Hold onto your red furry monsters! Our beloved Elmo from Sesame Street appeared to be looking for a new gig this week, according to a surprisingly detailed LinkedIn profile that quickly went viral, leaving fans shocked and a little heartbroken.
The post, written in Elmo’s unmistakable sweet and simple voice, announced, “Unfortunately Elmo was recently laid off because of the federal budget cuts.” It went on to say, “Elmo worked at Sesame Street for 45 years. Elmo is sad. Elmo loved his time at Sesame Street.”
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If that wasn’t enough to tug at your heartstrings, the “job-seeking” Muppet then listed his unique skill set: “Like hugs. Elmo LOVES giving hugs. Elmo can also recognize the letter E, spell his name, feel empathy, sing ‘Elmo’s Song’ and ask how you are doing.” The fake Elmo mentioned he was “open to full-time or freelance roles” and sweetly asked anyone with leads, or those who “want a hug,” to connect.
Elmo’s LinkedIn update has me 😫😫😫 pic.twitter.com/mSJnw5k3Xz
— Amanda Litman (@amandalitman) May 8, 2025
The post even included a plea: “And if you want to help Elmo and his friends, please urge your local congress person to save Public Media,” before ending with a classic, “Elmo loves you.”
Social media immediately lit up, with many expressing concern for the iconic character. But before fans could organize a bake sale for Elmo, Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit behind the magic, stepped in to clarify. A representative confirmed to news outlets that the LinkedIn post was from a fake account and that Elmo, thankfully, is still happily employed on Sesame Street.
The reason this heartwarming hoax likely spread so fast? It tapped into some very real concerns. The fake post appeared around the same time the Trump administration announced it was terminating the “Ready to Learn” education grant, which has long helped fund PBS Kids programming. The Department of Education mentioned the grants were funding “racial justice educational programming” that wasn’t aligned with “Administration priorities.”
While Elmo isn’t actually updating his resume (phew!), the viral moment certainly got people talking about the importance of public media and the characters who feel like part of the family. For now, everyone can rest assured that Elmo is still on Sesame Street, ready with a song and, of course, plenty of hugs.
