Elmo Puppeteer Kevin Clash's Latest Accuser Is From Florida, Seeks $75,000 in Damages
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It was only a matter of time before the whole Elmo sex scandal thing had a Florida connection. Because a gay sex puppet scandal ain't a gay sex puppet scandal until the Sunshine State gets involved, dammit!
A Florida man identified only as "John" filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Manhattan against Kevin Clash, the former Sesame Street puppeteer who voiced Elmo.
Clash, 52, had resigned from the popular children's television show after 30 years following two separate allegations of sex with a minor.
Now the third accuser is also alleging that he and Clash engaged in oral sex and other sex acts when "John" was only 16 years old.
The suit seeks at least $75,000 in damages.
These latest accusations state that "John" and Clash met in either 2000 or 2001 when the then-16-year-old "John" visited New York from Florida to pursue modeling opportunities.
Clash, then 40, met "John" in a gay telephone chat line and claimed to be a 30-year-old named Craig, according to the suit.
The lawsuit also states that "John" went back to New York when he was 18 and resumed a relationship with Clash.
Clash had numerous Elmo dolls in his New York City apartment when he met "John" for sex, according to the suit.
Clash's first accuser recanted his story. But a second man, Cecil Singleton, soon came forward, claiming that he had met the puppeteer in a gay chat room in 1993 and had sex with then 32-year-old Clash when he was only 15.
Clash resigned from Sesame Workshop on the same day Singleton's accusations went public. Singleton filed a claim seeking more than $5 million in damages.
Risa B. Heller, a spokesperson for Clash, released a statement on his behalf regarding these latest allegations from "John."
"Mr. Clash believes the lawsuit has no merit," the statement reads.
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