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UPDATED: Sesame Street producer Sesame Workshop made it official on its blog this morning as a lawsuit was being filed in New York federal court charging Elmo puppeteer Kevin Clash with sexual abuse of a minor, according to the Associated Press. The suit — which alleges that Cecil Singleton, then 15 and now an adult, was persuaded by Clash to meet for sexual encounters — marks the second accuser to come forward and allege an underage relationship with the multiple Emmy winner, who has been on the PBS series since 1982. Earlier this month, an unidentified man said he had a sexual relationship with Clash beginning when the man was 16. Clash took a leave of absence after those allegations were made public, but his accuser the next day took back his story, claiming the relationship was adult and consensual, and Clash said he was “relieved that this painful allegation has been put to rest”. Here’s Sesame Workshop’s statement today announcing Clash’s departure:
Sesame Workshop’s mission is to harness the educational power of media to help all children the world over reach their highest potential. Kevin Clash has helped us achieve that mission for 28 years, and none of us, especially Kevin, want anything to divert our attention from our focus on serving as a leading educational organization. Unfortunately, the controversy surrounding Kevin’s personal life has become a distraction that none of us wants, and he has concluded that he can no longer be effective in his job and has resigned from Sesame Street. This is a sad day for Sesame Street.
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So even if you’re innocent you suffer at least some of the consequences of the guilty, is that it? Not cool.
How do any of you know he’s not guilty? We’re talking about kids here. It’s not about homophobia although anytime a gay man is accused of something, it’s homophobia. More likely, it’s about protecting kids.
Presumption of innocence. Until a jury says otherwise, he is innocent in the eyes of the law. That said, public sentiment is much different than the law, and the public has always been quick to condemn at the first hint of accusation. And that is very sad, because you can ruin any man or woman these days simply by making an accusation such as this.
Im not the law. I don’t have to have the presumption of innocence. Furthermore, there is no presumptionn a civil suit which is what this is, the SOL on the criminal charges having passed long ago.
It’s disgusting how they can destroy life of an innocent person in just couple of weeks. Hollywood is a very brutal place.
Yeah, this stinks. An accusation is made and then recanted… and he still loses his job? How is that fair? And what message is THAT telling kids? Elmo brought Sesame Street back from the grave. This has wrongful termination written all over it… lawsuit sure to follow (or some massive payoff).
Unfortunately, he can’t file a wrongful termination suit because he wasn’t fired, he resigned, which, even if Sesame Street pressured him to do so, is still voluntary on paper. I hate this though, I really do. People don’t understand that when you through out damaging accusations, especially those relating to sexual abuse, there is no taking them back. Even if it is proven that he is innocent, that label is going to stick to him because someone has put it out there and some people will think of him as a pedophile regardless. It’s a messed up situation that was going to end with him resigning. Sad day for Sesame Street.
Yeah, but now there is a second allegation. Even if the first one was recanted, it’s still a dark shadow to contend with. Sesame Workshop had no choice but to let him go.
He was not terminated. He took a leave of absence under his own will.
The fact that a 2nd accuser has come out of the shadows makes your point mute. How many kids have to come out with allegations of sexual misconduct before you’ll get off the ” but the first one recanted” bandwagon? Is Mr. Clash denying knowing these children at all? In what capacity did he work with these children. How long? And where? Instead of assuming that the children are conniving liars, ask yourself the other tough questions? Since you like assumptions, we can just as easily assume the first one got paid off to recant and/or revise his story.
Not sure how innocent he is. Just had the means to settle and compensate the victim.
And this is exactly the problem with this entire story. You have no grounds to say any of this and yet you mar someone who should be deemed innocent until proven guilty.
Words have weight, people. Words have weight. And this man is marked for life.
These arent’ criminal cases. There’s no innocent until proven guilty standard.
You don’t get the point of the comment, do you? You (if you’re the original commenter) have absolutely no idea whether or not Clash is guilty, but that didn’t stop you from innuendo and rumour-mongering. And that’s the greatest crime in this sort of thing. The small minded talk by ignorant people that can ruin the reputations of people even if they’re innocent.
Homophobic Sesame Street reveals itself. Just disgusting that a man’s career can be destroyed by a lie. “Children’s Hour” redux.
Hmm… I don’t think any of this is really centered on whether he had sex with a man or a woman, more whether he had sex with a BOY or a MAN…
Also, who are we to say Clash isn’t the one lying? Because he voices Elmo? Hopefully it all gets sorted out in the end.
I suppose NOWWWWWW, you want Sesame Street off the air, huh?
I think the guy who made the allegations towards Clash had more in mind than a payday, and he may have just received what he wanted. One day after he makes this monumental claim, he retracts it? Sounds like a personal vendetta to me.
Isn’t it wonderful to see that I, George Orwell, have predicted the future?
This story is devastating and heartbreaking in many ways… but you made me LOL. Like really LOL. Thanks.
So no more Elmo due to false allegations. Sesame Street’s actions, whilst understandable, illustrates a classic case of you’re guilty whether or not innocent. No justice in this outcome for Mr Clash. Shameful
I was about to comment in support of Clash until I read up on the SECOND lawsuit filed this morning. Yikes.
And he settled with the first???
Yeah, me as well. With another stepping forward, it’s pretty much over for Kevin. Hoped he saved and invested wisely.
It’s sad that his career has to end this way. Everyone should watch his documentary. Inspiring stuff.
Look out America, someone says anything about you, it will spread worse than a wildfire on the web, as false as it may be, you can count on losing your rep, your character and your right to earn an honest living or maintain a job that you have worked so hard for. Its days like today I despise the information age.
I’m gonna hold out hope that when all of this has passed — whether he be innocent or guilty — he will return to the Street.
And, btw, “guilty” is a term I’m using loosely, as I believe the person alleges that Clash himself was in his early 20s. So if they DID have a relationship, it’s akin to a high school kid dating a college sr…which is not uncommon, and not terribly untoward.
Not terribly untoward?
How about terribly ILLEGAL?
Apparently you haven’t seen the pictures of the 2nd accuser. He looks to be about 20 years old NOW, whereas Kevin Clash looks to be in his 40s. So this appears to have been a fairly recent relationship with a massive age difference, and definitely with a minor.
I’m not so sure any more. I think it’s easy to demonize the victim coming forward because we all have so much respect for Clash, and the accuser appears to be looking for a payday.
But now more victims are speaking out, so at what point does the public acknowledge that something wrong may have taken place.
The point is, let’s not rush to judgment either way. You don’t want to be on the wrong side of history defending a child molester.
2nd accuser stepped up. it’s always about two things – money & money.
Kevin Clash’s accuser should be tried for defamation of character and wrongfully filing of a lawsuit. He maliciously attacked Kevin and should be punished. I also think that Sesame Street are glad that Kevin quit because they are paranoid that there may be another scandal. If they truly supported him they would not have let him quit. They would have told him to take a month or so off and come back when he was ready. By letting Kevin quit they have closed the door on him. This is one guy that deserves a decent severance package. What a mess.
It sucks that they fired him but you have to look at it from Sesame Street’s POV. Having the words “sex offender” anywhere around their show for kids is insane. Even if he is innocent they can’t risk the internet going crazy.
All the internet needs is the shadow of a doubt before all of their memes and nasty jokes come along with their characters. Look at what Romney’s words did to Big-bird. We all know Kevin worked hard to get to where he is, but he must know that the image of Elmo is bigger than his pride. If his real goal is to protect the innocence of children then he should be proud to step down from the character he defined.
I totally disagree. As a society we are able to deal with it. People will not stop watching Sesame Street over this and they will forget it. Standing up for injustice is more important.
Innocent people don’t pay money to settle. And this is a SECOND accuser? For me the only question is why he was allowed to resign and not fired in disgrace.
You, sir, are a moron. Sometimes you have to settle to have your life back because cases can go on and on and on… and you can lose your precious time and money. My brother had to settle because if he didn’t he would be still in court.
But what if the allegations are true.
All of you defending him: what if he DID do it? Also, why resign and settle if you are innocent? Something is fishy here.
I’m not saying he’s innocent or not, but you posters claiming that innocent people don’t settle, clearly know very little about the American legal system!
Are some of these comments from before it was revealed that there is a second accuser AND that Clash paid off the first accuser? I’m not saying the guy is guilty, but I hardly think it is time to declare him a martyr either. Maybe he did it; maybe he didn’t. Let’s see how things play out.
All you IDIOTS saying he made a deal with the first accuser.
HE DIDN’T!!!
Read the story (or don’t we even read anymore???)
“Clash took a leave of absence after those allegations were made public, but his accuser the next day took back his story, claiming the relationship was adult and consensual,”
He took it back.
Jesus weeps for the stupid.
Whether or not he is innocent or guilty, whether or not he has won or lost in this scenario — you can’t deny that what he brought to the character of Elmo has brought joy to children world wide. It will be sad to see Elmo lose that soul.
What is the legal age, isn’t 16 in the US?
Every state is different in the US. In NY, where Sesame Street is filmed, the age of consent is 17. Many are 17, some are 16.
If he is guilty I hope he goes to jail. If he’s not guilty, I hope he gets another gig as soon as possible.
Let’s just hope the criminal justice system is not too corrupt to put another innocent man behind bars/let another guilty man walk free.
Well, it’s a tragedy either way. IF he has been falsely accused that is TERRIBLE…BUT IF he was justly accused, it’s even worse. Hope it gets resolved and that justice is done either way.