Elmo asks ‘How is everyone doing?’; Answers are not good
Elmo cares FILE PHOTO: Elmo's social media team asked a simple question: "How is everybody doing?" The responses were surprising. (Craig Barritt/Getty Images for Headspace)
By Natalie Dreier, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
A furry Muppet monster who is usually talking to kids is now the online confidant for adults.
Elmo on Monday posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, “Elmo is just checking in! How is everyone doing?” and after 175.9 million views and thousands of responses, the overwhelming reaction is not good.
Several are variations on a theme — as one user posted — “Elmo we are tired.”
It wasn’t just everyday users of the social media platform answering.
An account from the video game “Among Us” posted “suffering.”
Domino’s Pizza United Kingdom posted the fib “totally fine” with an image of an overwhelmed pizza conveyor belt literally on fire.
But not everyone has shared the dread they are feeling.
Chance the Rapper posted, “Honestly, I’m in a really good place rn.”
Others are worrying about Elmo, with one user writing, “Has anyone checked in on you, Elmo? How’re you, pal?”
Even Dr. Phil got into the thread, telling Elmo “We’ve Got Issues.”
Hanif Abdurraquib, a poet and contributor for The New York Times wrote, ”Elmo each day the abyss we stare into grows a unique horror. one that was previously unfathomable in nature. our inevitable doom which once accelerated in years, or months, now accelerates in hours, even minutes,” adding a light-hearted ending to the comment, “however I did have a good grapefruit earlier, thank you for asking.”
The post and responses came during a mental health crisis, according to The Washington Post, where half of the adults in the country say they’re lonely and their mental health is getting worse. It has become such a problem, the newspaper reported, that the country started 988, a suicide hotline that will get callers and trained counselors connected quickly.
Elmo, however, wasn’t ready for the emotional toll most of the responses brought with them, Samatha Maltin, executive vice president, chief marketing and brand officer of Sesame Workshop told the Times.
“I don’t think anyone anticipated how deeply this particular question would resonate. But we’re so thrilled that we did ask,” she said.
She added that the responses show that there is a need for free, easily accessible mental health help, the newspaper reported.
Several “Sesame Street” characters have social media accounts, and since they’re Muppets, the accounts are actually run by four people at the Sesame Workshop nonprofit. They are used as if the character is posting, adding an interactive element between the cast of Muppets and fans.
Burt responded to Elmo, the BBC said, writing “I’m here if you ever need a shoulder to lean on. I’ll make us both a warm cup of tea.”
Cookie Monster told Elmo he would bring the cookies if he needed to talk.
“Sesame Street” also dropped the persona of the characters, adding links to mental health resources.
Elmo responded to the posts, “Wow! Elmo is glad he asked! Elmo learned that it is important to ask a friend how they are doing. Elmo will check in again soon, friends!”
The post also reminded followers, “Elmo loves you.”
Through the years circa 1969: Cast members of the television show, 'Sesame Street,' posing on the set with some of the puppet characters. Left to right: Will Lee (1908 - 1982), Matt Robinson (1937 - 2002), Bob McGrath and Loretta Long with (left to right) Big Bird, Cookie Monster, Grover, Ernie, Bert and Oscar the Grouch. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images) (Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
Through the years Big Bird was a character on the TV show Sesame Street, circa 1969. (Bettmann/Bettmann Archive)
Through the years James Earl Jones guest stars on Sesame Street with regular cast members Big Bird, Mr Hooper and Maria to try the perfect egg cream, New York, April 5, 1969. (Photo by Afro American Newspapers/Gado/Getty Images) (Afro Newspaper/Gado/Getty Images)
Through the years 'Oscar the Grouch' of the TV show 'Sesame Street' sits in a garbage can with the sign 'It Is Not My Birthday', October 11th 1969. (Photo by FilmPublicityArchive/United Archives via Getty Images) (United Archives/FilmPublicityArchive/United Arch)
Through the years NEW YORK - 1970: Puppeteer Daniel Seagren holds Muppet Grandmother Happy during rehearsals for an episode of Sesame Street at Reeves TeleTape Studio in March, 1970 in New York City, New York. (Photo by David Attie/Getty Images) (David Attie/Getty Images)
Through the years NEW YORK - 1970: Actor and singer Bob McGrath rehearses for an episode of Sesame Street at Reeves TeleTape Studio in 1970 in New York City, New York. (Photo by David Attie/Getty Images) (David Attie/Getty Images)
Through the years NEW YORK - MARCH 1970: Muppets Roosevelt Franklin and Betty Lou, shot on a TV monitor, during the taping of Sesame Street's very first season, taken for America Illustrated Magazine, at Reeves TeleTape Studio in March, 1970 in New York City, New York. (Photo by David Attie/Getty Images) (David Attie/Getty Images)
Through the years NEW YORK - 1970: Puppeteers (L-R: Daniel Seagren holding and Jim Henson working Ernie and Frank Oz with Bert rehearse for an episode of Sesame Street at Reeves TeleTape Studio in 1970 in New York City, New York. (Photo by David Attie/Getty Images) (David Attie/Getty Images)
Through the years NEW YORK - MARCH 1970: Muppet Kermit the Frog during the taping of Sesame Street's very first season, taken for America Illustrated Magazine, at Reeves TeleTape Studio in March, 1970 in New York City, New York. (Photo by David Attie/Getty Images) (David Attie/Getty Images)
Through the years NEW YORK - MARCH 1970: Muppets Kermit the Frog and Professor Hastings during the taping of Sesame Street's very first season, taken for America Illustrated Magazine, at Reeves TeleTape Studio in March, 1970 in New York City, New York. (Photo by David Attie/Getty Images) (David Attie/Getty Images)
Through the years NEW YORK - 1970: Puppeteer Caroll Spinney with Oscar the Grouch (he was orange in the first season) rehearses for an episode of Sesame Street at Reeves TeleTape Studio in 1970 in New York City, New York. (Photo by David Attie/Getty Images) (David Attie/Getty Images)
Through the years Unspecified - 1973: (L-R) Kermit the Frog, Julie Andrews appearing on the ABC tv special 'Julie on Sesame Street'. (Photo by Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images) (Walt Disney Television Photo Arc/Disney General Entertainment Con)
Through the years LOS ANGELES - DECEMBER 8: A Special Sesame Street Christmas. A CBS television special. December 8, 1978. Pictured is Michael Jackson. (Photo by CBS via Getty Images) (CBS Photo Archive/CBS via Getty Images)
Through the years A muppet visits 'Oscar the Grouch' at his garbage can in a scene from 'Sesame Street,' circa 1985. (Photo by Children's Television Workshop/Courtesy of Getty Images) (Children's Television Workshop/Getty Images)
Through the years UNITED STATES - DECEMBER 12 2001: Elmo, from "Sesame Street", makes his first appearence on Captiol Hill before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services and Education. Along with NAMM-International Music Products Association President and CEO Joe Lamond, the muppet asked for $2 million in federal funding to help make sure every child has access to quality music instruction. (Photo By Tom Williams/Roll Call/Getty Images) (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Imag)
Through the years Actress Sonia Manzano, who plays Maria Rodriquez on the children's television show "Sesame Street," and the Muppet Grover launch the new "Super Grover" sandwich in honor of the 4,000th "Sesame Street" episode February 27, 2002 at the Stage Deli in New York City. (Photo by George De Sota/Getty Images) (George De Sota/Getty Images)
Through the years NEW YORK - JUNE 4: Muppet Zoe and an unidentified "helper" perform at the Sesame Street Workshop 35th Anniversary Gala Cipriani June 4, 2003 in New York City. (Photo by Matthew Peyton/Getty Images) (Matthew Peyton/Getty Images)
Through the years NEW YORK - JUNE 4: Actress Glenn Close and Muppet Oscar the Grouch attend the Sesame Street Workshop 35th Anniversary Gala at Cipriani June 4, 2003 in New York City. (Photo by Matthew Peyton/Getty Images) (Matthew Peyton/Getty Images)
Through the years NEW YORK - JUNE 25: The Sesame Street Muppet Rosita tells children about the "You Can Ask!" program June 25, 2003 in New York City. "You Can Ask!" is a program that aims to help identify and deal with stress in children 3 to 8, and was funded by FEMA in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. P.S. 234 is near the WTC site, and the children there had to be evacuated during the attack. (Photo by Chris Hondros/Getty Images) (Chris Hondros/Getty Images)
Through the years NEW YORK - APRIL 22: Caroll Spinney and Oscar the Grouch arrive to the press room at the Creative Arts Daytime Emmy Awards at the Marriot Marquis Hotel on April 22, 2006 in New York City. (Photo by Brad Barket/Getty Images) (Brad Barket/Getty Images)
Through the years WASHINGTON - JULY 3: Sesame Street's Muppet Elmo performs at the dress rehearsal for the Capitol Fourth 2006 Holiday Concert at the U.S. Capitol on July 3, 2006 in Washington, DC.
(Photo by Stephen J. Boitano/Getty Images) (Stephen J. Boitano/Getty Images)
Through the years NEW YORK - MAY 27: Musician Sheryl Crow attends the 7th annual gala benefiting Sesame Workshop at Cipriani 42nd Street on May 27, 2009 in New York City. (Photo by Bryan Bedder/Getty Images) (Bryan Bedder/Getty Images)
Through the years NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 09: Sesame Street characters pose under a "123 Sesame Street" sign at the "Sesame Street" 40th Anniversary temporary street renaming in Dante Park on November 9, 2009 in New York City. (Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images) (Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images)
Through the years NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 02: Sesame Street's Abby Cadabby visits The Empire State Building on April 2, 2014 in New York City. (Photo by Ben Gabbe/Getty Images) (Ben Gabbe/Getty Images)
Through the years NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 29: Bert attends the Sesame Workshop's 50th Anniversary Benefit Gala at Cipriani Wall Street on May 29, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images) (Theo Wargo/Getty Images)
Through the years NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 25: The Sesame Street float is seen as 95 And Marching On! Macy's Parade® Thanksgiving Day ushers in the Holiday Season on November 25, 2021 in New York City. (Photo by Eugene Gologursky/Getty Images for Macy's Inc.) (Eugene Gologursky/Getty Images for Macy's Inc.)
Through the years NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 31: John Oliver attends Sesame Workshop's 2023 Benefit Gala at Cipriani 42nd Street on May 31, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Arturo Holmes/Getty Images) (Arturo Holmes/Getty Images)