Larry David, notorious for his unpredictable and unfiltered behavior, made a surprise appearance during a segment on the “Today” show with beloved “Sesame Street” character Elmo and his dad, Louie.
As hosts Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Kotb, and Craig Melvin were tossing it over to weatherman Al Roker, David snuck behind the couch where Elmo was sitting and started squeezing his face. The hosts and Elmo’s dad were caught off guard, panicked, and quickly tried to rein in David’s behavior.
The unexpected interruption took place as Elmo and his dad were discussing the muppet’s recent viral moment on Twitter. It all began with a seemingly harmless post on January 29th by Elmo asking “How is everybody doing?” The post quickly garnered a huge response with over 200 million views. Viewers poured their hearts out to the fuzzy red monster, sharing their personal struggles with mental health.
The surge of intense responses prompted Sesame Street’s official Twitter account to tweet out links to mental health resources. They thanked Elmo for reminding viewers to take a moment and focus on their mental health and included helpful links for those seeking support. This gesture highlighted Sesame Street’s commitment to tackling important and timely issues through its content.
Despite the positive intentions behind Elmo’s post, Larry David couldn’t resist crashing the conversation. The “Curb Your Enthusiasm” star and creator couldn’t help himself and mimicked throwing a punch while squeezing Elmo’s face. The mischievous comedian’s actions left the hosts flustered and alarmed, and they quickly scolded him for his behavior. David, however, stuck to his guns and defended his actions.
In an appearance on “Late Night with Seth Meyers” later that day, David explained why he felt compelled to “throttle” Elmo. He couldn’t “take another second” of listening to Elmo “going on about mental health,” so he took matters into his own hands. “I couldn’t take it,” David told Meyers. “And you know what? I would do it again!” Whether his excuse was sincere or just another one of his infamous sarcastic rants, David’s actions stirred up quite a controversy.
Larry David attacks Elmo on live TV.
“Somebody had to do it!” pic.twitter.com/KT0nlHejNY
— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) February 1, 2024
Many took to social media to criticize David for his behavior on the show, while others found it hilarious and defended the comedian’s right to be funny. While some condemned his actions as insensitive and disrespectful, others offered a more lenient perspective, acknowledging David’s reputation for his outrageous and unpredictable antics. Regardless of where opinions fell, one thing was for sure – Larry David never fails to surprise audiences.
The “Today” hosts decided to give David a chance for redemption and urged him to apologize to Elmo. After much persuading, David reluctantly gave in and said, “Elmo, I just want to apologize.” However, his insincere delivery left everyone in the studio, including Elmo, in stitches. Elmo accepted his apology, but David’s laughter quickly shattered any hope of a genuine apology. His unpredictable and unapologetic behavior is what makes him a beloved figure in the entertainment industry.
Despite the chaos that ensued during the segment, the true purpose of the interview was not lost. Elmo and his dad had an important message to share about mental health, and they were able to do so successfully, thanks to the attention-grabbing tactics of Larry David. The hosts even continued the conversation and discussed the importance of addressing mental health and seeking help when needed. The segment may have gone off the rails, but in the end, the conversation about mental health was put back on track.
