Kevin Clash, better known as the voice and puppeteer of Elmo on Sesame Street, was previously accused of having sexual relations with an underage boy, and now a second victim has come forward with a new lawsuit. TMZ reports the new victim claims he was “preyed on” by Kevin, and he is demanding more than $5 million in compensation.

This new victim is now in his 30s, and he claims that he met Kevin through a gay hotline in 1993 when he was 15 year old. Kevin would have been 32 at the time.

The accuser claims Kevin “trolled gay telephone chat line rooms to meet and have sex with underage boys” and ”groomed [the accuser] to gain his trust by, among other things, taking him to nice dinners and giving him money.”

The lawsuit has been filed in the state of New York, and the accuser says that while Kevin was on Sesame Street, he was “preying on teenage boys to satisfy his depraved sexual interests.”

The alleged crime happened nearly two decades ago, but the accuser is only filing his claim now, because “did not become aware that he had suffered adverse psychological and emotional effects from Kevin Clash’s sexual acts and conduct until 2012.”

Sesame Workshop released the following statement to TMZ about Kevin’s resignation:

“Unfortunately, the controversy surrounding Kevin’s personal life has become a distraction that none of us want, and he has concluded that he can no longer be effective in his job and has resigned from Sesame Street. This is a sad day for Sesame Street.”

Kevin has already been accused of sexual abuse by another man, who later recanted his allegations.

TMZ

– Eleanore Hutch

More Sesame Street News:

1. Sesame Street’s Kevin Clash Admits To Consenting Relationship With Accuser
2. Sesame Street’s Kevin Clash’s Accuser Recants Abuse Allegations
3. Mitt Romney Makes Big Bird A Star Of The 2012 Presidential Debate

On Monday, Nov. 12, news broke that Kevin Clash, the 45-year-old man known as the voice of Elmo on Sesame Street, was accused of having had an illegal sexual relationship with a 16-year-old boy. Kevin denied the claims of the now-23-year-old man, saying that the relationship was always consenting and between two adults. His accuser has now recanted, backing up Kevin’s claims.

The unidentified accuser’s attorney released a statement to E! News, clarifying the reality of the relationship. “This office represented the 23-year-old man who was the subject of many media reports regarding Kevin Clash. He wants it to be known that his sexual relationship with Mr. Clash was an adult consensual relationship. He will have no further comment on the matter.”

Kevin has issued is own statement to the outlet, as well, briefly saying, “I am relieved that this painful allegation has been put to rest. I will not discuss it further.”

Sesame Street Workshop issued comment on their website, saying that “we are pleased that this matter has been brought to a close, and we are happy that Kevin can move on from this unfortunate episode.”

On Nov. 12, Kevin admitted to being gay and having had a relationship with the accuser, but insisted it was consensual. He took a leave of absence from Sesame Street to handle the allegations.

Are you surprised that Kevin’s accuser has recanted, HollywoodLifers?

– Billy Nilles

More Sesame Street news:

1. Mitt Romney Makes Big Bird A Star Of The 2012 Presidential Debate
2. Jerry Nelson, Voice Of The Count On ‘Sesame Street,’ Dead At 78
3. Nicole Kidman & Keith Urban’s Daughters Worship At The Altar Of Elmo!

Kevin Clash, better known as the voice of Elmo on Sesame Street, is accused of engaging in a sexual relationship with a 16-year-old boy when he was 45. Even though he denies the allegations, Kevin has taken a leave of absence from the hit PBS show.

The accuser, who is now 23, met with lawyers at Sesame Workshop, the non-profit organization behind the TV program, and disclosed that he and Kevin began a sexual relationship seven years ago when he was underage, TMZ is reporting.

Kevin Clash Responds to Allegations of Sexual Relationship with Minor

Although the voice actor admits he had a relationship with this person, he insists it was only after the boy was 18 years old.

“Kevin insists that these allegations are false and defamatory and he has taken actions to protect his reputation,” Sesame Workshop execs told TMZ. “We have granted him a leave of absence to do so.”

The company also said they conducted a thorough investigation, but the evidence of an inappropriate sexual relationship was “unsubstantiated.”

However, the accuser said the company tried to keep him quiet, so he lawyered up with Andreozzi and Associates — the same firm that represented one of the victims in the Jerry Sandusky sex abuse case.

“I had a relationship with [the accuser],” Kevin told TMZ. “It was between two consenting adults and I am deeply saddened that he is trying to make it into something it was not.”

What do YOU think of the allegations, HollyMoms?

More Sesame Street news:

1. Mitt Romney Makes Big Bird A Star Of The 2012 Presidential Debate
2. Jerry Nelson, Voice Of The Count On ‘Sesame Street,’ Dead At 78
3. Nicole Kidman & Keith Urban’s Daughters Worship At The Altar Of Elmo!

It’s no secret that politics are often for the birds, but that took on a whole new meaning Oct. 3 when Governor Mitt Romney discussed cutting PBS’ funding during the 2012 presidential debate. “I’m going to stop the subsidy to PBS,” he said, adding, “I like PBS, I love Big Bird.” And you better believe Big Bird’s ears were burning!

That night:

As soon as Mitt dropped the B-bomb, a Big Bird parody Twitter account — which existed long before the debate — chimed in with ridiculous commentary:

“So I’m suddenly popular now because Governor Romney mentioned me….f**k you guys,” @BigBird tweeted Oct. 3. “I’m trending tonight bc of this debate? Kiss my yellow ass. I’ve been here all along. I taught you to f***ing read and then you bailed.”

(True story, @BigBird.)

A second parody account, @BigBirdRomney, was created immediately following Mitt’s statement — move over, @AngiesRightLeg — and flooded Twitter with commentary throughout the night. My personal favorite tweet was a photo of Grover being arrested for getting a little too heated over the whole situation.

The morning after:

Because Sesame Street is far more clever and awesome than anyone gives it credit for, the PBS series chimed in about Big Bird’s role in the debate.

“Big Bird: My bed time is usually 7:45, but I was really tired yesterday and fell asleep at 7!” Sesame Street tweeted the morning of Oct. 4. ”Did I miss anything last night?”

Sesame Street‘s production company Sesame Workshop, meanwhile, has wisely chosen not to pick a side.

“We are a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization,” Sesame Workshop tweeted shortly after. “We do not comment on campaigns, but we’re happy we can all agree that everyone likes Big Bird!”

And that’s a platform we can all support.

— Andy Swift

Follow @AndySwift

More Sesame Street news:

1. Cookie Monster Spoofs Carly Rae Jepsen’s ‘Call Me Maybe’ — Watch
2. Jerry Nelson, Voice Of The Count On ‘Sesame Street,’ Dead At 78
3. Katy Perry Sexes Up Elmo In A Low Cut Top On ‘Saturday Night Live’

Long before Edward Cullen sparkled his way into the hearts of every American, Sesame Street‘s Count Von Count was the hottest vampire around. And now, the CBC reports, his puppeteer Jerry Nelson died Aug. 23 at the age of 78. 

Though he gave up puppeteering in 2004, Jerry continued to lend his voice to several Muppets until he passed away.

You might also remember Jerry as the voice of Snuffleupagus on Sesame Street, as well as the purple-haired Gobo Fraggle on Jim Henson‘s Fraggle Rock.

To celebrate Jerry’s memory, let’s all enjoy a (slightly twisted) version of “The Song of the Count”:

— Andy Swift

Follow @AndySwift

More Sesame Street:

1. Cookie Monster Spoofs Carly Rae Jepsen’s ‘Call Me Maybe’ — Watch
2. Katy Perry Gets Banned From ‘Sesame Street’ For Showing Too Much Cleavage
3. Nicole Kidman & Keith Urban’s Daughters Worship At The Altar Of Elmo

Forget their A-list parents — three-year-old Sunday and seven-month-old Faith prefer their celebrities red and fluffy!

Keith Urban and Nicole Kidman‘s daughters are obsessed with Sesame Street! Are your kids hooked too?

“This morning I was woken up (at 7) with our daughter Sunday coming in singing the theme to Sesame Street, so what a superb way to wake up in the morning,” Keith tells The Tennessean.

“Elmo has God-like mythical status at our house at this stage.”

We’re sure he’s not alone!

What shows are your kids hooked on, HollyMoms? Is Elmo a God in your house?

– Ian Garland

More Keith and Nicole on HollyBaby:

1. Keith Urban Plans His Tour Around Nicole Kidman & Their Girls! Aww!
2. Nicole Kidman Takes Baby Faith On Her First Trip To Australia!
3. First Look At Nicole Kidman & Keith Urban’s Baby Faith Margaret!

Michelle Obama is continuing her efforts to help military families in an episode of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. The First Lady will head to Fayatteville, North Carolina, July 21 to help build a community resource center for homeless female military vets.
The resource center will include a new greenhouse and a children’s play area. Not every First Lady would be spotted doing manual labor in the middle of a steamy North Carolina summer, but Michelle seems to have no qualms about it!

This won’t be the first time Mrs. Obama has appeared on a TV show. Michelle has been featured on Sesame Street to promote healthy eating and will appear on an episode of iCarly next season to promote the support of military families. We love seeing the First Lady connecting with people of all ages to promote her causes!

Michelle’s episode of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition is set to air in October.

Alli Holt

The pint-sized sensation will inspire thousands to roll their Easter eggs back and forth!

Willow Smith, who has made the whole world whip their hair, is spreading her jams to the Oval Office!Willow, 10, will make her parents Will and Jada Pinkett Smith proud when she performs at this year’s Easter Egg Roll on April 25 on the White Hose lawn. We’re sure President Obama will be whipping his hair like crazy!

This year’s theme will be “Get Up and Go!,” and thousands of kids from every state are slated to attend to play games, get gardening lessons and roll their eggs! Willow will be joined by performers such as John Lithgow, Greyson Chance, Mindless Behavior, Sesame Street and Little Beat, and DJ WillyWow. Furthermore, there will be many celebs at the event reading stories, including Kelly Ripa, Mark Consuelos, Kristi Yamaguchi, Elmo, and Maria and Gordon from Sesame Street!

It sounds like a great day — and Willow is sure to kick the event into high gear! If you can’t make it to the White House in the person, follow along with your kids online when the event streams live at http://www.whitehouse.gov/live.

– William Earl

More Willow Smith!

1. Was Willow Smith Rude To Oprah While Co-Hosting The Show? So Uncool!
2. Willow Smith Plots Revenge On Justin Bieber After He Pranked Her! Watch Video!
3. Willow Smith Premieres Her ’21st Century Girl’ Music Video! What Do You Think?