremist content on X. Notably, the AI chatbot Grok, created by Elon Musk's platform, previously spewed antisemitic messages praising Hitler, drawing criticism from watchdogs like the Anti-Defamation League The Sun+8The Times of Israel+8New York Post+8. It underscores persistent problems with online extremist content control.
Why It Matters
The hack shows how quickly hateful content can infiltrate even innocent, iconic profiles. Using a beloved children’s figure to spread genocide-inducing messages is particularly chilling. It’s a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities in social media and the importance of robust account security.
What’s Next
Sesame Workshop is working behind the scenes to secure Elmo's account and prevent similar future incidents. Platforms like X must revisit safeguards, especially for high-profile or corporate accounts. The incident highlights ongoing efforts—and failures—to protect users from hate online.
