A feud between Elmo and Zoe’s pet rock ‘Rocco’ on Sesame Street has become an unlikely viral obsession.
The fallout has seen iconic puppet Elmo issue a statement and hundreds of thousands of people weigh in on the matter on social media.
So where did it all begin?
The long-running beef seems to have started following an argument over a very serious matter - a raisin oatmeal cookie.
A hilarious clip from a 2004 episode of the show features Elmo, Zoe, and of course, Rocco at a bakery.
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When Zoe said Elmo couldn’t have the treat because Rocco wanted it, Elmo lost it.
Calling her out, he ranted: "How is Rocco going to eat that cookie, Zoe? Tell Elmo. Rocco doesn’t even have a mouth. Rocco is just a rock. Rocco is not alive."
there are tears in my eyes y’all my stomach hurting pic.twitter.com/bbkF9yDZLf
— cheye (dr.booty) (@wumbooty) January 4, 2022
The clip quickly went viral, receiving over seven million views since it was posted on Tuesday.
The popularity of the clip led to Elmo issuing a statement. The puppet wrote: “Don’t worry everybody! Elmo and Zoe practiced sharing and are still best buds forever! Elmo loves you Zoe! Ha ha ha!”
But he added: “Elmo doesn’t want to talk about Rocco.”
He then went on to subtweet Rocco, writing: “Has anybody ever seen a rock eat a cookie? Elmo is just curious.”
Has anybody ever seen a rock eat a cookie? Elmo is just curious.
— Elmo (@elmo) January 5, 2022
Other clips of the feud have since come to light, including one where Zoe openly gaslights poor Elmo over how the stone apparently moved:
Elmo vs Rocko the greatest rivalry of all time pic.twitter.com/4aRbR6OUAS
— ko (@formermerc) January 4, 2022
Several other videos from the show - where Elmo is clearly fed up with the rock - were also posted:
rocko STAYED as elmo’s last
— 🌬 CARIANNA ❄️ (@cari_mclellan) January 5, 2022
straw 😩 “alright. i’ve HAD it.” pic.twitter.com/AA7nzZa3x8
DAWG! elmo has had enough with the shenanigans lol! i shouldn’t be laughing at this pic.twitter.com/Sp1uB8YpGo
— ᴊᴏɴɴʏ ᴊᴜᴋᴇʙᴏx 🕹✨ (@jonnyjukeboxx) January 4, 2022
Tears is not the word. Am I the only one who don’t remember Elmo being like this 😭😭? LMAO pic.twitter.com/c8SHX35haP
— Myiah✨ (@itsmyeeahhh) January 6, 2022
This you Elmo? Lol pic.twitter.com/xpOJyAGg3n
— ~Alexandria~ “AstroPetty” (@DOPECHICKBEATS) January 5, 2022
People are absolutely loving the drama, with one Twitter user claiming it’s the best thing about 2022:
Elmo vs Rocco is THEE best thing about 2022 pic.twitter.com/Bd6L5icIpB
— Purella D’Ville (@timelawd) January 5, 2022
Please help me, I have been laughing at how much Elmo hates a rock all morning. This thread is incredible. 😭 https://t.co/ZTQUP0VFnp
— Carl Anka (@Ankaman616) January 5, 2022
That rock did something to Elmo and imma find out what happened.
— HOOD VOGUE is tired of poverty (@keyon) January 5, 2022
With Elmo trending, Twitter users shared their favourite Elmo clips, revealing another historic feud between the puppet and talk show host Jimmy Fallon:
What about @JimmyFallon? Is he still banned from @SesameStreet? pic.twitter.com/ZeJ65qyFY9
— Takumetaru (@FoxGodRecords) January 6, 2022
This is actually one of my favorite Elmo clips.... pic.twitter.com/lUrkwJh8A8
— Meteorologist Thomas (@tmstormchaser) January 5, 2022
unhinged elmo is my new favorite genre https://t.co/V8k5nvALSK
— kenzy (@shctrack4) January 4, 2022
PLS WHY IS ELMO SO FUNNY????? pic.twitter.com/AsFowauub2
— alyssa :) (@sh4lissa) January 3, 2022
THIS HAS BEEN MAKING ME LOSE MY SHIT FOR DAYS. WHY DOES HE SAY PAPER TOWEL ROLL LIKE THAT??????? pic.twitter.com/dplhOfu9Aw
— rowan ? (@grimgirlfriend) December 18, 2021
These Elmo clips keep getting better and better pic.twitter.com/vrs1YMoefh
— BRE🌹 (@msbreyonce24) January 5, 2022
.@Elmo teaches Jimmy and @questlove how to make a Sloppy Oscar: onions, garlic, celery, and of course, a little balsamic vinegar. #FallonFlashback pic.twitter.com/gj9tQwYSqi
— The Tonight Show (@FallonTonight) January 4, 2022
The feud has also sparked hilarious memes and reactions:
“You can’t have that cookie, Elmo, Rocco wants to eat it!”
— Tom Zohar (@TomZohar) January 4, 2022
“HOW?!? How is Rocco gonna eat that cookie, Zoe?!” https://t.co/0mzq2RHU43 pic.twitter.com/dTaiKDFZ3n
not Elmo being an Aquarius sun pic.twitter.com/nRgUboz7Ou
— josie 🧊 (@venusantithesis) January 5, 2022
Here we go pic.twitter.com/Y2KOMbV088
— Nahrain | ܢܲܗܪܹ̈ܝܢ (@yyznaho) January 5, 2022
Elmo when he’s asked about Rocco pic.twitter.com/2qNfJ7uBvN
— Nicholas (@NicholasJLevi) January 5, 2022
Elmo when he sees Zoey roll up with Rocco:pic.twitter.com/dMrWqYi5Ve
— Evan (@evaneleven77) January 5, 2022
Zoe: Rocco says…
— 𓂀 Spirtually Secured (@Sangojourn3y) January 5, 2022
Elmo: pic.twitter.com/idYcJZTd3U
Apparently, there’s also beef between Big Bird and Barkley:
Everyone’s talking about Elmo vs Rocco but let us not forget Big Bird vs Dog pic.twitter.com/9BxgUjsx9R
— Barra (@ThatBmanGuy) January 5, 2022
Some are calling for Zoe to make a Twitter account so she can spill all the tea.
Fingers crossed…
