Puppeteer Kevin Clash (AKA as Elmo) has retired from his duties at Sesame Street citing needing to focus on his personal issues. He released the following statement on Tuesday,
I am resigning from Sesame Workshop with a very heavy heart. I have loved every day of my 28 years working for this exceptional organization, 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. — Kevin Clash
This statements came quickly after a second accuser came forward saying that Clash engaged in a relationship with an underage boy. The accuser named in the lawsuit is Cecil Singleton claims that he met Clash on a gay phone chat line back in 1993.
Singleton was quoted saying
[Clash] trolled gay telephone chat line rooms to meet and have sex with underage boys.
groomed [the accuser] to gain his trust by, among other things, taking him to nice dinners and giving him money.
Singleton also claims that he didn’t come forward sooner because