theGrio

Back to the Top

Main menu

Skip to primary content
Skip to secondary content
  • Home
  • Entertainment
    • Music
    • The Dish
  • Health
    • Ask Dr. Ty
    • Black Men’s Health
    • Black Women and Breast Cancer
    • Back to School Health
  • Living
    • Travel and Leisure
    • Living Forward
    • Books
  • Politics
    • Perry on Politics
  • Sports
  • News
    • Good News
  • Opinion

Entertainment

Fla. man sues ex-Elmo puppeteer Kevin Clash, claims NY abuse

by Associated Press | November 28, 2012 at 9:59 AM
Comments
Print
Puppeteer Kevin Clash speaks during the 'Independent Lens - Being Elmo: A Puppeteer's Journey' panel during the PBS portion of the 2011 Summer TCA Tour held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on July 31, 2011 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)

Puppeteer Kevin Clash speaks during the 'Independent Lens - Being Elmo: A Puppeteer's Journey' panel during the PBS portion of the 2011 Summer TCA Tour held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on July 31, 2011 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)

Related Posts

  • Kevin Clash, puppeteer behind Elmo, accused of sex with underage male teen
  • Man who accused Elmo puppeteer Kevin Clash of teen sex recants
  • Kevin Clash faces 3rd allegation of sex with underage teen; accuser plans book
  • Elmo left behind on 'Sesame Street' as Kevin Clash exits
  • Meet Kevin Clash: The man behind Elmo finally has his moment

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.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.

  • Rihanna attends her 'Unapologetic' record release fan meet and greet at Best Buy Theater on November 20, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Rob Kim/Getty Images)
    Next Story:

    Rihanna’s ‘Unapologetic’ becomes her first official number 1 album

  • (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
    Previous Story:

    Adele’s ’21′ sells more than 10 million copies

Filed in: Entertainment | Related Topics: Chat Line, Elmo, Florida, Kevin Clash, Lawsuit, New York, Sesame Street, Sex, Underage Boys, Underage Sex
  • Learn about our User Panel

    Read More
  • New Stories on theGrio

    • Obama pledges help after deadly Okla. tornado Obama pledges help after deadly Okla. tornado
    • First lady: Too many ‘fantasize about being a baller or a rapper’ First lady: Too many ‘fantasize about being a baller or a rapper’
    • White House aides learned of IRS details in April, but didn’t tell Obama White House aides learned of IRS details in April, but didn’t tell Obama
    • Is Floyd Mayweather causing his baby mama drama? Is Floyd Mayweather causing his baby mama drama?
    • ‘X-Factor’ close to signing Kelly Rowland as judge
    • Obama to visit South Africa, Senegal, Tanzania
    • Plaxico Burress launches luxury sock line
    • Beam her up: Gabby Douglas is back in the gym
  • What Your Friends Are Reading

  • More from theGrio

More Stories on theGrio

Top News

Politics

  • Glenn Beck

    Glenn Beck: NAACP ‘a joke’, Tea Partiers like ‘white lynching victims’

  • Black pastor vs. Obama at Morehouse

  • The big irony in the IRS 'scandal'

  • President, first lady address HBCU graduates

» Read More in Politics

Business

  • Tiger Woods

    Tiger Woods makes a comeback on the course, and in video game sales

  • A timeless classic: Top career lessons from ‘The Great Gatsby’

  • Boyz II Men appear in new Old Navy commercial

  • An open letter to PepsiCo on the Mountain Dew ad

» Read More in Business

Living

  • Black anti-abortion advocates

    Black anti-abortion activists see 'houses of horror' everywhere

  • Charmin bear charms autistic boy

  • Candice Glover’s Gullah roots

  • Tamar Braxton addresses bleaching rumors

» Read More in Living

Inspiration

  • Identical twins Kirstie and Kristie Bronner (Photo courtesy of Bronner family)

    Twins named Spelman valedictorians

  • DC Central Kitchen helps people struggling to join workforce

  • Man refuses to let disability hamper ability to teach

  • 'Supermom' dedicates her life to foster kids

» Read More in Inspiration

Entertainment

  • Kanye West

    WATCH: Kanye West performs on SNL

  • WATCH: 'Pacific Rim' official trailer

  • Beyoncé pregancy rumors reach fever pitch

  • Kardashian's high heels take a toll on her swollen feet, ankles

» Read More in Entertainment

News

  • DeCoatsworth

    'Hero' cop who sat beside first lady, facing rape charges

  • Full text: President Obama's Morehouse speech

  • Mourners remember Malcolm X's grandson

  • New Orleans' love affair with guns, in 'black and white'

» Read More in News

Main menu

Skip to primary content
Skip to secondary content
  • Politics
  • Living
  • Video
  • Inspire
  • Health
  • Entertainment
  • News
  • Terms of Service
  • Privacy Policy
  • Advertise with TheGrio
  • About
©2013 NBCUniversal
Powered by WordPress.com VIP