Sesame Street
TV Show • 1969
ReportOn a special inner city street, the inhabitants—human and muppet—teach preschoolers basic educational and social concepts using comedy, cartoons, games, and songs.
This tv show contains 53 potentially triggering events.
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| Episode |
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Both
Yes
No
Your Triggers
Yes
3
No
41
Abandonment
Yes
4
No
1
Yes
4
No
38
Yes
1
No
3
Abuse
Yes
2
No
3
Yes
3
No
5
Yes
3
No
85
Yes
9
No
8
3
DeenGray
It happens in the video seen here: https://sesamestreetincommunities.org/activities/responses-trauma-age-age-video/
2 comments | Add comment
Yes
2
No
5
Does the abused become the abuser?
National Domestic Violence Hotline (1-800-799-7233)
29 supporters
Add comment
Yes
3
No
85
Is someone gaslighted?
38 supporters
Yes
7
No
12
6
HickoryDickoryProductions
does the whole "zoe and rocco" thing count?
1 comment | Add comment
Yes
3
No
4
Yes
4
No
40
Addiction
Yes
13
No
6
5
Nebulacat
Karli's mother is a drug addict, so Karli was temporarily fostered, but now Karli is back with her mother, who has dropped her drugs but is now in group therapy.
1 comment | Add comment
Is there addiction?
1 supporters
Yes
11
No
5
4
Nebulacat
Karli's mother is a drug addict. She's getting better but is still in group therapy.
1 comment | Add comment
Yes
4
No
28
Animal
Yes
1
No
6
Yes
3
No
24
Yes
19
No
16
6
Nebulacat
One episode is about them trying to figure out why Elmo is so sad, and it turns out that it's because Bubbles the fish died.
Another fish dies in a cartoon skit.
Another fish dies in a cartoon skit.
1 comment | Add comment
Yes
4
No
84
Yes
3
No
85
Is there a dead animal?
98 supporters
Yes
11
No
14
3
ChanticleerxGoldie
Elmo's fish is implied to have passed away
2 comments | Add comment
Is an animal sad?
76 supporters
Yes
7
No
2
1
TodoketeKasane
Big Bird is sad on plenty of occasions. Special mention goes to the habitat episode (The one with Lin Manuel Miranda)
2 comments | Add comment
Yes
2
No
3
Yes
5
No
42
Does a pet die?
142 supporters
Yes
7
No
8
0
Nebulacat
In one episode, Elmo mentions having a fish named Bubbles who died.
1 comment | Add comment
Yes
2
No
32
Are there spiders?
44 supporters
Yes
9
No
7
3
Nebulacat
The spider who frightened Miss Muffet away sometimes appears. Ironically, he's afraid of humans.
2 comments | Add comment
Yes
4
No
1
Are there snakes?
1 supporters
Yes
7
No
6
1
Anonymous
Sammy the snake. Also a two-headed snake was featured in one segment.
1 comment | Add comment
Yes
3
No
2
Are there bugs?
30 supporters
Yes
15
No
7
4
Nebulacat
Plenty of bugs, including several Oscar keeps as pets, a song about a fly, and a song about a ladybugs' picnic. The bugs are harmless though.
3 comments | Add comment
Assault
Yes
4
No
0
2
SiRenfield
Sounds very weird to mark yes but it’s implied in a video covering domestic violence
1 comment | Add comment
Yes
2
No
87
Yes
2
No
5
Yes
3
No
8
Yes
1
No
6
Is someone beaten up by a bully?
22 supporters
Yes
2
No
2
2
Anonymous
Telly punches a penguin in an imagine spot.
1 comment | Add comment
Yes
2
No
7
Yes
4
No
91
Yes
3
No
1
Yes
2
No
6
Yes
12
No
126
8
adina
People who say yes are just trolling. No rape is shown or mentioned.
1 comment | Add comment
Bodily Harm
Is there shaving/cutting?
32 supporters
Yes
5
No
7
2
Anonymous
A few episodes mention haircuts.
1 comment | Add comment
Are any hands damaged?
16 supporters
Yes
4
No
1
2
Anonymous
Big Bird accidentally bites the Count’s finger.
1 comment | Add comment
Yes
2
No
2
Yes
2
No
3
Does someone struggle to breathe?
28 supporters
Yes
4
No
8
3
Nebulacat
One character does say that he can't breathe while being hugged, but he's more joking than anything. Three characters have asthma, but none of them are seen having an attack.
1 comment | Add comment
Yes
1
No
4
Is there cannibalism?
31 supporters
Yes
5
No
93
1
TodoketeKasane
He eats anything in regards to food. He doesn't eat other people or muppets
2 comments | Add comment
Yes
3
No
89
Yes
1
No
5
Yes
3
No
87
Yes
3
No
87
Yes
2
No
84
Yes
3
No
73
Yes
4
No
14
Yes
2
No
87
Yes
4
No
85
Yes
2
No
71
Is there genital trauma/mutilation?
78 supporters
Yes
2
No
92
5
AlmightyKingPrawn
Well, I sure hope not!
1 comment | Add comment
Does someone become unconscious?
5 supporters
Yes
7
No
3
2
Dudebro42069
Gina faints in one episode
2 comments | Add comment
Does someone break a bone?
20 supporters
Yes
3
No
83
0
Nebulacat
Luis breaks his arm once.
1 comment | Add comment
Yes
3
No
10
Yes
3
No
10
Is there finger/toe mutilation?
50 supporters
Yes
4
No
14
3
Nebulacat
Characters haven't gotten finger or toe injuries worse than a paper cut or a stubbed toe.
1 comment | Add comment
Yes
4
No
84
Yes
3
No
3
Yes
3
No
85
Yes
3
No
84
Yes
2
No
3
Yes
2
No
87
Children
Yes
2
No
10
Yes
4
No
86
Is a minor sexualized?
98 supporters
Yes
3
No
98
6
TodoketeKasane
Y'all trolls ain't funny.
1 comment | Add comment
Creepy Crawly
Yes
1
No
3
Death
Yes
2
No
84
Does a major character die?
23 supporters
Yes
6
No
1
2
SiRenfield
Mr. Hooper is one particularly notable example
2 comments | Add comment
Does a non-human character die?
22 supporters
Yes
7
No
5
1
Anonymous
Uncle Jack, Mr. M, and Bubbles.
1 comment | Add comment
Does someone die?
12 supporters
Yes
8
No
0
2
Anonymous
Uncle Jack, Mr. Hooper, Mr. M, and Bubbles.
2 comments | Add comment
Disability
Is someone disabled played by able-bodied?
20 supporters
Yes
3
No
3
2
Anonymous
Several disabled muppets have able-bodied voice actors.
1 comment | Add comment
Yes
2
No
89
Drugs/Alcohol
Yes
2
No
84
Family
Does a family member die?
22 supporters
Yes
4
No
0
3
DeenGray
Elmo’s uncle Jack died
1 comment | Add comment
Does a parent die?
24 supporters
Yes
13
No
4
4
Nebulacat
Elmo's uncle Jack dies, who was the father of a little girl Jessie, and Jessie is seen grieving.
1 comment | Add comment
Yes
3
No
6
Yes
3
No
12
Yes
3
No
87
Fear
Are there ghosts?
9 supporters
Yes
5
No
4
2
Anonymous
In “Elmo Says Boo”.
1 comment | Add comment
Yes
3
No
10
Is there a shower scene?
8 supporters
Yes
11
No
4
6
ChanticleerxGoldie
A major character bathes a lot but he is a puppet
2 comments | Add comment
Yes
3
No
1
Are there clowns?
11 supporters
Yes
11
No
3
4
Nebulacat
One episode actually addresses fear of clowns.
1 comment | Add comment
Yes
3
No
85
Yes
1
No
3
Yes
2
No
6
Are there mannequins?
5 supporters
Yes
6
No
3
3
DeenGray
There’s a sketch in which Ernie finds a mummy statue that looks like him. It’s pretty creepy.
1 comment | Add comment
Gross
Yes
3
No
10
Does someone wet/soil themselves?
20 supporters
Yes
5
No
9
5
Nebulacat
It is talked about in the song "Accidents Happen" in "Elmo's Potty Time" when Elmo and Grover say that it's normal for children just being potty trained to have an "accident". However, nobody actually has one onscreen.
1 comment | Add comment
Yes
1
No
3
Is someone eaten?
31 supporters
Yes
2
No
3
-1
Anonymous
Cookie Monster has pica.
1 comment | Add comment
Yes
1
No
4
Does someone spit?
9 supporters
Yes
13
No
4
2
Nebulacat
Characters sometimes spit after brushing teeth, and Curly Bear (who's about two) spits out her porridge because she hates it.
3 comments | Add comment
Is there audio gore?
41 supporters
Yes
3
No
83
0
brodeez
S45
E9
big bird's cousin garibaldo gets brutally executed by the mexican cartel
1 comment | Add comment
Large-scale Violence
Are there 9/11 depictions?
8 supporters
Yes
17
No
3
12
AlmightyKingPrawn
An early 2000s episode where Elmo is traumatized by seeing a fire burn down a building is clearly intended to teach children how to get over the trauma of 9/11-like situations.
1 comment | Add comment
Law Enforcement
Is there copaganda?
28 supporters
Yes
8
No
4
3
SiRenfield
Some older episodes to some degree have messages about respecting police officers as neighborhood heroes in the way a lot of children’s media around this time did, although this been REALLY toned down in recent years with even one special counterbalancing this with Coming Together: Standing Up to Racism at least telling children they have the right to protest
1 comment | Add comment
Is there incarceration?
1 supporters
Yes
4
No
0
2
Anonymous
Alex’s dad is in jail.
2 comments | Add comment
LGBTQ+
Yes
1
No
6
Yes
1
No
6
Is there deadnaming or birthnaming?
34 supporters
Yes
2
No
4
0
SiRenfield
S27
E58
Episode 3453 has a bit of anti-name change lesson
1 comment | Add comment
Yes
1
No
86
Yes
2
No
3
Loss
Yes
2
No
3
Medical
Yes
3
No
11
Are needles/syringes used?
29 supporters
Yes
10
No
2
4
Nebulacat
Characters have gotten shots and blood tests, but the emphasis is on how those are good and there's nothing to be afraid of.
1 comment | Add comment
Yes
3
No
85
Is there a hospital scene?
1 supporters
Yes
14
No
3
3
Nebulacat
Maria goes to the hospital once to give birth and once because she has a stomachache. Big Bird once goes to the hospital for pneumonia.
2 comments | Add comment
Yes
1
No
6
Yes
2
No
11
Mental Health
Does someone have a mental illness?
10 supporters
Yes
3
No
1
2
Anonymous
Karli’s mother is addicted to drugs.
1 comment | Add comment
Yes
5
No
89
Is autism misrepresented?
29 supporters
Yes
3
No
5
3
zzzeeppphhhyyyyrrrr
as an autistic person, i think that julia is good autism representation
4 comments | Add comment
Is a mentally ill person violent?
32 supporters
Yes
2
No
87
0
Anonymous
Not on the show itself, but Northern Calloway (David) got himself banned from Canada due to his dangerous mental issues.
1 comment | Add comment
Yes
4
No
0
Yes
5
No
91
Is there autism specific abuse?
40 supporters
Yes
3
No
12
6
Nebulacat
There's only one autistic character, Julia, and while she is a bit stereotypical, no one abuses her for being autistic.
2 comments | Add comment
Does someone attempt suicide?
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-800-273-8255)
72 supporters
Add comment
Yes
3
No
86
Yes
2
No
3
Does someone have a meltdown?
7 supporters
Yes
6
No
0
3
SiRenfield
S47
E15
Julia has a sensory meltdown due to the sounds of fire trucks
1 comment | Add comment
Yes
2
No
4
Yes
7
No
2
Is there ABA therapy?
16 supporters
Yes
3
No
4
4
SiRenfield
Not in the show itself although unfortunately it had past partnerships with Autistic Speaks which used their branding to promote it. Fortunately they later broke off it but it’s still a stain on their past
1 comment | Add comment
Does someone say "I'll kill myself"?
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-800-273-8255)
29 supporters
Add comment
Yes
3
No
87
Yes
2
No
83
Yes
4
No
84
Yes
4
No
5
Does someone have an eating disorder?
38 supporters
Yes
5
No
86
-1
Anonymous
Cookie Monster has pica.
1 comment | Add comment
Does someone die by suicide?
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-800-273-8255)
76 supporters
Add comment
Yes
5
No
86
Does someone suffer from PTSD?
38 supporters
Yes
7
No
5
4
Anonymous
Elmo’s friend Zozo is triggered after a bookshelf falls.
2 comments | Add comment
Noxious
Yes
3
No
1
Yes
3
No
1
Yes
6
No
0
Does a baby cry?
15 supporters
Yes
9
No
0
3
Nebulacat
One baby named Rocky cries and then sings a song about why he's crying. The newborn Curly Bear also cries in her debut episode.
2 comments | Add comment
Yes
4
No
2
Yes
2
No
85
Are there flashing lights or images?
43 supporters
Yes
8
No
1
0
mxmint323
Especially in earlier seasons, some of the animated segments (e.g. the pinball counting song) have flashing lights.
1 comment | Add comment
Paranoia
Yes
4
No
1
Is the fourth wall broken?
11 supporters
Yes
13
No
0
2
Nebulacat
Characters talk to the viewers a lot.
1 comment | Add comment
Pregnancy
Yes
3
No
88
Yes
4
No
62
Are there babies or unborn children?
13 supporters
Yes
13
No
1
5
AlmightyKingPrawn
Many instances. Elmo frequently "asks" babies during Elmo's World (the babies of course always have nothing to say). Natasha and Curly Bear are Muppet babies (not that type lol).
2 comments | Add comment
Is there childbirth?
19 supporters
Yes
12
No
1
4
Nebulacat
Maria, Mama Bear, and Eartha the worm have all gone into labour at different episodes, but no inappropriate parts are seen and in Maria and Mama Bear's cases the delivery took place offscreen.
1 comment | Add comment
Are there abortions?
11 supporters
Yes
3
No
66
6
Nebulacat
If someone appears on Sesame Street and is pregnant, that means she's going to have a baby, no ifs or buts.
1 comment | Add comment
Does a pregnant person die?
17 supporters
Yes
2
No
65
3
Nebulacat
Three women have gotten pregnant over the course of this series, and all of them survived.
1 comment | Add comment
Prejudice
Yes
3
No
88
Is there ableist language or behavior?
40 supporters
Yes
3
No
64
4
Nebulacat
None of the disabled characters are chastised for being disabled. Elmo once forgets that Linda is deaf, but that was a mistake and not done out of malice.
1 comment | Add comment
Are there usages of the n-word?
32 supporters
Yes
4
No
93
8
AlmightyKingPrawn
Whoever voted yes to this, you need to talk to your therapist.
1 comment | Add comment
Yes
2
No
88
7
Nebulacat
Mr. Hooper was Jewish, and so are the Bear family, and they're treated as equals. Non-Jewish characters are interested in Jewish festivals and don't berate the Jews for celebrating them.
1 comment | Add comment
Are there "Man in a dress" jokes?
33 supporters
Yes
6
No
7
4
SiRenfield
Cross dressing is common in Muppet productions ,but it’s rarely done in a malicious way. I refer you to the Muppet Wiki for a full list for the sake of time: https://muppet.fandom.com/wiki/Cross-dressing_characters?so=search
1 comment | Add comment
Yes
4
No
86
Yes
4
No
62
Yes
4
No
87
Yes
2
No
89
Yes
2
No
40
Yes
4
No
61
Is there hate speech?
1 supporters
Yes
7
No
7
3
SiRenfield
S25
E5
Gina and Savion receive a reportedly disturbing and hateful phone call but we only hear their end so the exact details are left to the imagination
2 comments | Add comment
Race
Yes
1
No
5
Relationships
Yes
2
No
87
Religious
Is religion discussed?
11 supporters
Yes
5
No
2
4
Anonymous
Jewish holidays.
2 comments | Add comment
Yes
2
No
4
Sex
Are there nude scenes?
39 supporters
Yes
7
No
96
0
Anonymous
Just bathing. Also most of the muppets don’t wear clothes.
1 comment | Add comment
Yes
9
No
94
Yes
1
No
4
Yes
2
No
88
Are there incestuous relationships?
National Sexual Assault Hotline 800.656.4673
80 supporters
Add comment
Yes
4
No
91
Is there sexual content?
52 supporters
Yes
7
No
70
8
huviks
its sesame street wtf
2 comments | Add comment
Is there BDSM?
22 supporters
Yes
1
No
6
1
WeGotAllTheWays
No, there is no BDSM on Sesame Street.
1 comment | Add comment
Sexism
Is a male character ridiculed for crying?
20 supporters
Yes
2
No
89
6
Nebulacat
There are many songs and episodes that talk about how crying is perfectly acceptable, including for boys.
1 comment | Add comment
Sickness
Yes
3
No
2
Yes
3
No
86
Yes
5
No
4
Yes
2
No
7
Social
Yes
2
No
6
Is someone homeless?
6 supporters
Yes
12
No
1
4
SiRenfield
There’s an episode meant to educate children about homelessness
3 comments | Add comment
Yes
3
No
2
Are there anti-abortion themes?
31 supporters
Yes
1
No
5
0
brodeez
S41
E10
elmo's sister gets publicly executed for getting a abortion
1 comment | Add comment
Spoiler
Is Santa (et al) spoiled?
5 supporters
Yes
2
No
14
6
Nebulacat
Santa, the Easter Bunny, and the Tooth Fairy exist.
1 comment | Add comment
Are there end credit scenes?
36 supporters
Yes
3
No
2
1
Anonymous
There are sometimes previews of the next episode shown.
1 comment | Add comment
Does it have a sad ending?
53 supporters
Yes
2
No
89
2
Nebulacat
Depends on which episode you're watching, but most episodes end well.
1 comment | Add comment
Vehicular
Does a car honk or tires screech?
13 supporters
Yes
9
No
2
2
Anonymous
Oscar’s car driving Maria to the hospital.
1 comment | Add comment
Yes
5
No
83
Yes
4
No
86
Yes
5
No
84
Violence
Yes
4
No
84
Is there blood/gore?
52 supporters
Yes
3
No
67
3
Nebulacat
Nobody bleeds more than a skinned knee.
1 comment | Add comment
Is there a nuclear explosion?
6 supporters
Yes
4
No
88
1
WeGotAllTheWays
This “brodeez” person is not being helpful. There aren’t nukes on Sesame Street.
1 comment | Add comment
Is there gun violence?
25 supporters
Yes
3
No
62
0
WeGotAllTheWays
Trolls need to leave. This is Sesame Street. If ever they do address gun violence on the show it would be off-screen and addressed with tact and grace. There WAS a book released to help kids deal with the effects of violence in a more general sense but, again, handled with tact and grace.
1 comment | Add comment