Elmo from Sesame Street will have a new voice.
Tuesday, in the wake of growing sexual abuse allegations against 52-year-old Kevin Clash, the Elmo puppeteer, announced his resignation from the show.
The allegations are starting to add up, Tuesday another alleged victim of came forward.
The latest victim, Cecil Singleton, is claiming he was 15 and Kevin Clash was 43 when they first met in 2003.
Clash said Tuesday, he can no longer be effective in his job and has resigned from Sesame Street. He was also the co-executive producer of the show.
Clash grew up Baltimore and began the Elmo character in 1984.
It is estimated 95% of kids have scene the show by the time they are three.
Singleton has filed a multi-million dollars lawsuit against the Elmo creator. He says now that he is older, he realizes it never should have happened. "It has occurred to me as an adult how truly inappropriate my relationship with Kevin was."
His attorney claims two other victims have contacted him for representation and there are most likely many more. "This is certainly not an issue akin to the gay community or akin to the straight community. Sexual deviant individuals are of all walks of life."
Even though these victims were older when the abuse began it is still very damaging.
"Because it distorts their understand of trust, it distorts their understanding of love, it can twist their understanding of their own sexuality. What people don't understand, an increase in promiscuity is often an indicator of sexual abuse," said Jennifer Storm with Victim/Witness Assistance Program.
Kevin Clash's problems may have just begun.
"I'm sure that there are open and active investigations against him right now." Storm said.
The initial accuser, Sheldon Stephens, who spent much of life here in the Harrisburg area, is saying he was pressured to accept $125,000 from Clash to recant his story and say it was consensual adult sex, he now wants to reinstate his initial claim of abuse.
Tuesday, in the wake of growing sexual abuse allegations against 52-year-old Kevin Clash, the Elmo puppeteer, announced his resignation from the show.
The allegations are starting to add up, Tuesday another alleged victim of came forward.
The latest victim, Cecil Singleton, is claiming he was 15 and Kevin Clash was 43 when they first met in 2003.
Clash said Tuesday, he can no longer be effective in his job and has resigned from Sesame Street. He was also the co-executive producer of the show.
Clash grew up Baltimore and began the Elmo character in 1984.
It is estimated 95% of kids have scene the show by the time they are three.
Singleton has filed a multi-million dollars lawsuit against the Elmo creator. He says now that he is older, he realizes it never should have happened. "It has occurred to me as an adult how truly inappropriate my relationship with Kevin was."
His attorney claims two other victims have contacted him for representation and there are most likely many more. "This is certainly not an issue akin to the gay community or akin to the straight community. Sexual deviant individuals are of all walks of life."
Even though these victims were older when the abuse began it is still very damaging.
"Because it distorts their understand of trust, it distorts their understanding of love, it can twist their understanding of their own sexuality. What people don't understand, an increase in promiscuity is often an indicator of sexual abuse," said Jennifer Storm with Victim/Witness Assistance Program.
Kevin Clash's problems may have just begun.
"I'm sure that there are open and active investigations against him right now." Storm said.
The initial accuser, Sheldon Stephens, who spent much of life here in the Harrisburg area, is saying he was pressured to accept $125,000 from Clash to recant his story and say it was consensual adult sex, he now wants to reinstate his initial claim of abuse.