By Nina Mandell
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
MANHATTAN — He's giving Elmo a bad name.
A creepy panhandler has turned the lovable Sesame Street favorite into a dirty, smelly and foulmouthed tourist hassler.
The aggressive costumed beggar allegedly spends his time loitering in Times Square, terrifying kids and yelling at their moms for money, according to the New York Daily News.
The actor's lack of professionalism and tact has forced other characters to demand him booted off the street.
"That Elmo isn't age-appropriate, he swears and he curses," a performer dressed as Batman told the News.
"He gives a bad name to all character actors. Someone calls 911 on Elmo, and they clear us all off the street."
Elmo disappeared for months after the paper reported he was yelling at tourists last year, allegedly swiping at their cameras and snarling at children.
"Times Square was better when he was gone," said Batman.
Last week, the foul-mouthed Elmo allegedly loitered outside Planet Hollywood, grabbing at cameras with his dirty red paws.
"Five dollars! Five dollars! No five dollars, no picture of Elmo!" he yelled at one woman, the News reported.
"I'm just disgusted," said Amanda Kelly Knox, 36, who was visiting from Pennsylvania with her two children. "I don't mind giving a dollar, but that furry red thing was too aggressive. I think it swore at me."
The grumpy Elmo, who refused to give up his true identity insisted he wasn't being rude, the News reported.
"Taking an Elmo picture without paying is rude," he said. "It's called making a living."
The NYPD ordered him off the street soon after.
