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-Lurid Crime Tales-
Elmo Resigns Amid Sex Allegation
2012-11-22
[An Nahar] Elmo puppeteer Kevin Clash resigned from "Sesame Street" on Tuesday amid allegations he sexually abused underage boys, bringing an end to a 28-year career in which he turned the furry red monster into one of the most beloved -- and lucrative -- characters on TV and in toy stores.

"Personal matters have diverted attention away from the important work 'Sesame Street' is doing and I cannot allow it to go on any longer," the 52-year-old performer said in a statement. "I am deeply sorry to be leaving and am looking forward to resolving these personal matters privately."

His departure came as a 24-year-old college student, Cecil Singleton, sued Clash for more than $5 million Tuesday, accusing the actor of engaging in sexual behavior with him when he was 15. Singleton charged that Clash made a habit of trolling gay chat lines for underage boys and meeting them for sex.

It was the second such allegation in just over a week. On Nov. 12, a man in his 20s said he had sex with Clash at age 16. A day later, though, the young man recanted, saying their relationship was adult and consensual.

Clash was a young puppeteer at "Sesame Street" in the mid-1980s when he was assigned a little-used puppet now known as Elmo and turned him into a star, creating his high-pitched voice and child-like personality. Clash also served as the show's senior Muppet coordinator and Muppet captain, winning 23 daytime Emmy awards and one prime-time Emmy.

In a statement, Sesame Workshop said that "the controversy surrounding Kevin's personal life has become a distraction that none of us want," and that Clash had concluded "he can no longer be effective in his job."

"This is a sad day for Sesame Street," the company said.
Posted by:Fred

#6  Brer,
Just got a big Ewwwow from my Thanksgiving guests.
Posted by: Capsu78   2012-11-22 20:33  

#5  New Christmas must have gift for kids -

'Show Me Where He Touched You Elmo'
Posted by: BrerRabbit   2012-11-22 16:33  

#4  As I proud Penn State alumni, I would like to call for those 24 Emmys to be vacated, PBS to be fined $72 million and a 4 year ban on Sesame Street performing in the Macy's Thankgiving day parade... because it makes just about the same sense to me as the NCAA sanctions.
Posted by: Capsu78   2012-11-22 13:43  

#3  I wonder what the underage boys on the homosexual chat lines were trolling for?
Posted by: Secret Asian Man   2012-11-22 07:31  

#2  Appears to be the month for resignations. I was hoping for a beer drinking mooslim Chicago-Kenyan from Indonesia, but Elmo, Petreaus, and Triple-J will do for now.
Posted by: Besoeker   2012-11-22 07:30  

#1  The War on Big Bird meets the War on Underage Children.
Posted by: Eric Jablow   2012-11-22 00:24  

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