Kevin Clash, the puppeteer behind “Sesame Street’s” Elmo since the early ’80s, has resigned from the show after a second man filed a lawsuit Tuesday, accusing him of a sexual relationship with an underage male and seeking $5 million in damages.
News of the second allegation comes shortly after the first man — who had recanted his allegation that he was a minor when he first had sex with Clash — let it be known Monday that he wanted to recant his recantation and return a $125,000 settlement.
“I am resigning from Sesame Workshop with a very heavy heart,” Clash said Tuesday in a statement.
“I have loved every day of my 28 years working for this exceptional organization,” he continued. “Personal matters have diverted attention away from the important work ‘Sesame Street’ is doing and I cannot allow it to go on any longer. I am deeply sorry to be leaving and am looking forward to resolving these personal matters privately.”
Sesame Workshop said Tuesday in a statement: “None of us [at Sesame Workshop], 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. . . .This is a sad day for ‘Sesame Street.’ ”
This will probably be my least favorite story to report of the day, as I had previously been hopeful that these allegations against Clash were false and that Elmo would survive unscathed from such troubling controversy.
There are a number of reasons that this is especially troubling, apart from the fact that it is attached to the name of Sesame Street which I think may be one of the greatest entities on the planet, and that is that it involves a trusted individual who works with children, homosexuality, and pedophilia.
The gay community has worked for years to educate people that they do not support, nor are connected, to pedophilia, and incidents like this only do damage to their ability to define themselves as moral upstanding people who simply love differently than their straight friends, family, and co-workers.
There will of course be those, many speaking from the pulpit, who will use this incident as proof of the deviance of the homosexual "lifestyle," but of course that is no more fair than claiming that ALL Catholic priests are pedophiles, all politicians are crooks, or that all generals are philanderers.
It is of course simply a very sad story of the end of a career that has inspired, and entertained, children all over the world.
I dunno. Mr Clash may very well be innocent of these allegations and is doing what he and Sesame Street feel he must under circumstances that are so inflammatory. Instinct says never to trust a predator. Instinct also says that predators are good at allegation.
ReplyDeleteHope this comes out on the better side.
I have yet to hear any allegations of anything other than pedophilia. While that is bad enough in itself (to me, the worst), it might end up that the only connection to homosexual activity (aside from this taking place with underage MALES!) is in the minds of the assholes in the pulpits and those who are never going to be separated from their beliefs on those lines even by God!
ReplyDeleteI have to agree this is a serious blow to Sesame Street and all the good it has done, and will even go so far as to say it may even give ammunition to idiots like Rmoney who wanted to get rid of public radio and TV.
However...
Shall we wait and see instead of wringing our hands and yelling "Woe is me!"?
How funny things turn out. The last post was about how the last case was dropped. I made a comment about not judging too soon and abusing possible victims when we didn't know the full story, or the exact nature of why the last case was dropped (it may not have been intentional lying but a simple mistake or error). For that, I was greeted with an outpour of disgusting abuse! Because I said shaming a potential victim is a terrible thing, not only for the case at hand but for potential future rape cases where victims are afraid to come forward, knowing that if the accused is a popular figure their story will be doubted and torn to pieces looking for inaccuracies.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately for the people involved there were more victims. I don't seek to judge a case that I know little about and the man is innocent until proven guilty, but I just want to reiterate how shameful that reaction was on IM.
Advocates for human rights, REAL ones, don't have asterixs next to their stated goals of standing up for what's right. It isn't standing up for victims (*when convenient, or *if the accused is someone I dislike, if I like them screw the victim!)
I agree with you 8:03am, with a small, but to me important, clarification.
DeleteIf I am on a jury, then the guy is innocent until proven guilty. In all other circumstances I get to make my own judgements, just like I do about whose house my kids can stay at. I don't care what the jury said, I would never let my child be alone with Michael Jackson. I don't actually know what he or didn't do on any particular occasion; I just know he's right out of the textbook on pedophiles and I wouldn't trust him with kids, particularly ones I am supervising. I am allowed to make that judgement. I would do whatever I could to keep my daughter away from O.J. Simpson. Both before and after a jury spoke.
INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY only counts for when someone's legal rights are at stake and the only people with that responsibility are the jury members. The rest of us are free to have our opinions.
I'm not suggesting people rush to judgement either. But there's a big gap between rushing to judgment, and withholding all judgment until a jury speaks.
I would caution against demonizing pedophiles too much. I have a great deal of sympathy for pedophiles - RIGHT AFTER we protect children from them. I've worked with pedophiles. Some are scum, just like heterosexuals and homosexuals. Others are pretty normal and sympathetic except for this part of their life. I know this is a big part. I know this is a part that we need to protect all children from.
DeleteMany people used to think (some still do) that homosexuality was bad or wrong or weird. But homosexuality isn't something you can change. Well, what if your inherent, preferences are towards children. I'm not saying just let them "do it." I'm saying I have sympathy for someone who wants children. That doesn't give them a pass. I still want them kept away from children. But I have sympathy for their situation. They are more than their sexual preference.
AND I AM NOT SAYING that pedophilia and homosexuality are somehow similar. I'm saying that sexual preference (be he hetero, homo or pedophilia), has hardwiring.
One of the problems pedophilia have is in getting help. And the demonizing them, rather than supporting them (as a person, not their sexual preferences) continues the circumstances of making it difficult to get help. It makes them hate themselves more so they try to repress it, it makes them run away from who they are (e.g. priesthood) to find relief, it makes it difficult to admit their prefernce to anyone as making them subject to report.
Please do not misinterpret me. I'm not saying that pedophilia is okay. IT'S NOT. But some of the people who commit acts of pedophilia are also people who have a lot of good in them, which needs to be channeled in ways that protect children, but still can contribute to society.
953:
DeleteVery beautifully written, and well said. They need support, not all pedofiles act upon their urges.
Sad about the outcome here. I'm hopeful these charges will prove to be unsubstantiated, but resigning should take some of the heat off the organization, which is battling for its survival. Unfortunately, this will be used unfairly as ammo by those who want to shut down funding of PBS.
ReplyDelete===========================================
O/T--- On a lighter note, here is a link to Syrin's "Dairy Queen" parody song about Granny Grifter.
But first, a word of caution:
Once an Abba song is stuck in your head, it can be there for several days before you are able to stop humming and singing it unconsciously every time your mind goes on autopilot. Seems like I can't fold clothes without telling anyone around what song is implanted in my brain that day. Off-key.
http://www.indabamusic.com/asset/show/1389924
It makes me feel bad.
ReplyDeleteI shudder to think that the nasty, gossipy old ladies were right. They always said men can’t be trusted with children. They didn’t distinguish between homosexuals and heterosexuals; it was just “men.” It was easy to dismiss those ladies because they were so mean, but I fear they were on to something.
No they were not! Stop being an IMBECILE! Does this change your mind on whether your father/brother/uncle/husband/partner/son can be trusted with children? Absolutely NOT. Is it a reflection on all homosexual men? No, of course not. A reflection on all puppeteers? No, of course not!
DeleteOnly someone with a troglodytic mind would be so simple as to draw that from this story. Shorter Darlene: all men can't be trusted, shoot them all! Gryphen, that's you, mate, sorry about that. No men can be ever trusted again, ever, sorry.
Does it ever occur to people like you that the reason why predators choose these occupations is for the very reason they can get closer to their victims more easily in the guise of 'work'? I'm not even saying he was doing that; I've got the impression his victims were much older than Elmo fans, not that thats an excuse at all. But the truth is that predators will seek out positions like teachers, clergy, etc in order to be more trusted when left alone with children,
A normal person understands that Darlene. But YOU take from that that all clergy and teachers are scary scary predators waiting to prey on our youngsters! And ALL men should be watched! You're as bad as the idiotic non thinking conservatives you claim to not be!
My goodness! To all the men out there and to Gryphen, G man; please ignore histrons like this lady, we are not all like this. I for one love my men, everything about them, and I'm proud to snuggle up to a proud bicep each night and feel protected. I love men and if this changes your impression of man one bit, you need help!
Fathers are men.
DeleteAre you saying Fathers can't be trusted with their own children? Or just other people's children?
Oh come on Darelene! That is ridiculous and you know it.
DeleteYou know I lost my virginity when I was quite young to a girl who was sixteen, and then when I was sixteen had a sexual encounter with a woman in her thirties. Does THAT mean that women should not be trusted around children. or teenage boys?
Of course not, and to insinuate such a thing is completely insane.
You think this is a sad story? I think it's a happy story because another fucking queer pedophile has been caught before he can damage any more children's lives. Come on jesse, see the rainbow in this! You can do it and you know there's no reason to not print this either. Or is there?
ReplyDeleteAnonymous8:47 AM
DeleteI KNEW you would be all over THIS post with your Creepy ChuckSr talk about "queers" and such! You know EVERYTIME I see one of your trollish post...Wallow's big old moon face comes to mind...Gee...I wonder...WHY! LOL!!
Well gina, if you don't like what I said then maybe it says more about you than it says about anything else.
DeleteAnonymous1:25 PM
DeleteWell thanks for acknowledging my comment....WALLOW!
You could give a shit about "queer pedophile"...whatever the fuck that means...you're a dumbass Palin and a stupid troll to boot...go take care of your squalling baby and leave the grown ups alone...okay pumpkin!
Dumbass hillbillies with access to the internet are REALLY starting to get on my NERVES! LOL!!
When there is an arsonist running around lighting fires the first place the police look is to the volunteer fire department. When children are being abuse by pedophiles the first place to look is to where men work with children, including volunteers working with children. Keep it in mind and be cautious of giving any of them the benefit of the doubt.
ReplyDeleteOT: NASA may reveal a discovery of historic proportions in the next few weeks:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.npr.org/2012/11/20/165513016/big-news-from-mars-rover-scientists-mum-for-now
Why settle for $175,000 when you can get a few million?
ReplyDeleteWhy not get on the gravy train and cash in now that you know there's money in accusations.
I feel sorry for Clash. I truly believe he is the victim here. And these accusations have tainted his life's work and the character he created.
Proof is hard to produce on either side. But I do hope that there is a way to prove that both of these extortionists are lying and are doing so for profit. (Or even to take down PBS. Would be interesting if there was a right wing superpac behind this, wouldn't it?)
I don't know how this will turn out, but I'd like to believe that Clash is not guilty of these charges. To your point, Gryphen, on the public perception of homosexuals = pedophiles, I agree that's a problem. However, it's safe to say that there are heterosexual pedophiles and homosexual pedophiles. The same range of human sexuality exists in every sub-group. As more healthy homosexuals participate openly in our society, the tendency to conflate them with child abusers will eventually cease. (I hope).
ReplyDeleteRather than hoping for good things to happen to Clash, I hope that some child's life hasn't been destroyed by him. But then that's just a matter of us having slightly different priorities isn't it.
Delete@ 1:24
DeleteDo you need a good ego stroke or something? Your attempts at subtle insults and self-righteousness are glaring.
Maybe instead of trying to brag about how awesome you are, you should develop some thinking skills. If he's not guilty of the charges, then no child's life has been "destroyed" by him. So, no. You two don't have different priorities, and you're not better than Physicsmom. Now get off the internet and let the adults talk.
The term "pedophilia" keeps getting bantered about, but incorrectly in the context of this story. There is a distinction, albeit maybe not all that much, between pedophilia and other kinds of child abuse. Pedophilia refers to sexual interest in pre-pubescent children, while this story is more about "Ephebophilia" which concerns adult sexual interest in teenagers from 15-19 years old.
ReplyDeleteSee Pedophilia, from Wikipedia:
"This article (about pedophilia) is about the sexual interest in prepubescent children. For the sexual act, see Child sexual abuse. For the primary sexual interest in 11–14 year old pubescents, see Hebephilia. For mid-to-late adolescents (15–19), see Ephebophilia.
Not to be confused with Paraphilic infantilism."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pedophilia
I wish people would hold off on using the word "pedophile" unless they know much more information than I've seen so far. Pedophilia involves a sexual interest in pre-pubescent or adolescent children. Having sex with an underage person, i.e. teenager, would be considered immoral by most of us and might be illegal too. But many teenagers are physiologically adults. There are plenty of 16-year-olds who are as physical mature as typical 21-year-olds. I am NOT excusing behavior, but "pedophile" is a word that carries so much emotional charge and I think it should be saved for what it really means.
ReplyDeleteEven if all of Clash's boyfriends turn out to be over 18, I'm still REALLY pissed at his judgment and priorities !
ReplyDelete"Sesame Street" isn't just a long-running, highly-acclaimed, educational kids show. It's an American institution.
The idea that ANY of its middle-aged employees, male or female, would troll the internet for just-barely-legal-aged sex partners makes my skin crawl.
Clash HAD to know he was playing with dynamite -- that public disclosure of his "love life" was almost certain to cause a MAJOR scandal. He should have left "Sesame Street" long ago.
But he put himself first and has now managed to hand the nutty "de-fund PBS" wackos a major rallying point and also, single-handedly and virtually overnight, turned millions of Elmo products into very ugly double-entendre jokes. ("Tickle Me Elmo," anyone ?)
If Clash is guilty I really hope they throw the book at him.
But even if he's innocent, his stupid, selfish behavior could well impact "Sesame Street," PBS and the millions of little kids who love Elmo ... myself included.
Shame on Kevin Clash !
I feel badly for Clash, but he's doing the right thing by resigning. And so is PBS. I hope this isn't blown out of proportion by those who want to defund PBS.
ReplyDeleteUntil it's proven in a court of law, I think we should reserve judgement. Something sounds fishy with the first accuser's recanting the recantation and returning the money (not blaming the "victim(s)", just questioning the motive after settling).
Whoever takes over being the voice of "Elmo" has big shoes to fill.
I MAY withold judgement, but I'm not waiting for a court to tell me how I should judge. In my particular case I have no need to decide and I am open to new information. but if he were my next door neighbor no way am I waiting for the court to tell me whether he's safe to leave around my chldren.
DeleteI don't think there is anything fish with the first accuser. I don't know for certain if he was telling the truth with the allegation or the recantation, but I know his behavior us very consistent with the literature on victims. And it makes sense. You tell the world (not just friends or families in this case, although the same would apply) and the world doesn't like hearing what you say. ANd you start getting backlash and questions about what you said. And it's easiser to just recant. Especially if there is money - which isn't to say money was the motivator for the allegations. And then you regret that re-allege.
People who think recanting is a sign of lying don't understand the pressures on those who speak out about abuse. It might be lying, but more often it isn't.
Nobody likes Lady Gaga?
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wV1FrqwZyKw
i am 51 years old and I watch this girls nature, what she is trying to tell the world.She's weird as hell, but she makes an enormous sense
anyone realizing the young today? Miss Lady, she tells you to love yourself, and she was born the way she is...
DeleteLove yourself, you were born this way!
DeleteVery sad indeed..My son is gay and i would hope that he never took advantage of a younger person than what he was. I trully don't think he ever did or wouldn't have because of his up bringing, but this is very sad to hear that this man was taking advantage of young men. It's so very very sad. How many parents have to break this to their children? It's so very sad.
ReplyDeleteGryphen,
ReplyDeleteHave you ever thought to just post peoples thoughts and comments? You take forever to post comments. Just saying :-)
You send the greatest message in all of your posts, yet you aren't going to post anyones thoughts, I think you are a great person, but you are not feeling the public.
ReplyDeleteLets make this all ok, listen to this womans words and her artistic behaviour, she was born the way she was, and my son was born the way he was. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wV1FrqwZyKw
ReplyDeletethis woman stands for every essence of gayness, pay attention to what gay people have to say in this world today.
ReplyDelete