The puppeteer who provided the voice of Elmo on "Sesame Street" for nearly three decades has resigned following a controversy in which a man allegedly made - and then recanted - accusations that the puppeteer engaged in underage romantic relationship with him, the show announced Tuesday.
Kevin Clash, 52, had been the show's Elmo puppeteer and voice for 28 years.
"Unfortunately, the controversy surrounding Kevin's personal life has become a distraction that none of us wants, and he has concluded that he can no longer be effective in his job and has resigned from Sesame Street," Sesame Workshop said in a statement. "This is a sad day for Sesame Street."
Kevin Clash, 52, had been the show's Elmo puppeteer and voice for 28 years.
"Unfortunately, the controversy surrounding Kevin's personal life has become a distraction that none of us wants, and he has concluded that he can no longer be effective in his job and has resigned from Sesame Street," Sesame Workshop said in a statement. "This is a sad day for Sesame Street."
