Larry David Seemingly Reverses His Apology After Attacking Elmo on the “Today” Show: 'I Would Do It Again!'

"I couldn't take it!" the 'Curb Your Enthusiasm' star said of his interaction with the beloved 'Sesame Street' character

Larry David is doubling down on his headline-making feud with Elmo.

The curmudgeonly comedian appeared on Late Night with Seth Meyers Thursday night, where he defended himself for attacking the Sesame Street staple earlier in the day.

It all started on the Today show that morning, when David — who was waiting to be interviewed — interrupted Elmo’s segment to rough up the muppet, grabbing his head and swinging a punch his way. "Somebody had to do it!" the Curb Your Enthusiasm star barked afterwards.

Though David, 76, told Elmo, 3½, he was "really sorry" (an apology Elmo accepted), fans still came to Elmo's defense after the clip of David's strike went viral online, with even T-Pain offering his alliance to the muppet. "Elmo, say the word" the rapper wrote, after quipping, "I know I didn't just see my mans Elmo assaulted on live TV."

Related: T-Pain Comes to Elmo's Defense After Beloved Sesame Street Star Is Attacked on Air by Larry David

Asked about what happened by Meyers, David initially tried to play coy. "I don't think I want to talk about it," he deadpanned.

But the talk show host, 50, persisted: "The clip is going around online, Larry. You can't hid from this, Larry. Elmo, some might say, is loved by all"

That's when David began to open up: "Yeah, yeah. I did it."

He then launched into an explanation of what motivated him, mimicking Elmo's high-pitched voice in the process. "Elmo was, he was going on about mental health and I had to listen to every word," David lamented. "And I was going, 'Oh my God, oh my God, I don't think I can take another second of this!' And so I got off my chair and I approached him and I throttled him!"

"I couldn't take it!" David said, in his signature, frustrated delivery.

He then seemingly took back his previous apology, telling Meyers, "And you know what? I would do it again!"

Elmo was on the Today show to discuss the importance of checking in on ones mental health.

Before the attack, Elmo had gone viral for a tweet in which he simply asked people, "How is everybody doing?" The social media share received a slew of unexpected replies, with more than 204 million respondents, including former President Barack Obama, interacting with the post — many telling the Sesame Street star how hard life has been for them.

"It’s important to remember that we all have a lot of feelings and it’s okay," Elmo told Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Kotb and Craig Melvin on Today while discussing the experience. "It’s good to know what feeling you’re having and if you’re feeling sad or worried or confused, that you can talk to someone that you love or trust. And it’s good to talk about it."

"Emotional well-being, that’s kind of the key," added Elmo's father Louie. "It’s important as your physical health. So learn what feelings you have inside and how to name them and healthy ways to express them, well that’s just part of living. Nowadays, you gotta get out!"

Related: Elmo's Tweet Checking in on His Friends Receives a Flood of Distressed Responses: 'Life Is Hard'

Elmo certainly knew what he felt after David grabbed him. "Mr. Larry, Elmo liked you before!" he said, encouraging David to "get back on the couch and let's talk about how you feel."

In true Sesame Street fashion, the experience gave Louie an opportunity to provide a lesson for all watching. "Ask permission before you touch someone," Louie said.

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Late Night with Seth Meyers airs weeknights at 12:35 a.m. ET on NBC.

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