Take Two translates the day’s headlines for Southern California, making sense of the news and cultural events that affect our lives. Produced by Southern California Public Radio and broadcast from October 2012 – June 2021. Hosted by A Martinez.
Kevin Clash, the puppeteer who created and voiced Elmo, has resigned. Last week a man accused Clash of having sex with him when he was a teenager, but recanted his story a day later.
On Tuesday, TMZ reported that a second accuser has filed a lawsuit claiming that he and Clash had a sexual relationship beginning in 1993 when the two met in a telephone chatroom when Singleton was 15 and Clash was 32.
Sesame Workshop says the controversy was a distraction that led to Clash's resignation:
"Unfortunately, the controversy surrounding Kevin’s personal life has become a distraction that none of us want, 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."
Clash released his own statement on his resignation:
"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."
Jeff Bercovici from Forbes Magazine joins the show to talk about the details of the story.