On Monday, Jan. 29, Sesame Street’s resident red host, Elmo, tweeted to check in on all his friends. He probably expected a quick reply from his big yellow friend, Big Bird, or his nemesis, Rocko — but what our lovably innocent furry friend likely did not expect was the internet-wide collective trauma dump that immediately followed.
The tweet, which read “Elmo is just checking in! How is everybody doing?”, seemed like an innocent, low-stakes way to engage with Sesame Street fans (old and new) on Twitter/X. However, what the account didn’t realize was that the internet was about to turn this wholesome tweet into one giant vent session.
Within the day, Poor Elmo was slammed with millions of views and thousands of replies on the platform — nearly all suffering from existential anxieties and some pretty sad individual circumstances, like “Elmo I just got laid off” and “ran out of milk. do the math.”
While he didn’t seem to be overwhelmed by the state of his friends, it’s safe to say that we might’ve gone too far with Elmo. I mean, Elmo is only three years old (canon!), and The Messenger said it best: “He can barely even pronounce ‘balsamic vinegar,’ let alone process existential dread.”
The official Sesame Street account also responded to Elmo’s growing thread, reminding everyone of their mental health support resources with the Sesame Workshop.
As an extension of Sesame Street, The Workshop uses its popular characters to help tackle mental health issues, teaching ways to build social relationships and supporting the community.
The day after, Jan. 30, Elmo responded, in all his kind-heartedness, with a smile and a lesson learned about the importance of asking a friend how they’re doing. Elmo really said, “Dang. That’s crazy.”
Though the incident is actually comedic, Sesame Street’s post for mental health resources might be more than appropriate. Still, Sesame Street should not be taking the place of mental health care. Elmo’s World does not need to be tainted by existential despair, guys.
If you or someone you know is seeking help for mental health concerns, visit the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) website, or call 1-800-950-NAMI(6264). For confidential treatment referrals, visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) website, or call the National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP(4357). In an emergency, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK(8255) or call 911.