February 22nd, 2008
Glitch Changes “Tickle Me, Elmo” to “Threaten Me, Elmo”
By Michael Santo
Executive Editor, RealTechNews
Rather than “Tickle Me, Elmo,” what we have here is “Threaten Me, Elmo.” At least, according to a Tampa Bay, Florida mother.
Melissa Bowman says that since changing the batteries in the Elmo toy which is her 2-year-old son’s favorite, the doll has been making death threats, saying “Kill James.”
Melissa says that not only does Elmo say “Kill James,” her son is repeating the phrase.
I originally thought this was a load of cr*p, because the fact that it knows James’ name made it seem like the Twilight Zone. But then I realized this is the “Elmo Knows Your Name” doll. That means that one of the first things you do is program in the name of your child.
Elmo is supposed to know over 100 phrases, but “Kill” doesn’t seem like it should be one of them.
On the other hand, perhaps Elmo has met Chucky.
Fisher-Price has offered a voucher for a new doll if the doll is returned to them.
Watch the video:
Keith says:
In other news, a Barney doll was allegedly overheard to be singing, “I kill you, you kill me, we’re a happy family, with a great big stab and a twist from me to you. Won’t you say you’ll kill me too?”
February 22nd, 2008 at 9:57 pm
Darien says:
I’m pretty sure it’s supposed to be an instruction (”Kill, James”) rather than a threat, and some programmer at Fisher-Price is slightly irritated that the AP missed the nuance.
February 23rd, 2008 at 12:36 am
john says:
i agree with you darren
February 23rd, 2008 at 3:41 am
Greg says:
It sounds to me like the Elmo is trying to say “Tickle James”, but the first part is missing, so it’s “kle James”. Sounds like someone’s trying to get some money out of it.
February 23rd, 2008 at 4:35 am
Agent Elmo says:
She must have inadvertently gotten the CIA version….
February 23rd, 2008 at 8:11 am