11:41 am - 11/20/2012
Kevin Clash -- known as the voice of Elmo -- is facing NEW allegations that he had a sexual relationship with a SECOND underage boy ... TMZ has learned.
The accuser -- who is now in his 30s -- has filed a lawsuit against Clash ... claiming the two met on a gay phone chat line back in 1993 ... when the accuser was 15 years old and Clash was 32.
Among the allegations, Singleton claims, "[Clash] trolled gay telephone chat line rooms to meet and have sex with underage boys."
In the lawsuit, filed in federal court in NYC, Singleton claims Clash "groomed [the accuser] to gain his trust by, among other things, taking him to nice dinners and giving him money."
Singleton claims while Clash was featured on "Sesame Street," he was "preying on teenage boys to satisfy his depraved sexual interests."
In the suit, Singleton claims ... although the sex occurred nearly 20 years ago, he didn't take action until now because ... he "did not become aware that he had suffered adverse psychological and emotional effects from Kevin Clash's sexual acts and conduct until 2012."
Singleton is demanding more than $5 million.
We broke the story, Clash struck a settlement with a previous accuser who initially claimed he had a sexual relationship with Kevin beginning when he was 16 years old. As part of the settlement, the accuser issued a statement recanting his claims.
Source
Voice of Elmo NEW LAWSUIT Allegations of Sex with SECOND Underage Boy
Kevin Clash -- known as the voice of Elmo -- is facing NEW allegations that he had a sexual relationship with a SECOND underage boy ... TMZ has learned.
The accuser -- who is now in his 30s -- has filed a lawsuit against Clash ... claiming the two met on a gay phone chat line back in 1993 ... when the accuser was 15 years old and Clash was 32.
Among the allegations, Singleton claims, "[Clash] trolled gay telephone chat line rooms to meet and have sex with underage boys."
In the lawsuit, filed in federal court in NYC, Singleton claims Clash "groomed [the accuser] to gain his trust by, among other things, taking him to nice dinners and giving him money."
Singleton claims while Clash was featured on "Sesame Street," he was "preying on teenage boys to satisfy his depraved sexual interests."
In the suit, Singleton claims ... although the sex occurred nearly 20 years ago, he didn't take action until now because ... he "did not become aware that he had suffered adverse psychological and emotional effects from Kevin Clash's sexual acts and conduct until 2012."
Singleton is demanding more than $5 million.
We broke the story, Clash struck a settlement with a previous accuser who initially claimed he had a sexual relationship with Kevin beginning when he was 16 years old. As part of the settlement, the accuser issued a statement recanting his claims.
Source
I'm not trying to marginalize sexual abuse in any way possible, but I'm no fool to the stunts for checks that people pull.
If you want the truth out there, no amount of money is going to shut you up.
This comment by the first accuser almost instantly reduced his credibility.
I'm with harlem_nocturne. I'm not marginalizing sexual abuse but there is something SO fishy about all of this.
Also why didn't the victims go to the DA? Why did they file in civil court? Why are they demanding monetary damages in their complaint?
There are too many holes in this story to "automatically" blame the accused do you know what I mean?
I agree there are too many holes to automatically blame the accused but at the same time we shouldn't automatically assume the accuser is lying either.
People traumitized by sexual abuse want justice. They want the person off the streets. They want their story heard. They don't look at their sexual abuse as a lottery ticket waiting to be cashed.
If he had gone to the police, if they had done an investigation, and then he was informed it was too late/there wasn't enough evidence or whatever, then filing a civil suit provides a way to get the truth out there and compensation for the pain.
But flat-out going to Sesame Street for a quick payout? Filing a civil suit just for the $$$ without ever going to the police?
No, this is not the behavior of someone traumatized by sexual abuse. I'm sorry.
Let's say the guy just wanted money. Let's say he didn't feel like he was molested because the relationship was consensual despite the fact that legally it was rape of a minor. Does that mean Clash still didn't take advantage of him when he was under 18? Does that mean it was ok because look at this greedy motherfucker now who just wants to make bank on a secret he had with Clash.
Only people who go to the police are allowed to be considered victims?
Something to think about.
i could of gotten money from a victim's fund and believe me at the time we needed it...but i didn't..that didn't matter..
i wanted him in jail..end of...nothing else...no amount of money ever makes you forget what happened or how it made you feel...you just learn to cope and get on with it...