Shouldn't have tickled him, Elmo [Sesame Street puppeteer resigns after sex allegations]

[Gyrate]

Kevin Clash, the voice of giggly red Muppet Elmo, has been accused of having sex with an underaged (16.y.o.) teenager by the now-23-year-old man. Clash, who is 52, is denying the underaged sex claim but is on a "leave of absence" to deal with the issue.

Say it ain't so, Elmo...

[drastic_quench]

Fisting joke.

[Sateryn76]

Originally Posted by drastic_quench

Fisting joke.

I just that after, like, 2 hours.

Well played.

[Shodan]

golf clap

Regards,
Shodan

[Battle Pope]

"Let's ask Mr. Noodle!"

[Intergalactic Gladiator]

Just in time for Christmas, the new Molest Me Elmo doll.

[maggenpye]

Between this and the "Jimmy Savile looked like a paedo" thread, I am going to hell for laughing so much.

[aruvqan]

And I still wouldn't be at all surprised if Mr Rogers ended up with some form of report about being a paedo as well. He always struck me as absolutely smarmy.

[Sattua]

Can't wait for Jimmy Fallon's next Capital One commercial. Sex with minors, how do YOU feel about it? Let's ask the baby!

Baby: WWAAAAHHHHHHHHH

[Noelq]

I sure hope it isn't true. I've had great esteem for the man since watching his documentary, and I'd hate to see him fall so low.

[Little Nemo]

Clash, who is openly gay, has apparently said that he did have a sexual relationship with his accuser. But he's said it did not occur when he was underage.

So this is apparently going to end up being an issue of whether it was a 45-year-old seducing a 16-year-old or a 47-year-old seducing an 18-year-old and what the statutory rape laws were where the sex occurred. So even best-case scenario, it's going to end up being pretty sordid.

[Ferret Herder]

Originally Posted by aruvqan

And I still wouldn't be at all surprised if Mr Rogers ended up with some form of report about being a paedo as well. He always struck me as absolutely smarmy.

Nearly a decade in his grave without allegations isn't enough time for you to mark him off as 'probably not a paedo'?

Edit: I can think of quite a few people who I find smarmy as fuck but I wouldn't think they're child molesters.

[Kimstu]

Originally Posted by aruvqan

And I still wouldn't be at all surprised if Mr Rogers ended up with some form of report about being a paedo as well. He always struck me as absolutely smarmy.

Have a care, sirrah, you are speaking of the man I love.

Anyway, Mr. Rogers has been dead for nearly ten years now, so if any traumatized abuse victims are burning to expose his atrocities, they're being awfully patient about it.

[Small Hen]

Originally Posted by Battle Pope

"Let's ask Mr. Noodle!"

"NO Mr. Noodle, not like that, Mr Noodle!"

[Mahaloth]

Originally Posted by Little Nemo

Clash, who is openly gay, has apparently said that he did have a sexual relationship with his accuser. But he's said it did not occur when he was underage.

Where did he say this?

[Hail Ants]

"Elmo like little boys!"

It's hard not to laugh about this, but I also respect the guy and hope it goes away quickly. Given the facts I've read so far he's not even remotely a child molester.

Originally Posted by aruvqan

And I still wouldn't be at all surprised if Mr Rogers ended up with some form of report about being a paedo as well. He always struck me as absolutely smarmy.

Don't hold your breath. Although the site itself hasn't been updated in like a year, even Rotten.com had absolutely nothing bad to say about him. To quote from the beginning of the article:

"His offscreen lifestyle was identical to that of his television persona: a reassuring adult who was not only happy to sit and talk, but one who managed to live out his entire life without the slightest whisper of scandal -- unless you count one the time he nearly missed a hole while buttoning up his cardigan."

I've read interviews with a lot of people who worked with him behind the scenes and when asked, "What's he really like", without exception every single person has said precisely the same thing, namely that he was exactly the same off-camera as he was on. It was not an act in any way, shape or form.

[alphaboi867]

Originally Posted by Little Nemo

...So this is apparently going to end up being an issue of whether it was a 45-year-old seducing a 16-year-old or a 47-year-old seducing an 18-year-old and what the statutory rape laws were where the sex occurred. So even best-case scenario, it's going to end up being pretty sordid.

Or a 46 yr old having sex with a 17 yr old. The age of consent in NYS is 17.

[HazelNutCoffee]

Originally Posted by Mahaloth

Where did he say this?

http://www.theroot.com/buzz/man-behi...ex-allegations
http://www.slate.com/blogs/trending/...legations.html

[miss elizabeth]

Originally Posted by aruvqan

And I still wouldn't be at all surprised if Mr Rogers ended up with some form of report about being a paedo as well. He always struck me as absolutely smarmy.

You've been taken to task well enough for posting this garbage, but you ought to be ashamed of yourself for slandering a wonderful person like Fred Rogers. What a low, disgusting thing to do.

[Face Intentionally Left Blank]

Originally Posted by aruvqan

And I still wouldn't be at all surprised if Mr Rogers ended up with some form of report about being a paedo as well. He always struck me as absolutely smarmy.

There's never been a peep about the man, and he lived in my town.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yXEuEUQIP3Q

He visited me in the hospital as a child, and much to your surprise, did not molest me.

[Ferret Herder]

On a lunch break several months back, I watched some videos of Mr. Rogers online (like him defending PBS in front of the Senate, and read this essay, and cried my damned eyes out. I claimed terrible allergies that day.

Back to the topic, I was charmed if a bit troubled by the documentary (Being Elmo) I saw about Kevin Clash, as there seemed to be a fair amount of turmoil in his life and broken marriage. I chalked it up to not having any time for his wife and kid, as he admitted, but didn't realize it might (also) have been due to his sexuality. I hope this situation isn't as terrible as it's being portrayed. Nonetheless, I suspect his career is probably done even if it was a truly consensual relationship.

[Hail Ants]

Originally Posted by Ferret Herder

Back to the topic, I was charmed if a bit troubled by the documentary (Being Elmo) I saw about Kevin Clash, as there seemed to be a fair amount of turmoil in his life and broken marriage. I chalked it up to not having any time for his wife and kid, as he admitted, but didn't realize it might (also) have been due to his sexuality. I hope this situation isn't as terrible as it's being portrayed. Nonetheless, I suspect his career is probably done even if it was a truly consensual relationship.

Yeah, come to think of it I too watched that docu, and I'd completely forgotten that he was married and had a kid. I think his career has a good chance to come out unscathed. Unless some fringe groups try (and succeed) to make a big deal about it, he has several key points in his favor:

• Being gay, even on a kid's show, isn't a big deal (as long as someone doesn't insist on making it one). Richard Hunt, a long time Muppet performer, was also gay and died of AIDS yet few remember that.
• Elmo is world famous, Kevin Clash is not. No one recognizes his name, face, or normal speaking voice.
• Kids can't really know or care about adult things like this, it will go completely over their heads.

[Ferret Herder]

Originally Posted by Hail Ants

Yeah, come to think of it I too watched that docu, and I'd completely forgotten that he was married and had a kid. I think his career has a good chance to come out unscathed. Unless some fringe groups try (and succeed) to make a big deal about it, he has several key points in his favor:

• Being gay, even on a kid's show, isn't a big deal (as long as someone doesn't insist on making it one). Richard Hunt, a long time Muppet performer, was also gay and died of AIDS yet few remember that.
• Elmo is world famous, Kevin Clash is not. No one recognizes his name, face, or normal speaking voice.
• Kids can't really know or care about adult things like this, it will go completely over their heads.

I hope so. But PBS fired Fred Willard for wanking in a porn theater, and he wasn't even on any kids' shows - and what else are those places for anyway? "Indecent exposure" in a porn theater, vs. allegations of sex with an underage vs merely teenage guy... I don't know. We'll see how it shakes out I guess.

[Acsenray]

I feel like a real jerk right now because the first thought that went through my head was "Elmo ruined Sesame Street; hope they get rid of him."

[Ferret Herder]

Originally Posted by Acsenray

I feel like a real jerk right now because the first thought that went through my head was "Elmo ruined Sesame Street; hope they get rid of him."

To be honest, I'm no fan of Elmo himself and so wouldn't care if the character disappeared from the media in general, but apparently he really resonates with toddlers. I know I'm not his target audience.

[Battle Pope]

Originally Posted by Ferret Herder

On a lunch break several months back, I watched some videos of Mr. Rogers online (like him defending PBS in front of the Senate, and read this essay, and cried my damned eyes out. I claimed terrible allergies that day.

*Aside* I've never seen a full episode of Mr. Rogers' show, AFAIK it never played on TV here. I'm aware of him from references on other TV shows or movies.

That was a great essay and really painted a vivid picture of the man. Thanks.

*Aside over*

[MPB in Salt Lake]

Originally Posted by aruvqan

And I still wouldn't be at all surprised if Mr Rogers ended up with some form of report about being a paedo as well. He always struck me as absolutely smarmy.

The late, great, much beloved SDMB poster known as Diogenes the Cynic also thought that Mr. Rogers just had to be a child molester, so clearly great minds do indeed think alike.

[Terr]

Originally Posted by Ferret Herder

To be honest, I'm no fan of Elmo himself and so wouldn't care if the character disappeared from the media in general, but apparently he really resonates with toddlers. I know I'm not his target audience.

^this. I hate hate hate Elmo's voice and referring to himself in third person. My 1.5-year-old loves him. He has a magical effect on her whenever she watches her half-hour-per-day of him before sleep.

I don't think they would have to work too hard to find a replacement though.

[RockytheflyingS]

Originally Posted by Hail Ants

Yeah, come to think of it I too watched that docu, and I'd completely forgotten that he was married and had a kid. I think his career has a good chance to come out unscathed. Unless some fringe groups try (and succeed) to make a big deal about it, he has several key points in his favor:

• Being gay, even on a kid's show, isn't a big deal (as long as someone doesn't insist on making it one). Richard Hunt, a long time Muppet performer, was also gay and died of AIDS yet few remember that.
• Elmo is world famous, Kevin Clash is not. No one recognizes his name, face, or normal speaking voice.
• Kids can't really know or care about adult things like this, it will go completely over their heads.

I know very little about Clash, but I have to wonder if the accuser is looking for fame/money. I could imagine an 18 year old going out with a much older person for finacial gain if they were in a consensual relationship. It seems very weird he's coming out with it almost ten years later if he was indeed molested. I think, but could be wrong, they were probably together. It ended and now the accuser wants money or was always looking for money and jumped on the opportunity when it presented itself. It reminds me of someone else who was gay and he married this guy and about two years later he took him for all he had. A lot of people close to the star said they thought the husband was always in it for cash.

[RockytheflyingS]

Originally Posted by Ferret Herder

To be honest, I'm no fan of Elmo himself and so wouldn't care if the character disappeared from the media in general, but apparently he really resonates with toddlers. I know I'm not his target audience.

Elmo isn't good for toddlers. They don't learn any thing from his moron babbel. I remember when I did my student teaching, the teacher would let them watch Sesame Street. I couldn't believe how much they changed from when I was a child. That was around 2009. I can imagine it's only gotten worse.

[Little Nemo]

Mr Rodgers is responsible for the Zombie Apocalypse.

No, really. George Romero used to work on Mister Rodgers' Neighborhood. Romero said that Rodgers was a great guy and encouraged him to get into feature film making. Romero took the risk and made Night of the Living Dead, which invented the modern zombie genre. Romero invited Rodgers to see the movie when it was finished and Rodgers said "It's a lot of fun, George."

[Larry Mudd]

Originally Posted by Hail Ants

Elmo is world famous, Kevin Clash is not. No one recognizes his name, face, or normal speaking voice.

I wouldn't say that, particularly after the success of Being Elmo, which is an astonishingly interesting documentary.

[muldoonthief]

Originally Posted by MPB in Salt Lake

The late, great, much beloved SDMB poster known as Diogenes the Cynic also thought that Mr. Rogers just had to be a child molester, so clearly great minds do indeed think alike.

I'm now eagerly awaiting the definitive Moderator ruling as to whether claiming someone is similar to Diogenes the Cynic violates the "No personal insults" rule.

[amanset]

Originally Posted by Little Nemo

So this is apparently going to end up being an issue of whether it was a 45-year-old seducing a 16-year-old or a 47-year-old seducing an 18-year-old and what the statutory rape laws were where the sex occurred. So even best-case scenario, it's going to end up being pretty sordid.

Why are you so sure that it would be the older guy doing the seducing (especially in the case where the younger person is above the age of consent)?

I've never lived somewhere where a sixteen year old couldn't legally have sex, so even the "younger" case seems to me like either could be doing the seducing.

[friedo]

Originally Posted by Ferret Herder

To be honest, I'm no fan of Elmo himself and so wouldn't care if the character disappeared from the media in general, but apparently he really resonates with toddlers. I know I'm not his target audience.

Kevin Clash is also a genuinely nice guy. (Watch Being Elmo if you don't believe me; I also met him briefly in person once.) It's always disheartening to see accusations against someone you like and admire. I don't think he's the kind of guy who would engage in such a dastardly act.

[Jophiel]

Originally Posted by RockytheflyingS

Elmo isn't good for toddlers. They don't learn any thing from his moron babbel. I remember when I did my student teaching, the teacher would let them watch Sesame Street. I couldn't believe how much they changed from when I was a child. That was around 2009. I can imagine it's only gotten worse.

The show skews younger now because, surprise, six year olds these days don't watch Sesame Street. Too many other options with all the cable cartoon channels.

My toddler loves Elmo and that works for me. I'm not in Elmo's targeted demographic and he is. Shame about the scandal but it doesn't really change my opinion much or anything. 16/17 might be skeevy (even if legal) but it's not the same thing as 4 or 5.

[Tom Tildrum]

Originally Posted by Hail Ants

Elmo is world famous, Kevin Clash is not. No one recognizes his name, face, or normal speaking voice.

Kevin Clash: "The Only Puppeteer That Matters"

[bup]

Why do dopers think the accuser is anonymous? Is there something that protects an accuser into adulthood if the alleged abuse was when underaged?

As long as we're all placing our bets before the evidence comes to light, my money's on the accuser being old enough, but now being a discarded boy toy, is looking for a pay day.

[Leaffan]

No, no, no. I said "Give me a test tickle."

[Ferret Herder]

Originally Posted by bup

Why do dopers think the accuser is anonymous? Is there something that protects an accuser into adulthood if the alleged abuse was when underaged?

I'm pretty sure no one is saying he's going to remain anonymous, just as-of-yet-unnamed.

[CalMeacham]

This reminds me of the many appearances Elmo made on The Frugal Gourmet with Jeff Smith:

http://muppet.wikia.com/wiki/The_Frugal_Gourmet


Smith, of course, was accused of sexual molestation, although he was never charged, or went to trial, but that's because they settled out of court.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeff_Smith_(TV_personality)



I suspect that Clash is innocent, myself, but the coincidence is odd.

[Labrador Deceiver]

I don't think the coincidence is particularly odd. They were two of the most popular PBS shows at the time.

Plus, I don't think guys who abuse children can spot each other across a crowded room. That seems like it would be a secret kept from absolutely everybody.

[CalMeacham]

I don't think the coincidence is particularly odd. They were two of the most popular PBS shows at the time.

How does this make the coincidence not odd? If the principals in two of the most popular shows on CBS were both accused of child abuse, I'd think that odd.

[Lute Skywatcher]

Originally Posted by Ferret Herder

On a lunch break several months back, I watched some videos of Mr. Rogers online (like him defending PBS in front of the Senate, and read this essay, and cried my damned eyes out. I claimed terrible allergies that day.

Once upon a time, Mr. Rogers gave a cartoonist a ride to school.

[drastic_quench]

Originally Posted by Lute Skywatcher

Once upon a time, Mr. Rogers gave a cartoonist a ride to school.

Oh, man. I read his lines in his voice, and it's uncanny.

[Little Nemo]

Originally Posted by bup

As long as we're all placing our bets before the evidence comes to light, my money's on the accuser being old enough, but now being a discarded boy toy, is looking for a pay day.

According to the articles, the accuser spoke with the Sesame Street people back in June and is only now going public with his accusations. So, yes, I'm also wondering if the possibility of hush money was discussed. And the fact that he apparently didn't get paid makes me think that Clash is probably innocent of any criminal acts.

[Labrador Deceiver]

Originally Posted by CalMeacham

How does this make the coincidence not odd? If the principals in two of the most popular shows on CBS were both accused of child abuse, I'd think that odd.

I thought you meant it was odd that they ended up on the same show together. I'm just pointing out that it isn't particularly odd that 2 of PBS's most recognized characters shared some screen time.

[Face Intentionally Left Blank]

Originally Posted by Lute Skywatcher

Once upon a time, Mr. Rogers gave a cartoonist a ride to school.

Love those incredibly-long stairways. It's been a long time since I've thought about them. Thanks for the post.

[bienville]

This could be just the break the Romney campaign has been waiting for!

[Diceman]

Originally Posted by Hail Ants

• Elmo is world famous, Kevin Clash is not. No one recognizes his name, face, or normal speaking voice.
• Kids can't really know or care about adult things like this, it will go completely over their heads.

Actually, these are points against Kevin Clash, not for him. Voice actors are not hard to replace. PBS could throw Clash under the bus and the little kids won't care a bit as long as they find someone who can do a passable imitation of Elmo. Heck, they probably have someone on hand already, in case Clash got sick or something.