Another abuse lawsuit filed against Elmo puppeteer
NEW YORK (AP) - A Florida man on Tuesday sued a former Elmo puppeteer who resigned amid sex abuse allegations, saying the voice actor met him in New York a dozen years ago after trolling gay telephone chat lines seeking underage boys for sex.
The lawsuit, seeking unspecified damages, was filed in U.S. District Court in Manhattan by a man who remains anonymous, making him the third person to make claims against Kevin Clash, who resigned from "Sesame Street" last week after 28 years.
Clash had quickly denied the first claim, which was recanted the next day. But Clash then resigned after a 24-year-old college student, Cecil Singleton, sued him for $5 million, saying the actor engaged in sexual behavior with him when he was 15.
According to the latest lawsuit, a 29-year-old man said he met Clash on a chat line when he was 16 and was exploring modeling opportunities in New York. It said the youth, then in high school, specifically stated on the chat line that his intentions were non-sexual. Still, the lawsuit said, Clash pursued, posing as a 30-year-old man whose name was Craig even though he was a decade older.
After speaking by phone for several days, Clash invited the youth to visit his Manhattan apartment, the lawsuit said.
At the apartment, Clash gave the teenager alcohol, and they engaged in sexual contact, including oral sex, the lawsuit said. While in the apartment, the youth spotted numerous Elmo dolls and photographs of Elmo with famous people such as Beyonce and Tyra Banks but didn't learn Clash's history until he moved to New York after high school at age 18 and engaged in a sexual relationship with him, the lawsuit said.
The youth was a compliant victim and did not become aware he had suffered adverse psychological and emotional effects from the sexual acts until this year, the lawsuit said.
Clash's lawyer, Michael Berger, said in a statement that the federal cases filed against Clash are without merit.
"The cases and Mr. Clash's reputation will be defended vigorously," he said.
The lawsuit, seeking unspecified damages, was filed in U.S. District Court in Manhattan by a man who remains anonymous, making him the third person to make claims against Kevin Clash, who resigned from "Sesame Street" last week after 28 years.
Clash had quickly denied the first claim, which was recanted the next day. But Clash then resigned after a 24-year-old college student, Cecil Singleton, sued him for $5 million, saying the actor engaged in sexual behavior with him when he was 15.
According to the latest lawsuit, a 29-year-old man said he met Clash on a chat line when he was 16 and was exploring modeling opportunities in New York. It said the youth, then in high school, specifically stated on the chat line that his intentions were non-sexual. Still, the lawsuit said, Clash pursued, posing as a 30-year-old man whose name was Craig even though he was a decade older.
After speaking by phone for several days, Clash invited the youth to visit his Manhattan apartment, the lawsuit said.
At the apartment, Clash gave the teenager alcohol, and they engaged in sexual contact, including oral sex, the lawsuit said. While in the apartment, the youth spotted numerous Elmo dolls and photographs of Elmo with famous people such as Beyonce and Tyra Banks but didn't learn Clash's history until he moved to New York after high school at age 18 and engaged in a sexual relationship with him, the lawsuit said.
The youth was a compliant victim and did not become aware he had suffered adverse psychological and emotional effects from the sexual acts until this year, the lawsuit said.
Clash's lawyer, Michael Berger, said in a statement that the federal cases filed against Clash are without merit.
"The cases and Mr. Clash's reputation will be defended vigorously," he said.
This comment has been deleted
 @n9078jk4 Probably best to kill off Elmo that way. Sentencing him to life in prison for chronic child rape would probably be crossing the line, lol.
After he admitted to dating a 16 year old boy, I thought he was a scumbag. And since then, more claims of his degenerate lifestyle is starting to unfold.Â
show me police reports that were filed at the time. No way to prove or disprove any of this happened without collecting evidence after these supposed crimes happened.
 @Keysontheright  Jerry Sandusky operated for years. I guess he was innocent too eh?
Note -Â Â
No Tickle Me Elmo for the kids this year . . .
There is either something to all this, or these latest two claims are opportunists looking cash in based on the recanted allegation. I am leaning towards the latter for now.
 @Surveyor1 Agree. Nothing came out until the one guy made a false claim, now these people are coming out of the woodwork after being silent all this time? Pretty clear there is an agenda and it has to do with $$$$$.
This episode of self-destruction was brought to you by the letter "G'' and the number 16. Â
Â
Even if you are not rich and/or famous, you can't get away with sex with minors, gay or straight, forever. Â
Â
Â
Where's all of the pig-pilers wanting to condemn him? Hmmmm.... Double standards?
Doo-doo-doo-doo, doo-doo-doo-doo, Pedo's World...
Makes me cry ...  such talent .. and what a LOSS...