Lauren Mushro ’14
Staff Writer

Elmo loves Katy Perry, but parents don’t.

A scene with Katy Perry was cut from “Sesame Street’s” 41st season premiere after parents caught sight of it on YouTube. In their opinion, Katy’s revealing dress up outfit just wasn’t right for the occasion, and her song choice wasn’t either.

Originally about a boyfriend she couldn’t seem to hold on to, Katy Perry’s song “Hot n’ Cold” was remixed to fit the theme of her skit with Elmo. Offended parents complained to the producers that this material was not fit for their 1-6 year olds and had Katy’s act banned from “Sesame Street,” expressing in the New York Post, “ban it and keep it banned.”

What I want to know is if this video is being made a bigger deal than it actually is and if children would actually be scarred from Katy Perry’s performance. While parents have a right to not want their children exposed to a video like this, parents seemed to be more upset by this than the kids are.

Katy’s outfit was chosen for a reason. Producers expressed that the theme of the skit was innocent: dress up. Clearly Katy was ready for a dress up party. She sported a veil with a lime green party dress. Surely this cannot be much worse than a Disney Princess wearing one of her outfits. Stylists chose this look because it made sense in the context.

“Sesame Street” is well known for pushing the envelope on what kids are exposed to on TV. They introduce things such as death to young kids and make them understand and live with it. They hide nothing from the young generations of America, and it is beneficial because it prepares them for life when they are older.

Yet, however successful and educational “Sesame Street” is, problems have still been found with the way it is run. In “Sesame Street’s” first year of being on the air, it was banned in Mississippi as stated in the video “ ‘Sesame Street’s’ Controversial Beginning.” The video also said that warning labels had to be posted on the backs of “Sesame Street” DVDS stating that these videos are meant for adults and not for children.

No matter what “Sesame Street” puts out there, there seems to be over-analysis about the ideas behind it.

Of course four-year-olds are not allowed to control what they watch on TV. Many parents only let their children watch a couple of approved channels to prevent their children from being exposed to mature material. So, after seeing this video of Katy Perry, will parents turn “Sesame Street” on again?

I believe that “Sesame Street” is not too mature for young kids. Young children should be allowed to watch it without worries from their parents. Like one YouTube commenter said, “It’s not like children are harmed by it, they barely know the context of what’s going on and just laugh because it’s funny.” Kids are not worrying about how much of Katy’s mesh-covered cleavage is showing; they’re only thinking about dancing along to the song.

Katy Perry was just having fun, and kids will not be harmed from this or any other scene on “Sesame Street”. Children love the show, but even though parents know the way to Sesame Street, they don’t want to go there.

Watch the skit here! [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YHROHJlU_Ng&feature=related[/youtube]