‘He’s a MUPPET!’ The View Get in Furious Argument Over Larry David Slapping Elmo That Ends in Screaming

The world is up in arms after Larry David assaulted Elmo on NBC’s The Today Show on Thursday, enough to merit an entire segment on ABC’s The View on Friday. And WOW was that a conversation.

Co-hosts Joy Behar and Sunny Hostin defended David because he is a comedian and Elmo is, as they referred to Elmo, a “puppet.” Co-host Sara Haines repeatedly corrected them, gently at first, reminding them that Elmo is not a puppet, he is a Muppet.

But as the segment went on, the five co-hosts seemed to shed their professional filters to stand up for Elmo. Co-host Alyssa Farah Griffin said this kind of stunt was more suited to late-night TV than the morning shows: “I grew up in a house where you would eat your cereal and you’d watch [Good Morning America] or The Today Show before you went to school.”

She added: “And I’m sorry, we all just trauma dumped on Elmo this week.” Behar objected — furiously — given Elmo is a fictional character and not a real puppet. She later questioned Farah: “Alyssa, what planet are you on that you think that a six-year-old is watching The Today Show?”

Hostin, while still maintaining that the incident was a comedy segment, said, “I am surprised that Elmo’s dad didn’t punch him in the throat.”

But by the end of the segment, and after several corrections on Elmo’s species and/or nationality, Haines was left literally screaming: “HE’S A MUPPEEEETTTTTTTTTT!!!!!”

It’s been that kind of week.

Watch the video above via ABC.