New York City is buzzing with unprecedented enthusiasm right now, as the iconic hometown New York Knicks make their long-awaited return to the NBA Finals, competing for the league’s highest championship trophy. For the first time in 27 years, the franchise has advanced to the title round, drawing widespread celebration across the city that never sleeps—from raucous street gatherings to packed, cheering watch parties in local bars, particularly after the Knicks secured their opening victory against the San Antonio Spurs in the best-of-seven series.
But even in a city swept up in basketball fever, one beloved local character’s take on the matchup has landed him in the middle of a very public social media firestorm. Elmo, the famous red children’s puppet from *Sesame Street*—the show whose fictional set is rooted in Manhattan—posted a mild, upbeat comment on X earlier this week that read: “Elmo hopes both teams have fun!”
That neutral statement was enough to enrage Knicks fans, who blasted Elmo for what they labeled “fence-sitting” on the high-stakes matchup. Diehard supporters took to social media in droves, with some labeling the character a “traitor” and dozens of viral posts lashing out at his refusal to pick a side. Even among the more tempered responses, fans reminded the puppet of his New York roots. “Elmo don’t forget the streets that raised you,” one fan wrote. Another added, “Elmo, you can’t both sides this one.”
The backlash even extended to official New York City government agencies, who jumped into the fray to side with the fans. The New York City Police Department’s official X account poked fun at Elmo, drawing a parallel between the character and the unlicensed Elmo impersonators that often solicit photos from tourists in Times Square. “Just like in Times Square, we think this Elmo is an imposter,” the department wrote. The city’s Department of Transportation went a step further, joking that it would remove the official Sesame Street street sign installed in Upper Manhattan during former Mayor Bill de Blasio’s tenure.
After facing a wave of online vitriol, Elmo responded Thursday with a characteristic tongue-in-cheek joke that played on the name of his opposing team: “KNICKS that last message! Elmo didn’t mean to SPUR you on!”
This is far from the first time the iconic children’s character has found himself at the center of unexpected social media controversy. First introduced to *Sesame Street* audiences in 1980, Elmo is best known for promoting kindness and inclusivity to young viewers, but he has a long history of viral online moments. In 2022, his long-running on-show feud with Rocco, his friend’s pet rock, sparked a wave of global memes centered on Elmo’s over-the-top frustration that the rock was framed as capable of human activities like eating cookies and using the bathroom. In 2024, a simple, innocent post from Elmo asking “How is everybody doing?” drew thousands of sarcastic, world-weary responses from adults dealing with the stresses of daily life. Just last year, Elmo’s official X account was compromised by unknown hackers, who posted disgusting antisemitic and racist content along with political messages targeting former President Donald Trump and demanding the release of sealed documents related to sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The *Sesame Street* production team quickly condemned the hack and removed the harmful posts.
Now, as the Knicks continue their championship run, fans are making it clear they expect Elmo to fall in line and back the home team. One fan summed up the city’s mood, writing online: “This is how serious NY is taking this Finals. Elmo had to retract his statement cause the city was like you a New Yorker.”