A former boyfriend of the disgraced former longtime voice and puppeteer behind Sesame Street's iconic "Elmo" has come to his defense. Clash faces three allegations of underage sex and resigned from Sesame Street last month.
"Kevin Clash is not a villain," the former boyfriend tells E! News, claiming that there is nothing wrong with Clash's "affinity for younger men."
Jason Murray, a 29-year-old teacher who dated Clash in 2004, exclusively tells E! News. "Yes, he had an affinity for younger men, but what successful [straight] man doesn’t have an affinity for younger women? It’s the same thing, gay or not." ...
Murray, who says he was 21 when he met Clash at a gay club in Manhattan, told us that, while he is no longer in contact with his ex, he's happy to defend him. "Does he prey on these guys? In my heart I don't believe that," Murray says, reiterating his opinion that liking younger men in general doesn't make Clash a bad guy. "I think it's like Hugh Hefner, he dates younger women," he says. "Kevin likes younger guys." But, "I am reading the news and all the negative stuff. I don't see it. He had a good heart."
Clash is facing two federal lawsuits from men who say that clash preyed on them when they were underage. Clash apparently has settled a third action.
The most recent case was filed on November 26. Clash was accused of having sex with a 16-year-old in 2000. The 52-year-old Clash was about 40-years-old at the time. That plaintiff claims Clash used alcohol to "groom" him into "digital penetration".
Clash's resignation from Sesame Street was in response to a second accuser who also filed a federal lawsuit in New York City. Cecil Singleton alleges that he was only 15-years-old when Clash began their sexual relationship almost a decade ago. Attorney Jeff Herman is representing Singleton and the latest and unnamed accuser.
Clash was first accused about three weeks ago by 24-year-old Sheldon Stephens, who later recanted his allegations. Stephens then announced that the claims were indeed true and he was pressured into a financial settlement. Stephens has told his "lawyers he will gladly forfeit the $125,000 to restore his name," reports TMZ. Stephens says that he was only 16-years-old when the sexual relationship began.
Clash was one of the executive producers at Sesame Street and worked on the popular children's television series since 1981. Clash had been Elmo's voice and puppeteer since at least 1984. He won 23 daytime Emmy awards and one prime-time Emmy.
A final note: "Liking younger guys" is not the issue. Having sex with underage boys when you are a well-established childrens entertainer—and offering them alcohol—is the problem. Clash apparently had sexual relations with at least three underage boys—there are probably more—and knew they were underage because at least one was offered a financial settlement to say that he was legal. This would never have made the news if Clash exercised better judgment and were hooking up with 18- and 19-year-olds that he met on Adam4Adam.
You May Have Missed:
3rd Accuser: Clash Used Alcohol to Play "Father and Son"
Clash Resigns After New Allegations
Meet the "Model" Who Targeted "Elmo"
VIDEO: Clash's Accuser Sheldon Stephens Speaks
VIDEO: Clash's Second Accuser Offers Graphic Details
"Elmo" Kevin Clash Faces 3rd Underage Sex Allegation
While "liking younger guys" isn't the legal issue, it's still an issue, IMO. There's a point at which 18- and 19-year-olds (and people in their early 20s for that matter) are young enough to have been one's offspring. At that point the well-adjusted adult stops pursuing them as sexual objects and recognizes the guidance/model role that he (or she) should be taking with someone that age. That holds for straight men (and women), too.
Posted by: iByron | 05 December 2012 at 13:57
The words "digital" and "young(er)" stand out. Whether true or false - Kevin Clash created this mess. Will we ever get something positive, something to laud from the Black Gay circle?
Posted by: Kerq | 05 December 2012 at 16:34
oh Rob "disgraced former longtime voice" i love when your on your high horse are we there yet? ha!
Posted by: bo | 05 December 2012 at 18:26
Kevin Clash is certainly not a villain. Though, he is a child predator. A 40 year-old Clash had sex with a 16 year-old in 2000? Hmm. Let me take that back. If this were a bedtime story, Clash would certainly be a villain.
Mr. Murray would do himself a favor by remaining silent. He defends Clash by asserting that straight men have an affinity for young girls? Sheesh. We know all about those straight men. We even met a few of them on NBC's "To Catch A Predator." They, along with Clash, are villains. Case closed.
Posted by: Paul Andre Betencourt | 05 December 2012 at 18:30
You all are so judgmental; yet, none of you know the true set of fact. Allegations are just that: Allegations. Anyone can make them and anyone can file a lawsuit--please keep that in mind before passing judgment on Mr. Clash and castigating him for actions which have yet to be confirmed by a court or jury.
Posted by: KF | 05 December 2012 at 20:54
Doesn't anyone realize that those three guys purposely went online, looking for an older guy. the accusers knew right from wrong and they still went along with it, thinking that they would get some easy money out of it. If they really felt that they were traumatized and felt that they were taken advantaged, then there would've reported the whole thing years ago.
Posted by: Mike | 06 December 2012 at 03:02
We're all young enough to be someone's "offspring." Lol If I'm 50 and date someone 70 or 80 are they a predator? Sure Kevin Clash used very poor judgement. If the guys were 16 or 15, he technically broke the law. And if he knew or found out their true ages, he should have backed off. But the idea that these boys lurking on gay chatlines and lying about their ages to sign on, and willingly coming back time and again are poor innocent victims is silly to me.
What really makes them victimms, is our society doesn't offer enough resources to young gay men, so that hustling doesn't become their only way.
But even then, if we offered free housing and free community college, there are still some who would be too lazy to pursue this route and they would make themselves available to wealthy men. So unfortunately two troubled souls find each other and offer what each one desires.The young man offers his body and the older guy offers some portion of his wealth. What else is new?
Posted by: Charles | 06 December 2012 at 21:34