Voice of Elmo Resigns

[The Bread Guy]

Kevin Clash, the longtime voice and puppeteer behind Sesame Street’s Elmo character, has resigned in the aftermath of allegations that he had underage sexual relationships.

Mr. Clash was first accused last week of sexual improprieties by a 24-year-old man who later recanted. That man has remained anonymous.

The announcement of Mr. Clash’s resignation came at around the same time that a lawsuit was filed in Federal District Court in Manhattan accusing him of “sexual activity” with a second accuser, Cecil Singleton, 24, who was 15 at the time the alleged relationship started. The suit said that Mr. Singleton “did not become aware that he had suffered adverse psychological and emotional effects from Kevin Clash’s sexual acts and conduct until 2012.” It sought $5 million in damages.

Last week, Sesame Workshop said the first man’s accusations were unfounded. The organization did not have any immediate comment about the second man’s lawsuit on Tuesday. But in a statement, it said:

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 want, 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 ....

NY Times Blog, 20 Nov 12

 

[Kat Stevens]

New for Christmas!  It's Fondle Me Elmo!

 

[GK .Dundas]

For some reason I translate the below as " was not aware of how badly he had suffered until consulting a n attorney.And if this was such a heinous matter I seem to recall NY state does not have a statute of limitation on sexual assault of a minor? ( I could be wrong )


The announcement of Mr. Clash’s resignation came at around the same time that a lawsuit was filed in Federal District Court in Manhattan accusing him of “sexual activity” with a second accuser, Cecil Singleton, 24, who was 15 at the time the alleged relationship started. The suit said that Mr. Singleton “did not become aware that he had suffered adverse psychological and emotional effects from Kevin Clash’s sexual acts and conduct until 2012.” It sought $5 million in damages.

 

[PMedMoe]

For some reason I translate the below as " was not aware of how badly he had suffered until consulting an attorney"

I agree.

 

[Tank Troll]

I always hated Elmo and feel he usurped Grover. May be it had to do with me lining up before 0300hrs in December to by a stupid toy for my Godson and having to fight of all those other Christmas revelers to get one.

 

[Dirt Digger]

I always hated Elmo and feel he usurped Grover. May be it had to do with me lining up before 0300hrs in December to by a stupid toy for my Godson and having to fight of all those other Christmas revelers to get one.

You say that, but I suspect you received a certain amount of pride from accomplishing your task in the face of such adversity.  And if you had to deliver a well-placed elbow to the solar plexus of a soccer mom in the process, then all the better...

...sorry, warming up for Black Friday.  ;D   

But seriously, the initial event seemed to be an incident between two consenting adults.  The optics however, between a consenting 16 year old and a older guy that just happens to be Elmo...well that's several days of fuel for the 24/7 news cycle. These latest acusations are just more rocket fuel.  As other have said, very suspicious when the emotional trauma waits until an attorney can assign a dollar value.

 

[The Bread Guy]

New for Christmas!  It's Fondle Me Elmo!

Less than 1/2 an hour after the OP - I'm surprised it took so long .....  ;D

 

[Kat Stevens]

I been sick lately...

 

[Tank Troll]

You say that, but I suspect you received a certain amount of pride from accomplishing your task in the face of such adversity.  And if you had to deliver a well-placed elbow to the solar plexus of a soccer mom in the process, then all the better...

...sorry, warming up for Black Friday.  ;D 

I don't think I leveled any elbows but I did receive a couple, did I mention it was Christmas eve (AM of the 24th) and in Edmonton. I've come out of rugby scrums and was less bruised than that 10 minutes of urban combat, not only did you have to get the damn toy, but hold on to it up to the check out. You were only allowed to purchase 1 any more and they were confiscated at check out and tossed back in to the fray.