A red puppet standing 2 feet tall has enraged the internet. More specifically, the New York Knicks’ fanbase.
Elmo, the lovably furry Muppet from the children’s show “Sesame Street,” dared to wish both the Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs good luck in the NBA Finals on Wednesday, writing on X: “Elmo hopes both teams have fun!”
In response, thousands of New Yorkers have accused Elmo of treason — the fictional Sesame Street is located in Manhattan, and the real-life city officially renamed the intersection between Broadway and West 63rd Street as Sesame Street to celebrate the show’s 50th anniversary in 2019.
Responses to Elmo’s post ranged from “PICK A SIDE COWARD” to “Cmon on now, Elmo. Oscar and Mr. Hooper not gonna let you back in the bodega if you don’t support NY.” Others have circulated the clip of “Curb Your Enthusiasm” star Larry David jokingly attacking Elmo during a segment of the “Today” show.
That attack from David came in response to another viral tweet from Elmo, who simply asked: “How is everybody doing?” The post drew tens of thousands of responses, mostly from users trauma-dumping their hardships.
While “Sesame Street” did not immediately respond to an interview request Friday to speak with the character, Elmo did appear to take notice of the rage he stirred this week, quoting his own previous tweet with a post Thursday that hardly read like an apology: “KNICKS that last message! Elmo didn’t mean to SPUR you on!”
Elmo’s post drew a reaction from former New York City mayor Eric Adams, who responded with a “Bruh” gif, while the Empire State Building’s page appeared to be in denial: “You picked the Knicks let’s be for real, Elmo.”
Other “Sesame Street” characters have not echoed Elmo’s fence-sitting, as the accounts for Big Bird, Cookie Monster and Oscar the Grouch haven’t mentioned the finals (yet). And while Grover hasn’t voiced his support for the Knicks, many users in Elmo’s replies are calling for him to be more like his blue-furred friend, posting photos of Grover sitting between former Knicks stars Carmelo Anthony and Amar’e Stoudemire from an episode in 2011.
Elmo was absent from that segment.
Grover clears. https://t.co/lDAtRG7gzM pic.twitter.com/KpuGm1Hwum
— @ayakatally.bsky.social (@AYakatally) June 4, 2026