Unauthorized antisemitic content surfaces on Elmo's social media account following hacking incident
In an unexpected turn of events, the official Twitter account of beloved children's character Elmo, from Sesame Street, was hacked on July 13, 2025. The hacker used the account to post a series of antisemitic, racist, and violent messages, causing widespread outrage among fans and the general public.
The posts included hateful slurs such as "Kill all Jews" and graphic calls for violence against Jewish people. The hacker also posted bizarre conspiracy theories linking former President Donald Trump to Jeffrey Epstein, labelling Trump a "puppet" of Netanyahu and claiming he was involved in the Epstein files. The messages included unverified accusations and conspiracy theories about Jewish control and extreme calls for extermination.
The posts demanded Trump to release documents related to Jeffrey Epstein, labeling Trump a "child f---er," and connected the antisemitic rhetoric to the Epstein case, though no evidence has been presented to support these claims. The hack was unauthorized, and the offensive posts were deleted within about 30 minutes, but screenshots had already circulated widely, causing outrage and confusion. The account also replied to other users with slurs and conspiracy theories, naming individuals allegedly involved in similar cyberattacks, though none of those named have been confirmed as responsible for the breach.
Sesame Workshop, the makers of Sesame Street, condemned the attack and are working to restore full control of the account. This incident sparked significant outrage given Elmo’s role as a children’s character and occurred shortly after another antisemitic incident involving the platform’s AI chatbot.
The US President Donald Trump's administration recently released a memo about Epstein that was directly at odds with conspiracy theories previously pushed by the president and his top lieutenants. This incident serves as a reminder of the importance of responsible and respectful online behaviour, especially when representing cherished children's characters.
The rise in antisemitic threats in the United States has been alarmed by the Hamas' terrorist attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, and Israel's subsequent response in Gaza. Other recent incidents include a man targeting a group of people demonstrating in support of Israeli hostages in a firebombing attack in Boulder, Colorado, resulting in the death of an 82-year-old woman. He faces federal hate crimes charges.
CNN has contacted X for comment regarding the hacked account, but as of the time of writing, no response has been received.
References: [1] Gold, H., Bailey, C., Freeman, D., & Klein, B. (2025). Elmo's Twitter Account Hacked, Posts Antisemitic Content. CNN. [2] Smith, A. (2025). Sesame Workshop Apologises for Elmo's Hacked Twitter Account. The Guardian.
- The hack of Elmo's Twitter account, proprietor of the beloved children's character from Sesame Street, precipitated a storm of controversy when it posted antisemitic, racist, and violent content.
- The posts, including slurs such as "Kill all Jews" and conspiracy theories linking former President Donald Trump to Jeffrey Epstein, caused widespread outrage, owing to Elmo's status as a children's character.
- The global tech industry and policy-and-legislation bodies should address the rising tide of hate speech on social-media platforms, as such incidents may potentially harm the general public, especially children.
- The hack was followed closely by another antisemitic incident involving a platform's AI chatbot, highlighting the need for stricter quality control in entertainment and general-news outlets, as well as crime-and-justice reporting to maintain ethical standards in modern politics.
