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Tag: Sesame Street (1-5 of 5)

Apr 3 2013 09:23 AM ET

Elmo puppeteer sued again for sexual abuse

Tags: Elmo, Kevin Clash, Lawsuits, Sesame Street

A puppeteer who was the voice of Elmo on Sesame Street is being sued for the fifth time, accused of sexually abusing a teenage boy.

In a federal lawsuit filed in New York on Tuesday, 25-year-old Kevin Kiadii says he was 16 when he met Kevin Clash during an online chat.

Kiadii attorney Jeff Herman says Clash sent a limousine to pick up the teen in Brooklyn and take him to his Manhattan apartment for sex.

Herman represents four other people who filed similar lawsuits. He acknowledges his clients were compliant but says the 52-year-old puppeteer took advantage of them by playing father to them.

Clash resigned from Sesame Street in November. He has denied any wrongdoing. His lawyer hasn’t responded to a call for comment on the latest lawsuit, which seeks unspecified damages.

Mar 19 2013 06:44 PM ET

Former Elmo puppeteer Kevin Clash facing more sexual abuse charges

by Associated Press

Tags: Elmo, Kevin Clash, Legal, Sesame Street

A man who initially recanted sex abuse allegations against the former puppeteer of the Sesame Street character Elmo has sued him, alleging the entertainer lured him into drug-fueled sex when he was 16.

“I was taken advantage of by someone a lot older, and manipulated,” Sheldon Stephens, who’s now 24, told a Manhattan news conference on Tuesday. READ FULL STORY »

Dec 10 2012 05:24 PM ET

Fourth accuser steps forward against Elmo puppeteer Kevin Clash

by Associated Press

Tags: Kevin Clash, Legal, Sesame Street

Another man on Monday sued the former Elmo puppeteer who resigned amid sex abuse allegations, claiming the voice actor befriended him in Miami and promised to be a father figure before flying the teen to New York to have sex with him.

The alleged victim is now the fourth to accuse Kevin Clash, who resigned from Sesame Street last month after 28 years. The three legal actions filed so far have been civil cases seeking financial compensation.

But the incident with the latest victim, referred to only as S.M., could involve criminal charges because the lawsuit claims Clash transported him across state lines for the purpose of engaging in sexual activity.

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Nov 13 2012 05:40 PM ET

Elmo accuser recants statement against puppeteer

by EW staff

Tags: Kevin Clash, Legal, Sesame Street

The man who accused Kevin Clash, the voice and puppeteer behind Sesame Street’s Elmo, of an underage sexual relationship has recanted his statement, the New York Times reports.

The accuser, who has not been named, said through his lawyers, “he wants it to be known that his sexual relationship with Mr. Clash was an adult consensual relationship.”

Clash told EW in a statement: “”I am relieved that this painful allegation has been put to rest. I will not discuss it further.”

Nov 12 2012 12:22 PM ET

Elmo puppeteer accused of underage relationship

by Associated Press

Tags: Kevin Clash, Sesame Street

The puppeteer who performs as Elmo on Sesame Street is taking a leave of absence from the popular kids’ show in the wake of allegations that he had a relationship with a 16-year-old boy.

Sesame Workshop said puppeteer Kevin Clash denies the charges, which were first made in June by the alleged partner, who by then was 23.

“We took the allegation very seriously and took immediate action,” Sesame Workshop said in a statement issued Monday. “We met with the accuser twice and had repeated communications with him. We met with Kevin, who denied the accusation.”

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