Celebrity News November 21, 2012
Elmo Accuser Cecil Singleton Speaks Out
In a new interview with “Extra,” the second man to accuse Elmo puppeteer Kevin Clash speaks out about his explosive claims.
Cecil Singleton, 24, filed a lawsuit in New York federal court Tuesday claiming he was “persuaded, induced, coerced or enticed,” by Clash into a sexual relationship at 15. Cecil described in detail the nature of the sexual relationship he claims he had with Kevin Clash nine years ago, and why he is coming forward now.
Cecil alleges he and Clash met through a local city chat line and says their relationship was intense. Cecil claims they did not have sexual intercourse while he was 15, but they did have a sexual relationship. Singleton said there was, “Groping, dry humping, touching, masturbation, but no sexual penetration, that didn’t happen ‘til years later when we re-connected again through the chat line.” Cecil was 19 then.
Cecil said that his relationship with Clash was inappropriate at the time, but called Kevin “a perfect gentleman.” Singleton also said he did not know who Kevin was, and when he inadvertently found out, he was “shocked.”
As far as why Singleton decided to come forward now, he said, “My genuine motive for coming forward was out of guilt… I should’ve said something sooner. After I found out about the first victim it occurred to me there could be other prospective victims out there and I just felt I had a duty considering how long I waited to say something now.”
Singleton does believe there are other victims out there and considers Clash a sexual predator. Cecil’s lawyer, Jeff Herman, told “Extra,” “He (Singleton) did not consider himself a victim until the other one came forward.” Herman did not discuss what amount of money Singleton is seeking.
On Tuesday, “Sesame Street” did not address the latest allegations in a statement announcing Clash’s resignation. They did, however, say, “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.’”
