We are all familiar with the lyrics, “Can you tell me how to get to Sesame Street?” Is it the same neighborhood?
I grew up watching “Sesame Street” and the “Electric Company” back in
the day, so like many of you I’ve been a bit concerned about all the
recent media attention around one of its more popular residents -- Elmo
-- or the man that brings Elmo to life, Kevin Clash.
Holy Muppet madness Batman!
Unless you are suffering from a concussion sustained during a HD TV
brawl on Black Friday, you surely have followed the ongoing Sesame
Street-Elmo scandal.
Well, to quickly catch you up: An unidentified young man accused
Clash of an inappropriate sexual relationship that allegedly took place
when the accuser was a minor. This accusation was in the media for days.
Clash made a statement to NBC news acknowledging that he is homosexual
but denied any inappropriate relationship with the accuser.
But right before the phrase “Tickle me Elmo” was about to take on
nefarious tone, the accuser recanted and Clash seemed to be in the
clear. That turn of events was not only good news to Clash but to the
larger LGBT community, because it only fed the stereotype of gay men as
predators. I was personally pulling for Clash and thought that this was
just some young trade trying to stunt him out of some cash.
Clash was barely on his knees again (as a puppeteer, people) when
another accuser, Cecil Singleton, filed a similar suit. Singleton, who
is now a 24-year-old college student, claimed to have had a two-week
relationship with Clash back in 2003, when Singleton was only 15.
That allegation seemed too much for Clash, who resigned and released
this statement: "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."
I hate that Clash felt that he had to resign, because as long as he
was working Elmo, we at least knew where his hands were. Anyway, Clash’s
life just became more complicated because yet another lawsuit has been
filed against him.
The latest comes from a Florida man who says he went to New York in
2000, when he was 16, to visit relatives while pursuing modeling
opportunities. He alleges that he met Clash on a gay chat line while
Clash was posing as a 30-year-old man named Craig. A few conversations
later, the lawsuit alleges, the young man went to Clash’s Manhattan
apartment, where Clash allegedly gave the accuser alcohol and engaged in
sexual contact with the accuser. Clash allegedly kept in contact with
the accuser until he finished high school, turned 18 and moved to New
York, where they continued their relationship.
This story in some areas becomes very convoluted. I am not condoning
Clash’s decisions. The reality is that some of these young people look
old for their ages, and Clash might be more appropriately accused of
being an older man with bad judgment than a predator. The jury is still
out.
The story becomes even more complicated as Clash is now facing a 4th accuser.
Regardless of his sexuality, Clash is an adult, and if nothing else
maybe he should stop being a gay cougar chasing young trade and pursue
relationships with folks closer to his own age.
I started this column waxing nostalgic about Sesame Street, but with
Mitt Romney’s Big Bird gaffe and now Elmo’s sex scandal, some of these
children’s characters have been caught up in very adult situations.
Is Sesame Street now in the hood?
Sesame Street to me is like so many urban neighborhoods -- changed
due to urban flight, gentrification and a fickle real estate market.
Yes, the neighborhood surrounding Sesame Street may have changed, but
its long-time residents maintain their integrity and core values.
With change, we learn to adapt. So rather than walking and risking a
potential mugging simply to ask,” Can you tell me how to get to Sesame
Street?” I follow the GPS from the comfort and safety of a cab…smile.
