Kevin Clash and Elmo by Bill Thompson

Beloved muppeteer Kevin Clash has resigned from Sesame Workshop. Clash was accused by a former lover of engaging in a relationship while the young man was 16. The age of consent in New York in 17. Clash has tenured his resignation stating that the allegations were a ‘distraction.’

On 19 November, the accuser, Sheldon Stephens, once changed his story stating that Clash and he had engaged in a sexual relationship while Stephens was underage; however, no proof of this has surfaced. Stephens accused Clash of pressuring him into taking about $125,000 in order to drop the accusations. Stephens has a criminal history, it has been noted.