Elmo's social media account undergoes unauthorized takeover, issues plea for Trump to release Epstein documents and issues inflammatory anti-Semitic remarks.
In a shocking turn of events, the beloved Sesame Street character Elmo's Twitter-like account on X was hacked in July 2025, resulting in the posting of offensive and inflammatory content. The compromised account saw the posting of anti-Semitic rants, racist slurs, and references to former President Donald Trump and the late financier Jeffrey Epstein.
The incident was confirmed by Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit behind Sesame Street, which stated that the account was briefly hacked by an unknown party despite the security measures in place. The organization moved swiftly to delete the offensive posts, regain control of the account, and clarify that the messages did not reflect the values of Elmo, Sesame Street, or Sesame Workshop.
The hack occurred on or around July 14–15, 2025. The compromised posts included explicit racial slurs, anti-Semitic language, and commentary about Trump and Epstein. One of the posts read, "RELEASE THE FILES [Donald Trump] CHILD F***ER". Another post accused Trump of being Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's puppet.
The alleged hacker left a link on Elmo's X account directing followers to a Telegram channel, where they appeared to take credit for the hack and shared additional extremist messages. Sesame Workshop denounced the “abhorrent” posts and confirmed that no staff or organization member was involved, reiterating that the incident was the result of an external breach.
The incident drew significant media attention and renewed concerns about security and hate speech on X, especially in light of recent controversies involving other platforms owned by Elon Musk. The hack highlights ongoing concerns about the security and moderation practices on X, with experts noting that even high-profile, verified accounts are vulnerable to compromise.
While the offensive messages were quickly removed, the incident has sparked discussions about account safety and the platform's ability to prevent the spread of hate speech. Another social media user on X wrote, "Elmo isn't wrong about tr*mp though." Another post read, "Elmo is done playing games."
The US Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) have revealed that Jeffrey Epstein committed suicide during his prison sentence. The DOJ did not find a client list for Epstein's notorious island. The DOJ released a video showing Epstein alone in his cell on the night he died, revealing no foul play or external factor.
Despite the controversy surrounding the hacked account, Sesame Workshop remains committed to promoting education, inclusivity, and respect on their platforms. The organization has emphasized the importance of online safety and the need for continuous efforts to combat hate speech and cybercrime.
- The hacking incident involving Elmo's X account in July 2025, which posted offensive content, has brought attention to the issues of security and hate speech on X, particularly when compared to other platforms owned by Elon Musk.
- The offensive posts on Elmo's compromised X account included references to former President Donald Trump, the late financier Jeffrey Epstein, and included racial slurs and anti-Semitic language.
- In pop-culture discussions on social media, some users have sided with the alleged sentiments expressed through the hacked Elmo account, with one posting, "Elmo isn't wrong about Trump though."
- Despite the recent hack, Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit behind Sesame Street, continues to promote education, inclusivity, and respect on their platforms, and they emphasize the importance of online safety and the need for continued efforts to combat hate speech and cybercrime.
