CW// SA, inappropriate sexual language
Just like all the strangest Internet lore, we could never quite have predicted that an X account that shares facts about the Muppets would be the subject of today’s biggest online scandal. But that’s the Internet for you: it keeps you on your toes.
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Fans of the X account Muppet History (@HistoryMuppet on X)—which shares facts about Jim Henson and his wonderful world of Muppets—were terrified to learn this week that one of the account’s creators is being called out for inappropriate sexual behavior with fans. After the account posted a vague apology, longtime fans of Muppet History wondered what, exactly, was going on.
he was fucking the muppets
— Kristi Yamaguccimane (@wapplehouse.bsky.social) December 2, 2024 at 8:45 PM
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The account is run by the husband and wife team of Joshua and Holly Gillespie, and after a former fan and colleague started posting screenshots detailing some serious boundary-crossing behavior by Joshua, folks started to wonder just what was going on behind the scenes.
Currently, several women are coming forward to speak out about alleged harassment and inappropriate messages from Joshua. One user, muppet fan and content creator @malonespops, took to Instagram to speak out against what appears to be a pattern of harassment and victimization disguised—as it so often is—as harmless flirtation. After she shared screenshots detailing Gillespie’s inappropriate sexual comments and questions, more women started to come forward with stories of similar gross encounters.
As it often happens, the Muppet History creator’s actions seems to have repeated over time, causing several fans of the account—all women—to feel scared and unsafe in a space that was meant to be carefree, loving, and fun.
As with all stories like this one (and there are way too many) it’s a situation of one person using a small amount of power to harm others through inappropriate language and harassment. It’s sad that this happens so often, and we’re hoping the victims of this account owner’s actions can find peace and accountability in speaking out and sharing information with each other.
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