A viral video has swept across the nation, and it stars a furry red creature we all know and love: Elmo. Well, actually, it's not the real Elmo. (Which might be just as well.) Instead, it's a parody Elmo in a video made to emphasize how important the Corporation for Public Broadcasting is to America after the new President's budget proposed eliminating their funding.

The Hollywood Reporter has the details:

The video shows an unseen man delivering the news to Elmo in a nondescript room. Elmo doesn't take the news well, complaining that he's worked at Sesame Street for 32 years. He also wonders what's going to happen to his medical insurance, given that he has a preexisting condition.

"Elmo, the Trump administration is getting all arts and education funding from the new Congressional budget," says the man.

Elmo responds by saying, "But Elmo's rent just went up!" and "But Elmo hasn't been unemployed since the '80s!" He then sadly adds, "Elmo's only real talent is being Elmo."

The man suggests Elmo take pictures with tourists in New York's Times Square for his next job. And when Elmo still doesn't understand, the man suggests he contact President Donald Trump.

"Donald Grump?" Elmo asks.

In the video, Cookie Monster and Telly have also lost their jobs, but -- really -- Cookie Monster deserved to go long ago. How many cookies does the American taxpayer have to buy? But there's just one thing wrong with this super-viral video (and it's a common theme for super viral videos): it's based on a lie.

Sesame Street had already inked a five-season deal with HBO back in 2015. Apparently, "Sesame Workshop has been operating at a loss in recent years ($11 million in 2014), and the new deal will allow it to deliver twice as much content, plus a Muppets spinoff." Wow. I'm all for another Muppets spin-off, especially if we don't have to foot the bill.

This prompted conservative blogger Matt Walsh to ask:

Of course, sometimes the truth hurts the viral success of videos.