R.I.P.

It's a sad day.

 

Kevin Clash, the puppeteer for Elmo, has resigned amid sexual allegations from men, claiming he had sexual relationships with them when they were minors.

 

I really don't know why I am especially sad with this story. I guess maybe because Avery has loved Elmo so much. Or maybe it's because Elmo stands for such innocence. I watched Kevin's documentary on Netflix and was pretty amazed by his story. I really liked him.

 

I don't know if he indeed did anything wrong or if it's just the pitfalls of stardom and the fact that someone, somewhere, will try to take advantage of you and exploit fame and money to get some of yours for their own. I don't know if he just should have lived as a hermit to try and avoid anything seemingly controversial. I don't know. But the whole thing makes me sad.

 

It just goes to show that when you put faith in people, even people like celebrities (Lance Armstrong, John Travolta) or generals of the army, or president's of countries or ministers of churches, you will always be disapointed. People are fallible; they make mistakes. They sin. Yet, for some reason, it always disappoints me when I see people make really bad choices, especially ones who are in front of children all the time, and especially ones of a sexual nature.

 

I don't know what this means for Elmo's future or how this will end. I guess one day, they had to know that Elmo's voice would have to come from someone else. But for it to be for this, it's especially heartbreaking, I would imagine.

 

It's been quite a difficult year for Sesame Street, publicity wise, hasn't it??

 

R.I.P. Voice of Elmo.