Jordan B. Peterson Got Mocked By Marvel. And Now He’s Attacking Elmo?
Jordan Peterson already got parodied by Marvel Comics and now he’s upset about Elmo for some reason. As with all things on the Internet, it’s a long story.
So, Elmo was like the rest of us, praising Bad Bunny’s 2026 Super Bowl Halftime Show. Then, Peterson just flew out of nowhere to cuss at the poor monster for enjoying the performance. The Sesame Street character merely argued that Bad Bunny should be called “Good Bunny” instead and that sent the far-right figure into a rage. Peterson said, “Go f*** yourself for wanting to discriminate against white people.”
Now, most normal people might take a beat before swearing at a universally beloved Muppet online. But, nothing is ever quite regular over in Jordan B. Peterson world. He was really this mad about Elmo enjoying a Bad Bunny concert. Some of the commenters on X pointed out previous spats he’s had with stuffed adversaries. (Seriously, this is how strange the conservative pundit class has gotten over the last decade. We’re at the point where people just joke after they curse at fan-favorite children’s characters.) Elmo hasn’t responded, but if our friend does, we’ll chronicle what he has to say on the matter.
It also bears mentioning, Peterson is still out there doing podcasts and trying to rile his base. Unfortunately for the Canadian commentator, a lot of his audience have moved onto the harder stuff or forgotten about him entirely. That’s usually the life cycle of these political agitators. A group sees them as useful in their pursuits, and then when they actually need support, none of those bonds that were formed prove to be real.
Jordan B. Peterson used to beef with literal Captain America
Marvel Comics, especially Captain America, has never shied away from overt political commentary. Some of the best 80s, 90s, and 2000s comics about Steve Rogers (and Sam Wilson and Bucky for a gleaming second) handled the current issues plaguing the United States. It should come as no shock that Ta-Nehisi Coates’ run on the signature hero featured him zooming in on the alpha male grifting pipeline that leads directly to our current moment. And, sometimes you have to make the parody very overt so people get it. Peterson eventually looked up and asked, “wait is this play about us?”
Peterson seemed perplexed by the revelation in Captain America #28. The issue in question was released on March 31, 2021. On Twitter, he said, “Do I really live in a universe where Ta-Nehisi Coates has written a Captain America comic featuring a parody of my ideas as part of the philosophy of the arch villain Red Skull?” Peterson added, “It’s hard not to be shocked by the sheer surreality of the time we inhabit…”
Bad Bunny criticism and the future
Still, when moments like the Bad Bunny of it all crop up, it’s fair game to wonder if Coates was just gaming out where the nation would end up if it didn’t abandon the harmful rhetoric people like Peterson have been spreading on YouTube for ages now. Hating the Bad Bunny performance and labeling it divisive when it literally ended with the words, “Together we are America” is quite the posture to take. But, leave it to Peterson to try and grift until it all dries up. It’s no wonder the Red Skull was out here peddling nonsense about “the feminist trap” and other such claptrap.
In those stories from Coates, The Red Skull, while formidable, is more of a YouTuber than a brawler. That entire Captain America run focuses on the idea that Steve Rogers can’t simply punch out harmful ideology. (Although he’s going to give it the good old college try. Heck, it worked back in the day.) It’s sad to say but America, and our world, is on a similar journey. But, moments of unity like that performance offer a window to a plausible way forward.
(featured image: Max)
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