Elmo is 'unhinged' and social media can relate. Here are the viral moments getting attention in 2022
Elise BriscoIt's "Elmo's World" and we're just living in it — as long as we don't touch his oatmeal cookies.
The furry red Muppet has garnered the adoration of adult fans on social media after soundbites and clips of the "Sesame Street" mainstay have resurfaced.
One "Sesame Street" scene, which originally aired in 2004, got social media attention (with more than 100,000 retweets in a week) in early January and became a rallying cry for people to stick behind Elmo as he loses his cool after being denied a cookie because, according to his Muppet friend Zoe, her pet rock Rocco is going to eat it.
Elmo's response: "Rocco doesn't even have a mouth, Rocco's just a rock. Rocco's not alive."
After gaining popularity, Elmo brought his 2004 sentiments years forward and asked Twitter to weigh in: "Has anybody ever seen a rock eat a cookie? Elmo is just curious," Elmo tweeted Wednesday.
USA TODAY has reached out to Sesame Workshop for comment about the ongoing friendly feud.
Social media users ranked Elmo's response as both "unhinged" and "relatable," and even celebrities like Jada Pinkett Smith and Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson are chiming in on the drama between Elmo and the inanimate object.
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"Yes, my friend. This Rock devours cookies. All kinds of cookies I’ll introduce you to #CheatMeals and it’ll change your life," Johnson tweeted.
Pinkett Smith invited the muppets to try to work it out on her Facebook Watch show: ".@elmo and zoe call me. I got seats for you both at @RedTableTalk anytime you are ready. There are 3 sides to every story." she wrote.
Here are the viral memes turning the goldfish and crayon-loving figure into a current-day phenomenon.
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Elmo vs. Rocco
The conflict that started Elmo's 2022 fame has been ongoing, but social media is just catching wind of it.
In 1999, Elmo was first introduced to Rocco and laughed off the object's existence saying, "Zoe can't have a friend that's a rock" in between cackles.
Social media users have dug up a series of clips of Elmo downplaying Rocco and are calling it "the greatest rivalry of all time."
But the rivalry has a clear crowd favorite.
"elmo has been continuously gaslit by Rocco the rock and i feel like we should hear him out," @bribrisimps wrote.
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But mostly the feud is bringing joy and laughter to social media users.
"Guys!!! I am up at 3am HOWLING! Y’all PLEASE look at the #ElmoVsRocco hashtag!!! Please!!! @elmo is OVER IT!!!," comedian and actress Yvette Nicole Brown wrote.
"being on elmo tiktok has done more for my dopamine levels than therapy ever could," @beccahay97 wrote.
Another user wrote: "Elmo was never this funny when I was little."
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By the end of the week Elmo publicly thanked everyone for the uptick in attention but made it clear the rivalry remains.
"Big week for Elmo. Elmo wants to thank all of Elmo's friends, new and old! @SesameErnie said Elmo and Rocco should shake hands, but you can't fool Elmo twice," the puppet tweeted with a clip of Rocco tricking him.
Elmo vs. Jimmy Fallon
Rocco isn't the only thing that has left Elmo annoyed.
Elmo joined Jimmy Fallon in 2011 on "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon" and joins the comedian for the opening monologue but is "embarrassed" by Fallon after missing a cue. When Elmo expresses frustration, Fallon responds by saying the Muppet "should've come to rehearsal," leading Elmo to sarcastically walk off stage and ban Fallon from "Sesame Street."
"No because why did jimmy fallon embarrass elmo like that," @shxrnn_ wrote.
Another user wrote: "Elmo keeping his foot on Fallon's neck brings me great joy."
Years later, Fallon became Elmo's first guest on the "The Not Too Late Show with Elmo," on HBO Max — a parody of Fallon's TV placement.
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Fallon gave show hosting pointers to Elmo and danced the viral Floss dance, which Elmo considered "interesting."
"Interesting is the worst word you ever want to hear," Fallon said. "When I'm dancing you shouldn't say it's interesting, you should say it's good or bad."
Elmo said it was good after a bit of a pause.
Elmo's 'Balsamic Vinegar' and other accent slips
On TikTok, Elmo has got attention for his funny voice, which users think often slips into a New York City accent, and the assumption isn't off considering "Sesame Street" films in the city's Queens borough.
During a 2015 episode of "The Tonight Show," Elmo guided Questlove, Fallon, and actor Jason Schwartzman in a cooking tutorial to make his version of sloppy Joe's: Sloppy Oscars.
As he guides the celebrities, he names off ingredients, "onions, garlic, celery, balsamic vinegar — that's a big word for Elmo."
TikTok found the clip and noted how his accent slips when naming the last ingredient, making "balsamic vinegar" the new social media buzzword.
"He controls all five boroughs," @willyjsaint posted.
Social media users also found joy in a clip of Elmo's dialect changing as he sings about random objects.
"Elmo saying ‘Paper Towel Roll’ is just as funny," @eagleeyez92 wrote.
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"Sesame Street" is now in its 52nd season and can be streamed on HBO Max. The new season, which premiered in November, will invite celebrity guest stars including pop star Billie Eilish, poet Amanda Gorman, rapper Anderson .Paak, tennis player Naomi Osaka, among others.
Elmo will also get more of the children's show spotlight with the debut of a new animated segment, "Elmo & Tango's Mysterious Mysteries," which consists of five-minute episodes that follow the sleuthing adventures of Elmo and his adopted puppy, Tango.
Contributing: Edward Segarra
