The Elmo Renaissance
Remember when Elmo had beef with a rock? What was that?
February 2, 2022
Life can be unpredictable for a 3 1/2-year-old. Life can also be unpredictable for a 3 1/2-year-old who’s been around for 43 years. As any person who spends too much time on the internet will tell you, the cute little monster we all know as Elmo has been facing an influx of social media attention. This attention came from a resurfaced clip of Elmo taking part in an escalated disagreement with one Rocco the Rock.
Who is Rocco?
Rocco is the beloved pet rock of Zoe. He is 4 years old (older than Elmo!) As of 2014, he is married to Petra the rock and is related to rocks Uncle Rock, Aunt Rock, Rocky, and Rachmaninoff. Although it is indistinguishable where Rocco’s hands and feet are, Zoe makes clear to Elmo that he has them when she asks Elmo to hold Rocco’s hand. However, Elmo held Rocco’s foot.
Why Did Elmo Feud With Rocco?
Elmo was frustrated with Zoe’s playing pretend with Rocco. Much to Elmo’s chagrin, Zoe would claim that Rocco wanted to eat Elmo’s favorite cookie, not even giving Elmo a second thought. Elmo was also increasingly frustrated by everybody else on Sesame Street playing along with Zoe’s pretending.
What is the Situation Now?
Not many people can tell you that Elmo and Rocco have actually been reconciled for quite some time. Elmo realized in episode 4,235 of Sesame Street that Rocco is as important to Zoe as is Baby David, Elmo’s teddy bear, is to Elmo. In episode 4,424, Elmo actually took on the responsibility of organizing Rocco’s marriage to Petra.
Why Else is Elmo Famous?
By now, TikTok is peppered with videos of Elmo in some of his sassier moments, from the famed balsamic vinegar clip to his raunchy Rove interview in 2008. His Twitter has been a hub for the revival of the Rocco feud and even attracted The Rock himself into the fray. Elmo’s quips have slowly seeped into the vocabulary of teenagers who rely on TikTok for catchphrases. Below, you’ll find some iconic Elmo clips floating around TikTok.