JCC Elmo accused of child molestation.

NEW YORK (AP) — 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."

http://news.yahoo.com/elmo-puppeteer-accused-underage-relationship-150143910.html

Kevin Clash has worked with the Jim Henson Company for a long time...Elmo might be his most famous role, but he's done a lot more, from Labyrinth to Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

Needless to say, I honestly hope that this allegation isn't true.

Thread title is a bit misleading, isn't it?

Having a relationship with a 16 year old boy is a bit different from child molestation.

Not in the eyes of federal law.

http://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/28/549.93

This. Otherwise Splinter is played by a pervert.

Well, Splinter is an old dude who hangs around a bunch of teenagers....

"I had a relationship with [the accuser]. It was between two consenting adults and I am deeply saddened that he is trying to make it into something it was not."

From here.

That he raised as his sons.

Anyone else notice that Telly seems a little TOO friendly with Baby Bear? Telly has a bit of molester vibe about him and I wouldn't be surprised if he's a secret member of NAMBLA (North American Monster Bear Love Association) and Baby Bear is clearly underage and probably doesn't know that what Telly does is out of bounds. This sounds like something which will be covered in a "Very Special Episode" of Sesame Street.

There's a reason Oscar was a grouch ya know.

He caught the clap from Prarie Dawn too, eh?

Age of consent in NY is 17. If the guy was 16 at the time of their relationship, then it's statutory rape. But there aren't any criminal charges being filed and they'd said the claim couldn't be substantiated. I mean, yeah, it could be something bad... or it could just be a scorned boyfriend.

As one article I read on this noted, it's extremely rare for child molesters to admit anything. They usually have wives and families and are rarely self-identified homosexuals. Liking boys and liking men are very different things. The fact that Clash just went right ahead and said he'd been in a relationship with this man tends to make me think the guy was actually a consenting adult. But who knows.

My sources say Mr. Snuffleupagus.

We should have expected these sort of things when we let Bert and Ernie go pushing their agenda upon Sesame Street. It's all downhill from here.

I think the Count has to share some of the blame.

I'm crossing my fingers on that.

http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/11/13/accuser-recants-allegation-against-elmo-puppeteer/

I still thing the Telly/Baby Bear relationship is totally wrong. Telly is probably a charter North American Monster Bear Love Association (NAMBLA) member.

Glad to see Clash vindicated. The young man who accused should be ashamed of himself. Now that he is no longer a protected sex victim, his name should be released and he should be the subject of a slander lawsuit from Clash.

Okay so can we get a lock here? This thread is over. Clash will not discuss it further, neither shall we.

Lol. In before the lock. Nice to see that Elmo isn't a pedofile.

He tickled him wrong.

Brilliant...

http://gawker.com/5960658/how-to-ex...strated-guide-starring-justin-bieber-and-elmo

Awesome!