Elmo Sparks Controversy During NBA Finals

Who would have guessed that the phrase “Elmo causes drama in the NBA Finals” would make its way into conversations? Yet, here we are.

Before Game 1 of the NBA Finals on Wednesday night, Elmo—yes, the beloved “Sesame Street” character—found himself in a bit of hot water with Knicks fans. He expressed support for both the Knicks and Spurs, which didn’t sit well with the New York crowd.

“Elmo hopes both teams have fun,” tweeted the Muppets ahead of the big game.

That tweet collected a staggering 12 million views and a flurry of comments, mostly from stunned Knicks enthusiasts who felt Elmo should’ve shown more allegiance to his home team. After all, “Sesame Street” is, quite literally, a NYC landmark, originally filmed in Manhattan before relocating to Queens in 1993.

One Knicks supporter quipped, “Elmo, this is the first time I don’t rock with you. You gotta root for your city, man!” Another chimed in, “Hey, you’re from Sesame Street, right in the middle of New York City. You better root for the Knicks!”

Some comments were colorful, to put it mildly, while others focused on their feelings in rather anatomical terms. It’s amusing, though concerning, how invested people can get over a puppet’s endorsement.

Despite the backlash, the Knicks pulled off a comeback, overcoming a 14-point deficit to win Game 1 105-95.

In a thrilling display, Jalen Brunson led the Knicks with 30 points, stepping up when it counted the most, even after a rough first half. Karl-Anthony Towns, making his finals debut, contributed 18 points and 12 rebounds, while Josh Hart added some crucial defensive stats with his 15 boards and four steals.

On the other side, Spurs star Victor Wembanyama struggled significantly, only managing to hit 6 of 21 shots.

The Spurs will aim to level the series on Friday evening at 8:30 PM ET.