Elmo is celebrating Halloween by dressing as Miranda Priestly, Meryl Streep’s intimidating fashion editor from The Devil Wears Prada. The costume gives adults a recognizable movie reference, but its appeal to the preschool audience Elmo was created to entertain is less obvious.
Happy Halloween. That’s all. https://t.co/WILvBzNp9n
— Elmo (@elmo) October 28, 2026
For a character who is canonically a three-and-a-half-year-old boy monster, impersonating a fashion executive portrayed by a 77-year-old actress is an unusual choice. It also raises a straightforward question: Who is this Halloween sketch supposed to be for?
Elmo Trades His Usual Enthusiasm for Miranda’s Sarcasm
According to Variety, a Halloween video released by Sesame Street features Elmo impersonating Streep’s character, borrowing both Miranda’s recognizable appearance and her famously dismissive attitude.
Meryl Streep in The Devil Wears Prada 2 – 20th Century Studios, YouTube
READ: Sucker Punch Lays Off 26 a Year After Ghost of Yotei
In the short video, Elmo wears a white wig, glasses and a black blazer over a white collared shirt. When a pumpkin passes, he sarcastically remarks, “Pumpkins. For fall. How groundbreaking.” Cookie Monster’s blue fur also receives a fashion critique.
The joke rests on the contrast between Elmo’s familiar warmth and Miranda’s cutting personality. Adults who recognize the reference can appreciate the impersonation. Children unfamiliar with the character have little context for why Elmo has suddenly adopted an older woman’s appearance and a condescending manner.
An Unusual Choice for a Preschool Character
Sesame Workshop’s official biography describes Elmo as a three-and-a-half-year-old monster who is enthusiastic, friendly and curious. His age helps him connect with young viewers discovering the world around them.
That makes Miranda Priestly a peculiar Halloween selection. Elmo is impersonating a sophisticated adult woman played by Streep, who turned 77 in June. While the actress’s age should not be confused with her character’s, the reference remains far removed from Elmo’s preschool identity.
Children frequently dress as grown-up characters, and Halloween offers plenty of room for imaginative play. Still, why did the writers choose this particular character?
Jon Stewart on The Daily Show With Jon Stewart – YouTube, The Daily Show
READ: Universal Orlando’s Earl the Squirrel Comes to Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
A pirate or astronaut presents a concept children can readily understand. Appreciating Miranda’s personality requires familiarity with an adult workplace comedy and its demanding fashion editor. The costume’s defining references have little obvious connection to a preschooler’s interests or experiences.
The result feels more like an adult pop-culture gag built around Elmo than a Halloween idea developed from his perspective.
This choice also arrives amid criticism of Sesame Street over its social messaging. A June 1, 2025, social media post celebrating Pride Month drew backlash.
Additionally, the program’s promotion of Arab American Heritage Month has drawn criticism, prompting questions about which observances it chooses to highlight.
Those controversies do not establish the intent behind this costume. They do help explain why some viewers might scrutinize the decision to have a young male character impersonate a woman rather than accept it as a passing movie reference.
Who Gets the Joke—and What Do Children See?
Some online reactions leave room for interpretation. Some users have characterized Elmo as gay, while one Bluesky commenter simply wrote, “Yas Queen.” Another user on X echoed the sketch’s sarcastic dialogue: “Elmo in drag? Groundbreaking.”
Elmo in drag? Groundbreaking. https://t.co/QxFL6PZwho
— Movies (@Movies) October 28, 2026
Clearly favorable responses acknowledge the adult appeal. Parade’s coverage highlighted an approving commenter who described the extra content as suitable for children but aimed at adults.
There is nothing inherently wrong with giving parents a joke to enjoy. However, being suitable for children does not necessarily mean a sketch offers them much to enjoy or understand.
Elmo in the Sesame Street intro – Sesame Street, YouTube
READ: Discord Surprises Users with Anti-Privacy Change that Benefits Google and Transparency
The performance also raises questions about behavior. Adults understand that Elmo is imitating a fictional personality. A preschooler unfamiliar with the reference may simply see a normally friendly character making sarcastic judgments about his surroundings and a friend’s appearance.
That does not establish that the sketch harms children or demonstrates an ideological agenda. It does offer a reasonable basis for questioning how well the joke serves Elmo’s youngest viewers.
The costume may work as a celebrity impression for adults scrolling through social media. Its appeal to preschoolers is harder to identify. For a character built around a young child’s curiosity and enthusiasm, that makes it an awkward creative choice.
How do you feel about Elmo dressing up as Meryl Streep for Halloween? Sound off and let us know!
UP NEXT: Hasan Piker Files Defamation Lawsuit Against CNN’s Scott Jennings
