'Elmo Didn't Mean to Spur You On': 'Sesame Street' Star Claps Back at New York Knicks Fans

New York Knicks fans just did something almost unimaginable… they cyberbullied Elmo. Yes, that’s right, the NBA team’s followers had some not-so-nice things to say about the beloved red monster from the iconic children’s PBS show Sesame Street.

Why would Knicks fans bully Elmo?

Things got heated before Game 1 of the Knicks and Spurs NBA final. As it turns out, the Sesame Street star started a war of words with a social media post.

First things first. Elmo, who is a muppet, does in fact have X and Instagram accounts. And like his human counterparts, he’s not afraid to use them. But when the kind of mouthy muppet posted, “Elmo hopes both teams have fun!” before the Knicks and San Antonio Spurs NBA game, New Yorkers had something pretty strong to say about it.

As any fan of the show knows, Sesame Street is set in New York City. That means Elmo is from the Big Apple. 

Other New Yorkers took to social media, questioning the native’s allegiance. One X user wrote in response to Elmo’s post, “Elmo, you’re from the city. Pick a side, man,” and another said, “This isn’t time for sportsmanship Elmo. These streets ain’t sesame.” It didn’t stop there. 

While some New Yorkers took a sweet, civil approach with comments like, “Elmo, you’re from NYC, little buddy, it’s okay to root for the Knicks,” others weren’t as nice. Borderline bullies kept the conversation going with surprising statements such as “No media literacy award” and “Pick a side, coward.” Wendy’s (the fast food chain) even took a break from making burgers and Frosties to chime in with, “NOT NOW ELMO.” 

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Things didn’t go much better for Elmo on Instagram. When he posted the same caption, “Elmo hopes both teams have fun,” Knicks fans let loose with their comments, telling the cuddly character, “Elmo, you live in New York. You’ve been a New Yorker since the Knicks last title,” and, “You’re a New Yorker Elmo. Don’t forget that.” 

How did Elmo clap back against Knicks fans?

Like other celebs, Elmo wasn’t going to let a little bit of social media sensationalism get him down. The furry red monster clapped back on X with a ‘punny’ response: “KNICKS that last message! Elmo didn’t mean to SPUR you on!” Enough said.