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Kevin Clash, the voice and puppeteer behind the loveable Elmo character on the long running kiddie show “Sesame Street,” has taken a leave of absence from the show after explosive allegations were made against him.
Clash has been the voice of Elmo (and the ‘Tickle Me Elmo’ dolls) for more than two decades, but Sunday, after an unsubstantiated report that he had a sexual relationship with a 16-year-old boy, he voluntarily stepped away from his job.
VIDEO: Elmo Interviews Kevin Clash
The news sent shock waves through the show’s nonprofit producer, Sesame Workshop, who moved quickly to protect their 43 year-old brand (estimated by Forbes to be worth more than $500 million).
Read an official statement from the PBS program + additional details regarding the allegations below…
Sesame Workshop released the following statement regarding the Elmo matter on Monday:
In June of this year, Sesame Workshop received a communication from a then 23 year old man who alleged that he had a relationship beginning when he was 16 years old with Kevin Clash, a Sesame Workshop puppeteer who performs as Elmo.
We took the allegation very seriously and took immediate action. We met with the accuser twice and had repeated communications with him. We met with Kevin, who denied the accusation. We also conducted a thorough investigation and found the allegation of underage conduct to be unsubstantiated. Although this was a personal relationship unrelated to the workplace, our investigation did reveal that Kevin exercised poor judgment and violated company policy regarding internet usage and he was disciplined.
Kevin insists that the allegation of underage conduct is false and defamatory and he is taking actions to protect his reputation. We have granted him a leave of absence to do so.
Elmo is bigger than any one person and will continue to be an integral part of Sesame Street to engage, educate and inspire children around the world, as it has for 40 years.
Elmo is one of the PBS program’s most famous Muppets, with his own 11-minute segment called “Elmo the Musical” in each daily show. He also has been featured in popular toys, including Tickle Me Elmo.
VIDEO: Kevin Clash – Elmo Interview
In a statement, Mr. Clash, 52, admitted to having had a relationship with the accuser, who is now 24, and stated that it was merely a relationship “between two consenting adults.” He also said that the allegations against him were “false and defamatory.”
“I am a gay man. I have never been ashamed of this or tried to hide it.”
“I had a relationship with the accuser. It was between two consenting adults, and I am deeply saddened that he is characterizing it as something other than what it was,” he said.
He went on to say he was “taking a break” from Sesame Workshop to deal with the situation. His publicist declined to discuss the matter further.
Clash officially joined the “Sesame Street” cast as Elmo in 1984, assuming the Elmo role that year.
The Elmo character debuted on the show in 1979. While Clash was the third performer to animate the child-like shaggy red monster, Sesame Workshop credits him with turning Elmo into the international sensation he became.
For now, producers have promised that Elmo will remain on the show despite the absence of Clash, saying, “Elmo is bigger than any one person and will continue to be an integral part of ‘Sesame Street.’”
VIDEO: Kevin Clash Talks ELMO on The View
What do you think of these explosive allegations against one of America’s favorite Sesame Street characters?
Tickle Me Elmo seems so creepy now… ugh!
Right! LOL. I don’t want to think of Elmo in that light. All I can say is –> The devil is busy…
All it takes is one accusation and your career is ruined. This guy probably expects a quick payday b/c he knows that Sesame Street execs do not want a sex scandal. Even if proven innocent, people would never feel comfortable with him as Elmo again and the stigma would persist. Cold world.
You are right. Sadly his career as Elmo is likely to end because of this. I must say however that mean, gay or straight, do not get a pass for making poor relationship issues. The same way women often know what they are getting, so do men. This former lover was messy from the start. No one just comes out the blue hurling these kind of accusations. That person acted a fool while they were in a relationship and he ignored the signs. Now he is in the middle of a sh*t storm
"co-sign" no matter how good a person is and all they have done when they do one thing wrong that all we will remember I grew up on Sesame Street as well as my son who is 17yrs old now, who we still have his tickle me elmo we got him for his 1st christmas that’s on his wall, right now, this black man took elmo to another level as there were 2 who voiced him before he did. I wonder how elmo’s christmas sales are going to be now you know how people can be since he’s african american I wonder how many will stop buying the elmo merchandise???
Or, sales may go up…
I so agree! All it takes is one UNFOUNDED & UNPROVEN accusation to ruin a spotless record and a person’s career! With that said don’t Kevin look like he is related to Tyler Perry??
@TORI GIRL HELL YEAH, YOU CRAZY(LMAO!!!)
Just like Michael Jackson.
He going down…its a wrap…and he’s probably telling the truth…his boytoy is lookin for a payday
OMG!!! I truly hope this isn’ true. I was so proud when I found that it was a black man that had been playing Elmo all these years. This will certainly ruin his career. However, if it is true then you shall get what you deserve. Either way…not a good look.
I remember when we bought our son who is now 17yrs old his first tickle me elmo, and like you when I learned he was a black man behind the voice I was elated, yes he used poor judgement in using the computer at work, but I do believe him when he said it started after the person was 18, BUT he does have a ex-wife, and a daughter and I will keep all of them in his prayers like my grandmomma use to say JESUS HURRY UP AND COME BACK!!! God is revealing all hidden things (just as HE said HE WOULD)
He sure is revealing all things hidden.
Now he left, I read articles yesterday that he took a “leave of absence”, there’s a difference if so. I agree Jiffawni, it’ll be sad if so but I don’t put nothing past people nowadays. ELMO is bigger than one person tho, I feel no different about the character itself.
I don’t know as someone that has had time spent with KEVIN, i just don’t feel in my heart of hearts that he is capable of that… he just isn’t that type of guy. To throw his entire career away, that he has worked so hard to build. He is an inspiration to me, and has driven me to pursue my dreams further. Maybe i am a little bit bias, but i don’t believe that boy.
I agree with you 100%
me neither, I think it started after 18, and maybe Kevin didn’t want him anymore BUT i still love elmo, now the boy is a 23yr old man and all I’m saying is "why now"??? ijs
If one more person call me and ask me did I hear about ELMO…just because my 2 year old just had a Elmo party. Hell he is watching Elmo now!
I hear that Kevin was using company email to communicate with this man. That may actually work in his favor…sounds like someone is upset that things didnt work out and is looking for someone to pay. I pray that this is worked out.
LMAAAOOO @the calls due to the baby’s party, i’ll be upset too hehehehehe but i totally agree with u vay on the company email part. And most importantly,whats up with this whoole "im gay" thing?? cos i heard he’s married to a woman with kids…and if that’s true,then i’ll call him "one of those", "coward"…married to a woman while bending down with men, but that is if that accusation of him being married is true.
@honey, he is divorced and he has a daughter
@ Vay: I promise, your comments make me laugh so hard.
Hopefully the under aged accusations are false.
Yall it’s serious over here with Elmo…people come into my husbands place of business looking for him because he can sound just like Elmo. Grown men talking about "do the voice" going forward…Oh HEEEEEEEEEEEEELLLL no you better go buy a tickle me Elmo and get some sit down sir! lol
@ Honey now that you mention it I remember a while back him telling a story about calling his daughter in his Elmo voice and something about a wife. Makes me sad just thinking about all the people that this could untimately hurt. I dont know the full story but really hope this works out…First Romney wants to do away with Big Bird now Elmo is caught up in a scandle!!! Too much happening on that street for me…
@vay, u tickles the shit out of me on every post LAUGHTER IS GOOD FOR THE SOUL and my hubby can do elmo too, and i still have our sons first elmo (he’s 17 now) but when his dad was gone alot (military wife) i would hit elmo and he would stop crying but he thought it was daddy, but keep that sense of humor that you have because I’m here in ALABAMA (roll tide) and I live to see what you say BE BLESSED
@zeta4life laughter is wonderful and I do it often! There are so many serious things to deal with in life that we must remember to laugh and enjoy it. ((((((((((hugs)))))))))))))
*Whispers I moved to Alabama in 04 for about 3 weeks…had a temp moment of thinking that I was grown! lol I bet I packed my car up and made that 13 hours drive back home with the quickness. lol
Dude, you can’t mess up Elmo’s reputation like that….come on!!!!
Some people are that selfish. He did not think of all the children who love Elmo before making these allegations.
His lover wants money. Elmo fell in love with an idiot.
YES, THAT WHAT I THINK ALSO BUT I MAY BE "KRAY" FOR SAYING THIS BUT I WONDER IF THEY "BLACK OR WHITE" i just curious
Why do I get the feeling the lover is a scrawny little white boy? Like the kind Jessica Simpson’s father had an affair with…
“I am a gay man. I have never been ashamed of this or tried to hide it.”
He was married to a woman at some point and reportedly has a grown daughter. Most people (including me) thought that he was still married to his wife. His same sex orientation is news to most of us.
I’ll be praying for him.
@ALM need more like you to not be ashamed of what they are or who they are will be in prayer for him also and family
GOD BLESS U
@ zeta4lif: Thanks. God bless you also.
@ALM THANKS DOLL AND MAY GOD CONTINUE TO BLESS YOU ALSO FROM THE "CROWN OF YOUR HEAD TO THE BOTTOM OF YOUR FEET" TIME FOR ME TO COOK DINNER HUBBY BE HOME IN A FEW HOURS UNTIL NEXT TIME "KEEP ON KEEPING ON!!!"
Smh, something tells me that more people will come forward, it seems like it always happens that way. I can’t say he did it or didn’t.
he needs his azzz whooped
I had no clue the man was gay. I knew he had a wife and a daughter. I think this scandal pushed him out of the closet. The 23 year old man needs to stop.
You know…@Reesie I was so puzzled when I read this story…cause I was thinking he was married too. That black downlow stuff is something else.
I don’t care if he is gay…but the dating Teenagers…You work with children…that just don’t look good. and the perverted texting(at work)…I guess that boo tae was worth his career.
"That black downlow stuff is something else."
Lmao!
HE IS DIVORCED, HE HAS BEEN OUT THE CLOSET, THAT’S WHAT ENDED THE MARRIAGE
Well looks like the guy has recanted his story…
"This office represented the 23-year-old man who was the subject of many media reports regarding Kevin Clash. He wants it to be known that his sexual relationship with Mr. Clash was an adult consensual relationship. He will have no further comment on the matter."
Clash also issued his own statement in response:
"I am relieved that this painful allegation has been put to rest," the Emmy-winning Muppet man said. "I will not discuss it further."
This came from E news.
#LongLiveElmo!
Thanks for the scoop lol. You know it’s a damn shame because the damage is already done to this man’s reputation. SMH
Not to mention everyone will still be giving him the side eye wondering if it’s ok for their children to be around him….like he’s a child molester. Whoever this young man is needs his behind whopped, you just ruined a man’s life for no reason other than the fact your salty and sorry.
He better do like Tom Cruise be doing to those tabloids, file a lawsuit against the boy for defamation of character.
Good, now Mr. Clash needs to sue the hell out of that accuser. That guy was looking for a payday. I feel bad for Kevin though because I’m sure he had feelings for the dude at one point.
and TMZ is reporting it also, BUT you know people are going to say that "he paid him off"
Thank for updating. As loud as the blogs talked about the scandal, they should talk about the resolution.
The boy recanted.
Hey everybody… Who’s to say that this wasn’t apart of some blackmail scandal that the boyfriend came up with after he told Elmo that he was going to out him because of some fight or breakup, Elmo outed himself, then dude resorted to this under age story.
As far as the gay thing goes, just because a dude is or was married doesn’t mean that the plumbing stops working. Also, I’m sure Elmo loved his wife.
YOU CAN’T HELP WHO YOU LOVE…
Dana T.
lol@ the fact you keep calling this man Elmo! hahahahaha
I actually read your whole post in Elmo’s voice and I promise you it was unintentional lol. Elmo’s always in third person lol.
Dude got his six figures and recanted. Great timing! Xmas right around the corner…Elmo grossing in the least $10mil each Xmas. Easy payday! Some MJ exploitation, only this dudes was more than likely true or he would be sued by Sesame Street Inc. themselves. Only thing Kevin had to say was "WHEW" in his Elmo voice. I’m sure he wasn’t the one paying.
TMZ is reporting this morning that man admits now that he was a adult when the sex started, I hope someone finds out who this person is so he can get put on blast for doing such damage to the man reputation!!!! I am tired of all this fuckery but hopes he continues to voice ELMO.
This morning on the "View" they discussed this and hoped "young accuser" who recanted will get the help he needs. Like you said,this dude was an adult. And he DID get the help he needed. PBS’s entire public fund for the year. And trust me, we will never see this dude ANYWHERE again.
Tickle me down-lo!