NEW YORK (AP) _ Sesame Street’s beloved Elmo character will continue despite the resignation of the puppeteer behind the character following sexual abuse allegations.
Fifty-two-year-old Kevin Clash resigned Tuesday after a young man sued him and accused him of engaging in sexual behavior with him when he was 15.
Clash did not address the allegations directly but said in a statement that he is “looking forward to resolving these personal matters privately.”
Sesame Workshop says other puppeteers have been trained to serve as Clash’s stand-in. The company said last week that “Elmo is bigger than any one person.”
Toy company Hasbro says it is confident that “Elmo will remain an integral part of Sesame Street.”