‘Laid Off’ Elmo Is Back on a New Site Soliciting PBS Donations Amid Trump’s Defunding Push

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Elmo remains unemployed, and he’s praying that kind hearts will reach into their pockets to aid him and his companion from PBS.

The individuals responsible for the widely shared post concerning Elmo being let go from “Sesame Street” – allegedly due to President Trump’s effort to cut funding for PBS – have reinstated everyone’s beloved red character on a fresh fundraising platform.

Due to government cuts, Elmo was left unemployed. Just like many others in similar situations, Elmo put up a notice that he’s seeking employment on his LinkedIn profile, with the URL being elmoopentowork.com.

Prior to LinkedIn removing the fraudulent Elmo account detailing his job termination, it garnered over 5 billion organic impressions, as reported by those responsible for the prank. “Elmo was amazed, Elmo can’t even count that high,” reads the new platform.

As a devoted fan of the magical world that PBS brings to life, I’m not just working for my job – I’m fighting for the future of my beloved friends like Curious George, Clifford, and Arthur. If we lose PBS, it would mean saying goodbye to these cherished companions that have brought so much joy into our lives. Now, I’m embarking on a mission with a singular purpose: to save every job at PBS, ensuring that my friends can continue to bring their enchantment to us for years to come.

The website offers a link to PBS’s donation page as well as merchandise for purchase, with the aim of generating funds for PBS. This includes items like Elmo’s Networking Cap priced at $29.99, Elmo’s Last Day Shirt at $39.99, and a “Ooooh Elmo Likes Keychains” keychain for $14.99.

The Elmo Job Opportunities platform debuted amid Trump’s intention to withdraw all federal financing from public media entities, such as PBS. On June 3rd, the Trump administration officially submitted a “rescission” request to Congress, seeking to reclaim approximately $1.1 billion in federal funds that had previously been allocated over the next two years for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. This organization is responsible for funding local NPR and PBS stations. If left unaddressed by Congress within a 45-day period (until July 18th), this proposal will likely be approved.

Simultaneously, PBS and NPR have filed lawsuits against Trump and other White House officials in response to his May 1 executive order that directed the CPB to stop financing them to the fullest extent legally possible. Additionally, three members of the CPB board have also filed a lawsuit against Trump with the intention of preventing him from dismissing them.

It’s worth noting that PBS and “Sesame Street” aren’t solely reliant on federal funding. In fact, it represents a minor portion of their overall budgets. Moreover, Sesame Workshop has sealed a fresh agreement with Netflix, granting the streaming service exclusive global premiere rights for “Sesame Street,” starting from Season 56 later this year. This deal also encompasses 90 hours of previously aired episodes and permits Netflix to create video games based on both “Sesame Street” and “Sesame Street Mecha Builders.

As a passionate cinephile, I’d like to share the story behind an innovative project that has caught my attention – The Elmo Open to Work platform. Much like its viral LinkedIn counterpart, this concept was born in the creative mind of Mary Adam, a seasoned copywriter at Leo Burnett Ad Agency. She emphasized that she embarked on this venture independently, without any official ties to Sesame Workshop or PBS. Her mission is simple: “I’m taking action on my own to help preserve the magic of PBS.”

The platform offers a unique opportunity for visitors to design profile pictures as a show of affection for their beloved PBS characters. Additionally, it provides a section where job seekers can apply for roles within these iconic PBS personas. In essence, this digital space is a testament to the power of creativity and dedication, aiming to bridge the gap between fans and the world of public broadcasting.

According to Adam, he was informed by LinkedIn that his account had been deactivated because they consider Elmo, his profile character, to be fictional. They only allow accounts for real human individuals on their professional networking service.

A representative from Sesame Workshop has yet to provide a comment regarding Elmo Open to Work. In a previous statement concerning Trump’s suggested budget reductions, the organization expressed, “Sesame Workshop and PBS share a dedication to utilizing public television for delivering essential early education nationwide… We continue to stand behind the essential public funding that enables PBS to carry on this crucial work.

Adam mentioned that the website he’s working on is something he does in his spare time, separate from his regular job. He’s receiving help from his colleagues at Leo Burnett, specifically Kyle Poff, George Apfelbach, and Lucy Brizzolara, as well as Kevin McGlone from the independent agency HoneyWired.

On Adam’s website, you’ll notice a disclaimer in the fine print: “ElmoOpentoWork.com is an individual venture that isn’t linked to, supported by, or connected with Sesame Workshop, PBS, or any of their shows or characters. Sesame Street® and Elmo® are registered trademarks owned by Sesame Workshop®. All character names and associated trademarks belong to Sesame Workshop, PBS, subsidiaries, and partners of PBS, or their respective owners. The use of these names and trademarks here is solely for commentary or parody purposes.

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2025-06-06 20:49