Liputan6.com, Jakarta The Twitter account of Elmo, the iconic puppet character from Sesame Street, came under public scrutiny after it was hacked on July 13, 2025.
The incident led to the spread of a number of shocking anti-Semitic and racist messages, including calls for violence and insults against public figures.
The hack caused an uproar online, given that Elmo is known as a character who brings positive and educational messages to children.
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The contrast between Elmo's cheerful image and the hateful content posted created a wave of confusion and anger among netizens.
In response to this incident, Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit organization behind Sesame Street, quickly issued a statement confirming the hack and stating that they were working diligently to restore full control of Elmo's account and had removed all inappropriate posts.
Provocative Content and Hate Speech Spread
Hackers exploited X Elmo's account to spread highly inflammatory and hateful messages.
The posts explicitly targeted the Jewish community with anti-Semitic slurs and insulted US President Donald Trump.
One of the most shocking posts read, "Elmo says ALL JEWS SHOULD DIE. DAMN THE JEWS. DONALD TRUMP IS NETANYAHU'S PUPIL BECAUSE HE'S ON THE EPSTEIN DOSSI. JEWS RULE THE WORLD AND NEED TO BE ERADICATED."
This message clearly demonstrates the level of extremism spread through Elmo's account.
Furthermore, the hackers demanded that Donald Trump release the Epstein dossier, an issue often associated with conspiracy theories.
This content creates a narrative that is not only racist and anti-Semitic but also rife with baseless accusations.
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Tindakan Cepat Sesame Workshop dan Pemulihan Akun
In response to the hacking of Elmo's account, Sesame Workshop acted swiftly.
They immediately issued an official statement clarifying that the account had been hacked and that the content displayed did not represent the values of Elmo or Sesame Street.
The organization also confirmed that all inappropriate and hateful posts had been removed from the X Elmo account.
The process of restoring control of the account was carried out as quickly as possible to prevent further spread of harmful content.
Sesame Workshop's swift action demonstrates their commitment to maintaining a positive image of Elmo and ensuring their social media platforms remain safe from abuse.
They emphasized the importance of a positive and inclusive digital environment.
Public Reaction and Cybersecurity Implications
The Elmo account hacking incident sparked strong reactions from various groups on social media.
Many netizens condemned the hacker's actions and expressed deep concern over the misuse of a beloved children's character's account to spread hate.
This incident also re-ignited widespread discussion about social media account security.
Many questioned how vulnerable popular accounts are to cyberattacks and how platforms can improve protections for their users.
Furthermore, this incident highlights the potential impact of online hate speech and the importance of platforms' responsibility to moderate content.
Elmo's case serves as a reminder that even the most unlikely accounts can be targeted by malicious cyberattacks.
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