The man who voices the puppet of Elmo on Sesame Street has taken leave
amid allegations he had a sexual relationship with a 16-year-old boy. Kevin
Clash, 52, has taken a leave of absence from the popular children's show after
the programme's lawyers were contacted by a 23-year-old man who claims he had a
sexual relationship with the puppeteer seven years ago, when he was aged 16.
Allegations: Kevin Clash, the voice and movements behind Sesame Street's Elmo has taken leave amid allegations he had a sexual relationship with a 16-year-old boy
TMZ, who reported the allegations, said that Mr Clash had admitted he
had a relationship with the man, but only after the accuser was an adult and
said the accusations were both false and defamatory. 'I had a relationship with
[the accuser]. It was between two consenting adults and I am deeply
saddened that he is trying to make it into something it was not,' said Mr Clash
who joined Sesame Street in the mid-80s. The website reported that after the
accuser's initial meeting with Sesame Street lawyers, he felt that that he was
being silenced so he hired a lawyer. He is now being represented by Andreozzi
and Associates - the firm that worked with one of the victims in the Jerry
Sandusky child rape case.
Iconic: Kevin Clash, left, who has voiced Elmo for two decades, arrives at the 35th International Emmy Awards in 2007. He admitted he had a relationship with the man, but only after the accuser was an adult
In August, the accuser's lawyers wrote a letter to Sesame Street
accusing the programme of trying to 'discredit the victim in order to protect
its employee and the image of one of its most valuable characters,' The letter
also claimed the show's attitude 'places a greater value on a puppet than the
well being of a young man.' But Sesame Workshop officials told TMZ, they
found the the allegation of underage sex was unsubstantiated after a thorough
investigation. They claim rather than trying to hush up the accuser, they
asked for evidence of his allegations, which was not received.
Legacy: Mr Clash joined Sesame Street in the mid-80s. Earlier this year he was the feature a documentary detailing Clash's childhood obsession with puppets to assuming his role on the iconic show
The website reported they had seen an email supposedly sent to the
accuser by Mr Clash, acknowledging they had the affair when he was 16, but
officials believe it is fake as they say the accuser never mentioned such an
email existed. Sesame Street disciplined Mr Clash for inappropriate use of
company email after they found emails between him and the accuser, but they did
not indicate an illegal sexual relationship, according to TMZ. It is unclear why Mr Clash wanted a leave of
absence, since he denies the allegations of underage sex, but the programme
told TMZ it was to allow him to defend his reputation in the wake of the
damaging allegations.
Mr Clash has been the Elmo puppeteer for two decades, performing on the
show as well as for PBS specials, DVD releases and TV movies while earning nine
Daytime Emmy Awards. He eventually assumed the title of Sesame Street's Senior
Puppet Coordinator and Muppet Captain, while also directing and producing show
segments and TV specials. Earlier this year he was the feature of 'Being Elmo:
A Puppeteer's Journey' a documentary detailing Mr Clash's childhood obsession
with puppets to assuming his role on the iconic show.
Source: Daily mail UK
Please share
No comments:
Post a Comment