Story Archive

Root for Me, Elmo

Elmo, the “Sesame Street” character last seen in True learning “that it is important to ask a friend how they are doing” (“Console Me, Elmo”, Issue #1547, 4 Feb. 2024), is not doing well. In the run-up to the NBA Finals, he posted online, “Elmo hopes both teams have fun!” But one of those teams was the New York Knicks, and New York — where “Sesame Street” is set — wasn’t having it. Among other angry responses on X, the city’s Department of Transportation threatened to take down the Sesame Street sign at 63rd and Broadway; when the Knicks won, a reveler paraded with an Elmo head on a stick over a sign saying, “TRAITOR.” Elmo got the message, and when the time came to post about the World Cup, he posted a video. “Just to be clear, Elmo wants Team USA to win, okay?” he said. “But Elmo loves everybody. ... Don’t make this a thing. Thank you. Elmo loves you, and Elmo loves you ... and Team USA, and everybody who’s playing.” (AC/ABC, New York Times, KPRC Houston) ...Fictional character? Celebrity? Friend? In the age of social media, the differences, like Elmo himself, can seem a bit fuzzy.