The official X (formerly Twitter) account of Elmo, the iconic Sesame Street character, was compromised over the weekend, resulting in the publication of a series of highly offensive and antisemitic messages. The incident has raised serious concerns about social media security and the vulnerability of high-profile accounts.
Details of the Incident
The breach occurred on Sunday, with Elmo’s verified account—boasting over 600,000 followers—suddenly posting a string of disturbing content. Among the posts were explicit antisemitic slurs, calls for violence, and vulgar attacks directed at former President Donald Trump, including references to the Jeffrey Epstein scandal and accusations involving Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The hacked account called Donald Trump a “puppet” of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, alleging that Trump was implicated in the Jeffrey Epstein files. One of the most widely reported posts read:“RELEASE THE FILES @realDonaldTrump CHILD F****R”.
In addition, the hackers posted messages calling for violence against Jews accusing them of “controlling the world”.
The account also engaged with other users using similarly profane and extremist language.
Response from Sesame Workshop and Platform Moderators
The offensive content remained online for less than 30 minutes but was widely shared and screenshotted before its removal. Sesame Workshop, the organization behind Sesame Street, promptly confirmed the breach. In a public statement, they described the posts as “abhorrent messages, including antisemitic and racist content,” and assured the public that steps were being taken to restore control of the account.
All problematic tweets and replies were deleted shortly after the breach was discovered.
Ongoing Security Concerns
Even after the offensive posts were removed, the account showed lingering signs of compromise, including links to a Telegram channel allegedly operated by the hacker. The precise method of the hack remains unknown. Experts have used the incident to underscore the importance of robust cybersecurity measures, such as strong passwords, multi-factor authentication, and careful management of third-party app permissions.
Neither Sesame Workshop nor X has released further details about the breach or the identity of those responsible.
