Kevin Clash with the popular Elmo

The Sesame Workshop has announced today that Elmo puppeteer Kevin Clash has resigned. Clash who is also the voice of Elmo has stepped down amid underage sex allegations.

Last week, a 24-year-old ‘male model’ Sheldon Stephens publicly accused Clash of having a sexual relationship with him when he was 16 years old (underage across the pond), only to recant his statement one day later, and a second lawsuit was reportedly filed by another individual today.

In a statement the Sesame Workshop 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.

Clash has admitted that he and Stephens were once lovers but denies the allegation that Stephens was underage at the time.

Accuser Sheldon Stephens

I have been following this story from the very beginning and in my opinion Clash is being subjected to a nasty case of ‘trial by media’.

I can see why he had to resign because he was working for a world famous brand geared towards children and the controversy surrounding these allegations is proving to be a distraction. But at this point in time there is no evidence to suggest that he was engaged in a sexual relationship with Sheldon Stephens while he was still a minor.

If however it is true then Stephens should stop flip flopping and take  the man to court. The same also goes for 24 year old college student Cecil Singleton who accuses Clash of engaging in “sexual behaviour” with him when he was 15 years old, after they allegedly met on a gay chat line.

Second accuser college student Cecil Singleton

Singleton is suing Clash for more than $5million *side eye*

What a sorry state of affairs.

Goodbye Elmo. Rest In Peace.