# Shouldn't have tickled him, Elmo \[Sesame Street puppeteer resigns after sex allegations\] **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 12, 2012, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shouldnt-have-tickled-him-elmo-sesame-street-puppeteer-resigns-after-sex-allegations/640798 "2012-11-12T17:29:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2012, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shouldnt-have-tickled-him-elmo-sesame-street-puppeteer-resigns-after-sex-allegations/640798/41 "2012-11-13T18:01:06Z")
This reminds me of the many appearances Elmo made on _The Frugal Gourmet_ with Jeff Smith: > **[The Frugal Gourmet](https://muppet.fandom.com/wiki/The_Frugal_Gourmet)** > > The Frugal Gourmet was a PBS cooking show hosted by chef Jeff Smith from 1988 to 1997. Beginning in 1992, Elmo made frequent appearances as Smith's cooking assistant. The first known appearance was in a special episode titled "Flame and Fire with... 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. > **[Jeff Smith (chef)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeff_Smith_(TV_personality))** > > Jeffrey L. Smith (January 22, 1939 – July 7, 2004) was the author of several cookbooks and the host of The Frugal Gourmet, a popular American cooking show. The show began in Tacoma, Washington, as Cooking Fish Creatively on local PBS station KTPS (now KBTC), where it aired from 1973 to 1977. It then moved to WTTW in Chicago, and finally to KQED in San Francisco where it aired from 1984 to 1997. From 1972 to 1983, Smith was the owner and operator of the Chaplain's Pantry Restaurant and Gourmet S... I suspect that Clash is innocent, myself, but the coincidence is odd. ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2012, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shouldnt-have-tickled-him-elmo-sesame-street-puppeteer-resigns-after-sex-allegations/640798/42 "2012-11-13T18:13:35Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2012, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shouldnt-have-tickled-him-elmo-sesame-street-puppeteer-resigns-after-sex-allegations/640798/43 "2012-11-13T18:20:24Z")
> [@](#): > > 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. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2012, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shouldnt-have-tickled-him-elmo-sesame-street-puppeteer-resigns-after-sex-allegations/640798/44 "2012-11-13T18:20:25Z")
> [@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](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yXEuEUQIP3Q), and [read this essay](http://www.pittsburghinwords.org/tom_junod.html), 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](http://www.derfcity.com/comix/fred/fred1.html). ---
**Author:** ![drastic\_quench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e36b37/32.png) [@drastic\_quench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drastic_quench)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2012, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shouldnt-have-tickled-him-elmo-sesame-street-puppeteer-resigns-after-sex-allegations/640798/45 "2012-11-13T18:28:27Z")
> [@Lute Skywatcher](#): > > Once upon a time, [Mr. Rogers gave a cartoonist a ride to school](http://www.derfcity.com/comix/fred/fred1.html). Oh, man. I read his lines in his voice, and it’s uncanny. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2012, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shouldnt-have-tickled-him-elmo-sesame-street-puppeteer-resigns-after-sex-allegations/640798/46 "2012-11-13T18:49:00Z")
> [@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. ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2012, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shouldnt-have-tickled-him-elmo-sesame-street-puppeteer-resigns-after-sex-allegations/640798/47 "2012-11-13T18:57:51Z")
> [@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. ---
**Author:** ![Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/face_intentionally_left_blank/32/288_2.png) [@Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Face_Intentionally_Left_Blank)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2012, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shouldnt-have-tickled-him-elmo-sesame-street-puppeteer-resigns-after-sex-allegations/640798/48 "2012-11-13T20:17:55Z")
> [@Lute Skywatcher](#): > > Once upon a time, [Mr. Rogers gave a cartoonist a ride to school](http://www.derfcity.com/comix/fred/fred1.html). Love those incredibly-long stairways. It’s been a long time since I’ve thought about them. Thanks for the post. ---
**Author:** ![bienville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@bienville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bienville)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2012, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shouldnt-have-tickled-him-elmo-sesame-street-puppeteer-resigns-after-sex-allegations/640798/49 "2012-11-13T20:49:55Z")
This could be just the break the Romney campaign has been waiting for! ---
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2012, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shouldnt-have-tickled-him-elmo-sesame-street-puppeteer-resigns-after-sex-allegations/640798/50 "2012-11-13T21:32:49Z")
> [@Hail\_Ants](#): > > [ul][li]Elmo is world famous, Kevin Clash is not. No one recognizes his name, face, or normal speaking voice.[/li][li]Kids can’t really know or care about adult things like this, it will go completely over their heads.[/li][/ul] 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. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2012, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shouldnt-have-tickled-him-elmo-sesame-street-puppeteer-resigns-after-sex-allegations/640798/51 "2012-11-13T21:46:43Z")
In fact one of the articles about this situation said that Clash helped identify various puppeteers who could do Elmo, and recommended someone to serve in his absence. ---
**Author:** ![Clark\_Cello](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/58f4c7/32.png) [@Clark\_Cello](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clark_Cello)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2012, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shouldnt-have-tickled-him-elmo-sesame-street-puppeteer-resigns-after-sex-allegations/640798/52 "2012-11-13T22:13:47Z")
> [@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. This is a pretty terrible thing to say about the man who may be the best human being to ever become a celebrity in the USA. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2012, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shouldnt-have-tickled-him-elmo-sesame-street-puppeteer-resigns-after-sex-allegations/640798/53 "2012-11-13T22:21:41Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > According to the articles, the accuser spoke with the Sesame Street people back in June and is only now going public with his accusations. And the Sesame Street people - who I would think are extremely sensitive to how people view their show and would want to stay far away from any scandals - concluded there was nothing to this. Which doesn’t prove Clash didn’t do anything wrong, but it does suggest they found his story very convincing or his accuser very unconvincing. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Dord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3be4f8/32.png) [@The\_Dord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Dord)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2012, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shouldnt-have-tickled-him-elmo-sesame-street-puppeteer-resigns-after-sex-allegations/640798/54 "2012-11-13T22:35:45Z")
Awesome username/post combo btw. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2012, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shouldnt-have-tickled-him-elmo-sesame-street-puppeteer-resigns-after-sex-allegations/640798/55 "2012-11-13T22:35:49Z")
And regarding Mr Rogers, I remember reading somewhere the story that he car was once stolen in Pittsburgh, where he lived. This was reported on the local news, and then the car was returned with a note of apology; that the thieves had not realized whose car this was and they would not have done so had they known. ---
**Author:** ![MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MPB_in_Salt_Lake)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2012, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shouldnt-have-tickled-him-elmo-sesame-street-puppeteer-resigns-after-sex-allegations/640798/56 "2012-11-13T22:51:53Z")
> [@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. > [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > 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. Looks like you were both right, as the accuser has now recanted his charges and admits that he was indeed over 18 at the time the consensual relationship began. ETA—I realize that this doesn’t prove there was an attempted shakedown going on, but that’s where the smart money is; Hope they nail the guy for attempted extortion or at least hit him with a civil lawsuit, as an accusation like that can destroy someone’s life. ---
**Author:** ![Feyrat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/fbc32d/32.png) [@Feyrat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Feyrat)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2012, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shouldnt-have-tickled-him-elmo-sesame-street-puppeteer-resigns-after-sex-allegations/640798/57 "2012-11-14T00:26:34Z")
> [@MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](#): > > Hope they nail the guy for attempted extortion or at least hit him with a civil lawsuit, as an accusation like that can destroy someone’s life. And sadly? It probably will. People rarely come back from accusations of child molestation, especially if they work with children or in entertainment. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2012, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shouldnt-have-tickled-him-elmo-sesame-street-puppeteer-resigns-after-sex-allegations/640798/58 "2012-11-14T00:37:01Z")
> [@Feyrat](#): > > People rarely come back from accusations of child molestation, especially if they work with children or in entertainment. He’s not being accused of child molestation. The accusation might have been statutory rape, but the accuser is now admitting it wasn’t even that. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2012, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shouldnt-have-tickled-him-elmo-sesame-street-puppeteer-resigns-after-sex-allegations/640798/59 "2012-11-14T00:51:13Z")
Story recanted: [NBC.com](http://NBC.com): > [@](#): > > The man who said he was underage when he had a sexual relationship with “Sesame Street” puppeteer Kevin Clash has now recanted that claim, the law firm representing him said on Tuesday. ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2012, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shouldnt-have-tickled-him-elmo-sesame-street-puppeteer-resigns-after-sex-allegations/640798/60 "2012-11-14T03:20:26Z")
> [@Battle\_Pope](#): > > _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_ Going to continue the hijack since hopefully the situation with Kevin Clash will be drawing to a non-eventful close soon. I grew up watching both Sesame Street and Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood. Mr. Rogers was an ordained Presbyterian minister first, but went into children’s programming because he believed in it, as you can tell from his quiet but empassioned defense of PBS funding. He was soft-spoken but you could tell that he understood kids, and though he had a low-tech show with little puppets and old-fashioned ways, he still got through to kids for years and years. I recently read so many essays where people talked about how easily, effortlessly he could speak to children (or adults) who were hurting deeply inside, how abused kids saw him on TV and believed there was someone out there who loved them and cared, how even ‘regular’ kids benefited by listening to him. I loved the show. I learned a lot of lessons from Sesame Street about reading and the world and all kinds of things, but I think I learned more important ones from Mr. Rogers. Yes, he had kind of a funny, soft, nasalish voice, and he was very gentle and quiet in his manner. I’m sure that came off poorly to some. My husband’s father, an abusive man, called Mr. Rogers a “pansy” and refused to allow my husband to watch the show as a child. I sometimes wonder if his father’s prohibition was not out of fear that he would be listening to a “pansy” but that he would hear a male authority figure quietly telling him that he had worth, he was a good person, he was special and loved. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shouldnt-have-tickled-him-elmo-sesame-street-puppeteer-resigns-after-sex-allegations/640798.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shouldnt-have-tickled-him-elmo-sesame-street-puppeteer-resigns-after-sex-allegations/640798.md?page=4)