Finding Comfort in Election Chaos: How ‘Sesame Street’ and Steve From ‘Blue’s Clues’ Are Providing That
As millions of Americans work to process the 2024 election, which saw Donald Trump defeat Kamala Harris, some childhood friends are hoping to help people find comfort, even if it’s just for a moment, amid the chaos.
It can be overwhelming when scrolling on social media during a high-stakes event like a presidential election, seeing thousands of reactions and commentary videos, so Sesame Street characters and Steve from Blue’s Clues wanted to remind people to take a moment to breathe.
More from The Hollywood Reporter
Kamala Harris in Concession Speech: "I Do Not Concede the Fight That Fueled This Campaign"
All Those A-List Celebs Couldn't Save Harris, But Joe Rogan Helped Trump
On Election Day, the official Sesame Street social media accounts shared a video of Elmo sitting on the steps, with the caption, “Stop scrolling, take a deep breath, and use the next few minutes to escape to a place where the air is sweet.”
The video quickly garnered more than 8.5 million views on TikTok and 5 million views on X (formerly Twitter), with many expressing their gratitude for the reminder. “Never thought i’d be crying with elmo at 30 but here i am,” one person wrote in the comments, while another person added, “Sesame Street coming in clutch to protect the current adults it raised from election anxiety was not the act of heroism I expected, but one I very much appreciate.”
Elmo’s friends, including Bert, Big Bird, Rosita, Ernie and Cookie Monster, also shared some encouraging words on their respective X pages leading up to Election night. “Be kind. Be you. Be a good friend,” Big Bird wrote, while Cookie Monster added, “It’s okay to take a break today—it even better if it includes cookies.”
As for Blue’s Clues host Steve Burns, he shared a video of him taking a breather on Wednesday, one day after Election Day, and getting some fresh air with a mug in hand. In the nearly minute-long clip, Burns doesn’t say a word as sounds of nature can be heard in the background.
The video also went viral on TikTok, collecting nearly three million views. “Steve I’m trying real hard not to cry at my big girl job today but it’s not easy,” one fan wrote in the comments. Another person shared, “The little nod made me burst into twars. Steve, thanks for showing up for us today.”
This isn’t the first time Elmo and Burns have turned to social media to check in on people, young and old. The little red monster went viral earlier this year after posting on social media, “Elmo is just checking in! How is everybody doing?” People quickly flooded the comments, sharing their personal traumas and struggles.
In March, Burns also went viral after posting a video on TikTok “checking in” on his followers. He asked them to “tell him what’s going on” and then seemingly listened in silence for the rest of the clip.
Best of The Hollywood Reporter
Sign up for THR's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
