Jalen Brunson and Elmo Resolve Feud at Knicks Championship Parade
10 reported
According to a single-source report from Variety, New York Knicks captain Jalen Brunson publicly ended a feud with Sesame Street character Elmo during the team’s championship ticker-tape parade on Thursday. The dispute began earlier this month when Elmo posted a video on social media saying he hoped both teams would have fun during the NBA playoff series between the Knicks and San Antonio Spurs. The post received 27 million views on X, with fans criticizing Elmo for not picking a side. Elmo attempted to walk back his comments with a pun and later told E! News he learned not to pick favorites online. Despite this, backlash continued after the Knicks defeated the Spurs in Game 5 on June 13, with a video showing a fan displaying a mock Elmo head on a pike. At the parade, Variety filmed Brunson holding up and kissing an Elmo plush with a cardboard sign reading “Forgive me PLEASE” while standing beside the NBA championship trophy on his float.
What’s reported
Elmo posted a video on his official social media account saying, “Elmo hopes both teams have fun!” with four basketball emojis, referring to the Knicks-Spurs playoff series.
The post amassed 27 million views on X, where fans criticized Elmo for not picking a side.
Elmo tried to walk back his comments, writing, “KNICKS that last message! Elmo didn’t mean to SPUR you on!”
Elmo told E! News on the red carpet, “Elmo has learned that he should not pick favorites for online consumption.”
The Knicks defeated the Spurs in Game 5 on June 13.
A video circulated online showing a Knicks fan displaying a mock Elmo head on a pike above a cardboard sign reading “TRAITOR.”
Cookie Monster wrote on X, “Elmo teach me not to eat trophy. Me teach Elmo to pick a team.”
At the Knicks’ official championship ticker-tape parade on Thursday, Variety filmed Jalen Brunson holding up and kissing an Elmo plush with a cardboard sign reading “Forgive me PLEASE” while standing beside the NBA championship trophy on his float.
During an interview on “CBS Mornings,” Gayle King asked Brunson why he walked away without saying a word after Spurs star Victor Wembanyama shoved him on what she called “a blatant foul.”
Brunson explained, “It was definitely a spur-of-the-moment thing, but no matter what, you have to understand the moment, what you’re doing, and what your main goal and focus are. I’ve always had the ability to stay even-keeled — never too high, never too low. That’s what prepared me for that situation.”
Key figures
Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks team captain
Elmo, Sesame Street character
Cookie Monster, Sesame Street character
Gayle King, CBS Mornings interviewer
Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs star
Sources: Variety
