So, a few days ago, I saw some articles about the whole thing with Larry David and Elmo. I wouldn't have known about it otherwise. It seemed the whole thing was unplanned, which was very disrespectful to the hosts and the Muppet performers, and words like "assault" and "attack" were being used in the articles.
Larry David was quoted in the articles, and he said he "throttled" (his word) Elmo because he just couldn't take it that they kept going on and on about mental health.
(cont...)
The articles said a lot of what Wil Wheaton said, but from a removed perspective. Not with that personal touch of being an abuse survivor. And not many people seemed to notice or react.
But today! Today the news has a lot of Wil Wheaton Accuses Larry David of the Same Shit We Did a Few Days Ago, But We Make It Sound Ridiculous When Wheaton Says It! And people are reacting! Because Wil Wheaton needs to shut up! Because it's popular to want him to shut up!
Obviously, lots of people hate Wil Wheaton because of how he speaks about politics and his activism. But I also think a lot of people became very uncomfortable with how much they have enjoyed his childhood acting when he opened up about how he hadn't wanted to do it. But he did also say knowing people enjoy it has given him some happiness to be found in it.
Larry David was being an asshole, and I doubt anyone really believes Wil Wheaton was literally accusing him of child abuse.
Yes, he pointed out that within the world of Sesame Street Elmo is a child. And he acknowledged his own trauma reactions and personal view. He was mostly focused, though, on how Larry David was pitching a disruptive fit - acting like a child - because he wasn't happy with the focus on mental health as a topic.