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Toddler's Elmo Doll Makes Death Threats, Family Says
Tampa Bay Online ^
| 2-22-2008
Posted on 02/22/2008 6:44:17 AM PST by Cagey
A Lithia family says a cuddly, programmable Elmo doll revealed its dark side yesterday after fresh batteries were installed.
Instead of singing songs or reciting the favorite color of its 2-year-old owner, James Bowman, the doll started making death threats, the family says.
With a squeeze of its fuzzy belly, the Sesame Street character now says, in a sing-song voice, "Kill James." "It's not something that really you would think would ever come out of a toy," said Melissa Bowman, James' mother. "But once I heard, I was just kind of distraught."
The Elmo Knows Your Name doll, which connects to a computer to learn certain phases and names, recently ran out of battery power, Bowman said.
About an hour after she put new ones in, "I noticed exactly what it was saying," Bowman said. "And my son was repeating exactly what it was saying."
Bowman said Elmo is James' favorite character. James even has Elmo slippers, but the malfunctioning, death-threat-spouting Elmo Knows Your Name doll is now being kept away from her son, Bowman said.
"This is his absolute favorite toy," she said. "So we've been going through a lot of hassle because he's trying to climb up the counter and up the closets to get it."
Fisher-Price, the toy company that manufactures the dolls, said it will issue the Bowmans a voucher for a replacement doll. The company said it will examine James' model for the source of the problem and check whether other Elmos are experiencing the same malfunction.
TOPICS: Society
KEYWORDS: elmo; toys
1
posted on
02/22/2008 6:44:18 AM PST
by
Cagey

Melissa Bowman says this Elmo Knows Your Name doll says "kill James."
News Channel 8 photo by MICHAEL EGGER
2
posted on
02/22/2008 6:45:04 AM PST
by
Cagey
To: Cagey
I’d call a priest in myself.
3
posted on
02/22/2008 6:45:48 AM PST
by
randog
(What the...?!)
To: Cagey
4
posted on
02/22/2008 6:46:42 AM PST
by
1rudeboy
To: Cagey
There was a Twilight Zoe with Telly Savalas that this sounds like.
5
posted on
02/22/2008 6:47:04 AM PST
by
Non-Sequitur
(Save Fredericksburg. Support CVBT.)
To: Cagey
6
posted on
02/22/2008 6:47:38 AM PST
by
mikrofon
(Talking Tina on TZ)
To: Cagey
Here’s your problem. Someone left this thing switched to ‘evil’.
7
posted on
02/22/2008 6:49:22 AM PST
by
laotzu
To: Cagey

"It's over now. You can all go on ahead. I'll lock up here. Just a few notes to finish entering."
(cue creepy music, and twitching red furry parts.)
8
posted on
02/22/2008 6:53:56 AM PST
by
Sax
To: Sax
9
posted on
02/22/2008 6:57:00 AM PST
by
misterrob
(There is no such thing as a RINO.....CINO on the other hand has meaning.)
To: randog

Sesame street is in a tough part of town.
10
posted on
02/22/2008 6:57:46 AM PST
by
Cagey
To: Cagey
I’ve ALWAYS wanted to make a toy like that!!
“hey little girl, go get mommies’ purse...”
11
posted on
02/22/2008 7:10:53 AM PST
by
J40000
To: Cagey
Let me guess “made in china?”
12
posted on
02/22/2008 7:11:27 AM PST
by
beefree
(AMERICA BLESS GOD)
To: beefree

Yep, and training an army of Elmo's to invade Taiwan.
13
posted on
02/22/2008 7:15:06 AM PST
by
Cagey
To: Cagey
Sesame street is in a tough part of town.LMAO!
Emo's gonna busta cap in yo ass!
To: Cagey
Mebbe Elmo knows something about James the rest of us don’t...
To: Cagey
16
posted on
02/22/2008 7:20:53 AM PST
by
LilAngel
(FReeping on a cell phone is like making Christmas dinner in an Easy Bake Oven)
To: Cagey; All
17
posted on
02/22/2008 7:21:25 AM PST
by
TrishaSC
To: Cagey
the Sesame Street character now says, in a sing-song voice, "Kill James." They left out the comma.
18
posted on
02/22/2008 7:22:17 AM PST
by
Sloth
(If you took an oath to support & defend the U.S. Constitution, can you vote for its domestic enemy?)
To: Cagey; Larry Lucido
I meant 'Elmo' in my last post. This story reminded me of a skit from "MadTV".
Tickle Me Emo.
"I hate you, I hate you, I hate you!"
To: Cagey
Maybe this mother will wise up and not let her kid watch TV any more.
20
posted on
02/22/2008 7:30:06 AM PST
by
Bigg Red
(Position Wanted: Experienced Republican voter looking for a party that is actually conservative.)
To: mikrofon
Talking Tina. I loved that epi. To see Telly Savalas done in by a doll was priceless.
21
posted on
02/22/2008 7:30:54 AM PST
by
NCC-1701
(PUT AN END TO ORGANIZED CRIME. ABOLISH THE I.R.S.)
To: Cagey; All
My son found a talking bear at a yard sale - the Touch My Heart fuzzy Bear. It was in good shape and he thought it was cute. We get it home, add batteries - The thing is real creepy, sounds like a major twerpy perv.
Some of the phrases:
I understand just how you feel, are you playing with me, what do you do at night, ha ha ha are you being silly, that is good to know, I have a secret - sometimes I’m naughty, did you know that I’m afraid of spiders, do you have a secret wish, tell me something no one else knows, please would you tell me more, people are so nice, who would you like to hug, who makes you feel good, I feel the same way, what do you like to do at night, are you playing with me, do you have a secret wish ....
To: MotleyGirl70
Hahahahahaha!
“You’re not the only one who has issues!”
23
posted on
02/22/2008 7:35:16 AM PST
by
Cagey
To: Cagey
“OOO...Mommy nice”
The possibilities are endless....
24
posted on
02/22/2008 7:38:49 AM PST
by
Adder
(hialb)
To: Cagey; MeekOneGOP; Conspiracy Guy; DocRock; King Prout; Darksheare; OSHA; martin_fierro; ...
25
posted on
02/22/2008 8:06:17 AM PST
by
Slings and Arrows
("Those who surrender personal liberty for lower global temperatures will receive neither."--weegee)
To: Cagey
Okay, so I’m reading the article and notice there’s no “this reporter can verify” line. And then I scroll down and see “News Channel 8 photo by MICHAEL EGGER”.
Two sources, (TBO and Channel 8) and no attempt at verification?
26
posted on
02/22/2008 8:49:58 AM PST
by
JoJo Gunn
(Help control the Leftist population. Have them spayed or neutered. ©)
To: stylecouncilor
To: Drumbo
Um, which toy are you letting my nephew play with?
28
posted on
02/22/2008 9:43:58 AM PST
by
Titan Magroyne
("Shorn, dumb and bleating is no way to go through life, son." Yeah, close enough.)
To: Non-Sequitur
Or an episode of The X Files written by Stephen King. It was called “Chinga.”
(Spanish-speaking mods don’t zot me, please. That’s the actual name.)
29
posted on
02/22/2008 9:46:30 AM PST
by
Titan Magroyne
("Shorn, dumb and bleating is no way to go through life, son." Yeah, close enough.)
To: Titan Magroyne
Spanish-speaking mods dont zot me, please. They're just doing the jobs that American mods won't do.
30
posted on
02/22/2008 11:04:45 AM PST
by
Slings and Arrows
("Those who surrender personal liberty for lower global temperatures will receive neither."--weegee)
To: Slings and Arrows
*guffaw*
Hopefully they’re Mexicants.
31
posted on
02/22/2008 1:48:38 PM PST
by
Titan Magroyne
("Shorn, dumb and bleating is no way to go through life, son." Yeah, close enough.)
To: Cagey
Not sure I'm buying this one. The toy's re-programmable. Similar claims have been posted about Elmo talking books recently. Plus, if it's caused her family so much difficulty, but remains her kid's "favorite" toy, why not just take the batteries out?
To: Flyer; humblegunner; Allegra; TheMom; Xenalyte; thackney; Eaker; stevie_d_64; TXBSAFH; ...
33
posted on
02/22/2008 7:49:03 PM PST
by
pax_et_bonum
(That midget hates it when I do that.)
To: pax_et_bonum
Elmo called me this morning.
He left a voice mail.
He is not happy with you.
To: JoJo Gunn
Two sources, (TBO and Channel 8) and no attempt at verification?
Video at the following link:
Evil Elmo Video
BTW, I remember a news story a several years ago where the Tickle Me Elmo doll said "Who wants to die?"
35
posted on
02/22/2008 9:24:59 PM PST
by
FreedomOfExpression
(Dime: a dollar with all the taxes taken out.)
To: FreedomOfExpression
Okay, so the video does show it doing what was claimed? You’d think that the writer would note something so basic.
Seems there was another instance, now that you mention it. You have a good memory.
36
posted on
02/22/2008 9:56:53 PM PST
by
JoJo Gunn
(Help control the Leftist population. Have them spayed or neutered. ©)
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