Culture

Gay Sesame Street actor Kevin Clash quits show

Nov 20 2012
Written by Scott Roberts

Kevin Clash has resigned from Sesame Street in the wake of fresh allegations that he had sex with an underage youth.

Last week, a 23-year-old man accused the gay actor of having sex with him when he was a teenage boy, a charge Mr Clash denied.

A day later, the man recanted his charge.

US Today reports a lawsuit by a second accuser was filed Tuesday.

The lawsuit alleges that Cecil Singleton, then 15 and now an adult was persuaded by Mr Clash to meet for sexual encounters.

Last week, the show’s bosses threw their weight behind the 52-year-old.

However, in a statement today, Sesame Workshop called the controversy surrounding Mr Clash’s personal life “a distraction that none of us want” and led to his decision to leave the show.

Mr Clash created the voice and persona for Elmo, who has become one of the most popular characters in the long running US children’s series.

In a statement, Mr Clash said: “I have loved every day of my 28 years working for this exceptional organisation. Personal matters have diverted attention away from the important work [the show] 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.”