Sesame Street creators sue producers of sexually-explicit puppet murder movie

Sesame Street’s creators have launched legal action against the makers of an R-rated movie about puppet murders.

The Happytime Murders, a puppet crime action thriller starring Melissa McCarthy, features the tagline “No Sesame. All Street” in its promo material.

And given the movie features puppet-related violence and drug use, the people at Sesame Street aren’t too thrilled about it.

We mean, the full totes-not-PG version of the film’s trailer features some extremely graphic use of silly string.

This is not a movie for the kids.

Sesame Workshop filed legal papers against the film’s creators STX Entertainment last week.

And the legal documents make for interesting reading, labelling the trailer as “indescribably crude”… which they went on to describe.

“…scenes from the movie shown in the trailer depict repeated foul language by humans and puppets; drug use by humans and puppets; puppet prostitutes offering sexual favours to a human; gun and other types of violence; and puppet sex that culminates in scene where a puppet is depicted copiously ejaculating for an extended period,” the papers read.

Geez.

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Sesame Workshop want the promos pulled and any association with Sesame Street removed from advertising material.

“[STX Entertainment] seem intent on seeding confusion in the mind of the public as to the association between the movie, Sesame Street, and its beloved Muppets from Sesame Street,” the papers said.

“Sesame takes no issue with Defendants’ right to make their movie, and to market it – lawfully – however they see fit.

“But [STX Entertainment] cannot impermissibly appropriate and trade on Sesame’s mark, brand, and goodwill to market a movie that has no nexus to Sesame Street.”

The film’s director, Brian Henson, is son of Muppets creator Jim Henson and the CEO of The Jim Henson Company.

Jim Henson helped create some of the most-loved characters in Sesame Street.

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And the people at Sesame Workshop think the promo material deliberately links the film with Sesame Street in a bid to “deceive consumers into believing that Sesame was involved in the creation, promotion, and/or distribution of the movie The Happytime Murders”.

And it looks like people have made that link:

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Of course, the story quickly made headlines, with a spokesperson for STX Entertainment telling Tim Kenneally at The Wrap the company was “incredibly pleased” with the general response to the trailer.

“STX loved the idea of working closely with Brian Henson and the Jim Henson Company to tell the untold story of the active lives of Henson puppets when they’re not performing in front of children,” the spokesman, who goes by the name of “Fred, Esq.” said.

“While we’re disappointed that Sesame Street does not share in the fun, we are confident in our legal position.

“We look forward to introducing adult moviegoers to our adorably unapologetic characters this summer.”

Sesame Workshop have requested the matter go to trial, seeking financial restitution to be determined by the courts.