Elmo puppeteer Kevin Clash resigns after more sex allegations
London, Nov 21 (ANI)
Elmo puppeteer Kevin Clash has resigned from 'Sesame Street' in the wake of claims that he had sex with an underage youth, as a further allegation emerged.
Last week a man accused Clash, 52, of having sex with him when he was a teenage boy, a claim he denied. A day later, the man withdrew his charge.
Now a second accuser, Cecil Singleton, has filed a 5 million-dollar lawsuit alleging that when he was 15, when he was persuaded by Clash to meet for sexual encounters.
Singleton claims he met the then 32-year-old puppeteer in 1993 in a gay chat room.
His lawsuit, filed in New York, added that on numerous occasions over a period of years Clash engaged in sexual activity with him.
Following his resignation Sesame Workshop said: "Unfortunately, the controversy surrounding Kevin's personal life has become a distraction that none of us wants, 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," the New York-based non-profit organisation added.
In a statement of his own, Clash said: "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," he said.