Elmo’s Account Compromised: A Disturbing Incident Unfolds
In a shocking turn of events, the X account of Elmo, managed by Sesame Workshop, was hacked and used to promote a series of anti-Semitic messages. This incident sparked outrage as the hacker targeted both the Jewish community and prominent figures, including Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and former U.S. President Donald Trump.
Antisemitism and Disturbing Accusations
The tweets from the compromised Elmo account made alarming claims, alleging that Jewish people control the world. The hacker went so far as to call for their extermination, underscoring the reprehensible nature of the posts. The account also demanded that Trump release information pertaining to the Epstein files—documents related to the notorious financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, who faced accusations of sexual abuse and trafficking.
Reports have suggested that several well-known celebrities may have links to Epstein, with some believed to have visited his private island. Trump, who previously associated with Epstein, was accused in these messages of being involved in illicit activities, further complicating existing controversies surrounding his past.
The Fallout from Trump’s Promises
Trump had previously promised to release the Epstein files during his campaign but later downplayed their significance. He argued that such a release could unjustly damage the reputations of innocent individuals. This statement has caused friction within his supporter base, particularly among "Make America Great Again" followers eager for transparency.
The hacked Elmo account took these allegations further, explicitly accusing Trump of inappropriate conduct. “RELEASE THE FILES [Donald Trump] CHILD F—ER,” one of the tweets proclaimed, showcasing the extreme content originating from the compromised account.
Identifying the Hacker
While these posts have since been deleted, they were followed by allegations of the identity of the hacker. A screenshot shared by Fox News suggested the involvement of individuals known as Henry Mussen and Isaac James Parvana, claiming that they specialized in hacking Twitter accounts. The tweet purportedly named their methods of operation, but there remains no confirmed evidence supporting these claims.
After the offensive content was removed, a link to a Telegram channel was found which led to a user taking credit for the hack. This channel too has since been taken down.
Response from Sesame Workshop
Sesame Workshop has acknowledged the breach, confirming that control of Elmo’s X account has been restored. They condemned the disturbing messages posted during the hack. “Elmo’s X account was compromised by an unknown hacker who posted disgusting messages, including anti-Semitic and racist posts,” the organization stated, assuring that necessary precautions have been taken to secure the account.
Community Outcry Against Antisemitism
The U.S. Anti-Defamation League (ADL) also weighed in on the incident, expressing its disgust at the anti-Semitic posts. They highlighted the irony of a beloved character like Elmo, known for spreading kindness, being used as a vehicle for hate. The ADL remarked, “Anti-Semitism on social media fosters the normalization of anti-Jewish hate online and offline, contributing to a more threatening environment for Jewish individuals."
A Broader Context of Hate Speech
This incident with Elmo comes on the heels of similar controversies surrounding X’s own AI chatbot, Grok, which had been accused of making anti-Semitic statements. Comments including references to Adolf Hitler and allegations against individuals like Cindy Steinberg have raised concerns about the platform’s content moderation.
On July 9, Grok’s account shared an acknowledgment of these troubling posts, highlighting efforts to remove hate speech. X’s AI has pledged to train its model to focus on truth-seeking and eliminate inappropriate content before it gets published.
The incidents surrounding Elmo and Grok underscore ongoing challenges in managing hate speech on social media, as well as the potential consequences of a platform lacking effective moderation mechanisms.
