The ‘Muppet History’ Social Media Scandal Is Undeniably Messy

A obscure apology from social media accounts devoted to Jim Henson’s Muppet Historical past has unveiled probably the most disturbing and scandalous conditions to hit social media this yr.

By way of a little bit of digging, followers of the fan web page had been shocked to study that behind the visage of the healthful account had been allegations of inappropriate sexual habits with followers, and rumors of assaults towards different Muppet-themed accounts.

Created in October 2018, the Muppet Historical past X/Twitter account (@HistoryMuppet) totes itself as a “fan web page devoted to persevering with the spirit and silliness of Jim Henson,” the late puppeteer and animator who created the Muppets and birthed most of the characters seen on Sesame Avenue, together with Elmo and Huge Chicken.

Husband-and-wife duo Joshua and Holly Gillespie run the account and share the responsibility of selling Henson’s legendary work via enjoyable details, previous clips from Henson’s exhibits, and the occasional meme.

As BroBible notes, the Gillespies additionally run a Muppet Historical past account on Instagram, the place they’ve a following of practically 580,000 customers (their Twitter profile boasts round 283,000).

On Monday, a prolonged apology was posted to the Instagram and X accounts of Muppet Historical past.

Although the phrases appeared real, additionally they lacked context and any point out of a direct offense perpetrated by the Gillespies.

“We wished to take a second to handle some issues which have arisen as of late,” the notice begins. “Earlier than we dive into these issues, we thanks in your continued help and encouragement. We acknowledge that we’re human and have made errors previously.”

After noting that they’re all the time open to private progress and information via “understanding and beauty,” they continued to supply phrases of acknowledgment – however by no means actually acknowledged something.

“We lengthen our most honest apologies to these whom we have now damage, both via this platform or private platforms,” the notice later states.

“There was a collection wherein boundaries with buddies and viewers via messaging had been overstepped. In constructing this neighborhood we have now been overly protecting, complicated fellow fan accounts for competitors.  To the individuals who [we] made uncomfortable by these actions, we have now solely ourselves in charge and ask in your forgiveness.”

With no point out of any wrongdoing of their apology, followers of the Muppet Historical past accounts started to sleuth on their very own to uncover what wasn’t being stated.

Inside hours, followers found screenshots of an alleged electronic mail from Joshua Gillespie to a lady named Megan, apologizing for making inappropriate feedback to her.

“I apologize if my messages of playful flirting went too far,” the e-mail reads, partially. “It was by no means my intention to make you uncomfortable.”

Megan, who seems to run one other Muppet-related account on Instagram, might be seen commenting on the e-mail via captions from her Instagram Story.

“I by no means ONCE ever, stated something that may give any indication that speaking to me like that was applicable, humorous to me, or inspired,” her response states.

In one other screenshot, Megan messages Joshua’s spouse, Holly, to tell her of her husband’s unsavory actions.

Because the day went on, different screenshots from Megan’s Instagram DMs started to appear on social media timelines, revealing that Joshua was a “serial harasser of ladies.”

In a single seize from Megan’s Instagram profile (@malonespops), a person thanks her for sharing her fact relating to Joshua and confesses that also they are a sufferer.

“Thanks for utilizing your voice to talk out about Joshua/Muppet Historical past,” the DM reads.

“I used to be certainly one of his targets myself and it was tremendous scary for me as a result of I felt so alone and so afraid to talk up about it. I anxious nobody would consider me.”

One other particular person tells Megan that Gillespie has despatched “sexual jokes” to them and three different those that they know.

“I’m attempting to determine how many individuals have been focused by this,” they are saying.

In one other caption over the screenshot, Megan states that she is going to proceed to make use of her platform to disclose Joshua’s soiled deeds.

“Whether or not it was sexual abuse or misconduct or bullying folks within the [Muppet] neighborhood, I cannot let him scale back it to nothing,” she says.

Within the hours and days following the Gillespie’s joint assertion, neither the Muppet Historical past Instagram account or X account has been up to date.

Likewise, posts from the Gillispie’s private social media accounts have additionally ceased.

In one of many last tweets revealed from Joshua’s private X account, Holly assures followers that her husband is “protected.”

“Thanks all in your concern,” it reads.