But when Sesame Street's Elmo asked social media users how they were doing, the result was an outpouring of grief, anxiety, and existential angst. "Elmo is just checking in!

“Unfortunately, Elmo was recently laid off because of federal budget cuts,” the Muppet wrote, before continuing: “Elmo worked at Sesame Street for over 40 years. Elmo is sad.

After a viral LinkedIn post from an account claiming to be Elmo said that he had been laid off from Sesame Street due to “federal budget cuts,” Sesame Workshop confirmed it was a parody.

Sesame Street’s Elmo turned 3-and-a-half Feb. 3, despite being introduced on the show in 1980. Here’s the reason why his age stays so specifically fixed. February 4, 2025.