General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsThird accuser comes forward with allegations of abuse by ex-Elmo puppeteer:
NEW YORK (AP) A Florida man has sued the ex-Elmo puppeteer who resigned amid a sex scandal, saying the voice actor met him in New York after trolling gay telephone chat lines seeking underage boys for sex.
The lawsuit seeking unspecified damages was filed in Manhattan federal court Tuesday by a man who remains anonymous.
The man says he met Kevin Clash on a chat line when he was 16 years old in 2000 and exploring modeling opportunities in New York.
The lawsuit says Clash had numerous Elmo dolls in his apartment when he met the teen for sex. The man, now 29, is the third to make claims against Clash, who resigned from "Sesame Street" last week after 28 years.
http://bigstory.ap.org/article/fla-man-sues-ex-elmo-puppeteer-claims-ny-abuse
AngryAmish
(25,704 posts)They gave 125k to the first victim to shut him up and to protect the corporate brand. Sounds like hush money.
dsc
(52,169 posts)The first victim showed every sign of being a liar. When a second victim came forward, a few weeks later, the man was gone. Penn State had eye witness testimony of rape and burried it for years.
pnwmom
(109,000 posts)What were all those signs, aside from being required to recant in order to receive a settlement?
dsc
(52,169 posts)asked for money immediately, and made no attempt to go to the police.
pnwmom
(109,000 posts)I think the johns should be prosecuted, whether the victim is a girl or a boy. There are millions of under-age teens caught up in prostitution, and this is a terrible problem our society is mostly ignoring.
With regard to this case, victims of statutory rape usually don't report the crime while or soon after they've been involved with their rapists -- only later after they've had time to process what's happened to them. (Some do tell their parents, who then file charges.) This is why we've extended the statutes of limitations for these crimes.
dsc
(52,169 posts)and made no attempt at all to go to the police and went straight for the money. I also meant he was a prostitute now not then.
morningfog
(18,115 posts)Nor have I read that any of the alleged incidents took place on the premise of CTW. Clash paid 125k, but I haven't seen that CTW paid any.
Do you have any links to substantiate your assertion?
snooper2
(30,151 posts)marshall
(6,665 posts)I wonder if there was talk way back when about this man, and it perversely lead to the "Tickle Me Elmo" sales campaign?
LiberalAndProud
(12,799 posts)That is one huge leap to egregious conspiracy.
What did Sesame Street know and when did they know it? Burn every Tickle Me Elmo right fucking now!
No, I don't think there has been a decades-long coverup. I think the victims' stories went public as soon as they came forward.
Sheesh!
marshall
(6,665 posts)The Penn State coach tellingly called his autobiography "Touched." People knew, but didn't say anything. Same here, some people had to have known. And They showed their hand by trying to buy the first victim off with hush money.
rachel1
(538 posts)and it's no surprise that they've sunk this low to defame and embarrass Kevin Clash.
Sometime in the future people will grow sick of them and they'll receive their comeuppance.