Let’s travel back to February this year, when cyclist Lance Armstrong was stripped of all his Tour De France medals and accused of using performance enhancing drugs.
Many people were disappointed to find out that their hero had cheated.
There was also a large group of people who refused to stop believing in or supporting Armstrong until there was definitive proof of his drug use.
Now, here we are months later, and a completely different scandal has emerged that takes place on a street that’s not located in France.
Kevin Clash, the voice and puppeteer of the hugely popular Muppet Elmo on the children’s program Sesame Street, has been accused of having sexual relations with a then 16-year-old boy.
The now 23-year-old man says that Clash took him on dates and had sex with him when he was only 16 years old. Clash admits that he had a relationship with the man but says that it was after he was already 18.
The man originally recanted his statement but has now recanted that recantation and is demanding money again.
Due to all this controversy, Clash has stepped down from Sesame Street and has released a statement saying he is sorry that this personal matter has affected Sesame Street negatively.
Now, if it is proven that Clash had a relationship with an underage boy, then he should definitely step down from Sesame Street and pay up, but much like Armstrong’s situation there is little to no proof as of yet, and the resignation seems premature.
We are innocent until proven guilty in this country. People claimed they needed more evidence before they would believe the Armstrong stories, but in this situation, people seem quick to call Clash a pedophile despite there being even less evidence.
It is unfortunate that the system allows for anybody to accuse someone famous of something, and if it generates enough controversy, then they get what they want, whether it’s true or not.
Think about Michael Jackson.
At the time of his death, the mood of the country was very sad about the loss of a great musician, while just a few years before people were accusing him of being a child molester.
None of those cases were proven either, but millions of dollars were paid to the accusers.
Some people may still look down on Clash for having a relationship with the man even that man was 18 at the time.
If that is the case, it is legal and shouldn’t make him lose his job.
If one of the puppeteers on Sesame Street had a relationship with an 18-year-old girl, we most likely wouldn’t hear about it in the first place.
Yes, the age difference is frowned upon, but it’s not illegal to be gay or to date an 18-year-old, so what is the big deal?
Hopefully Clash didn’t have a relationship with a 16-year-old, but until we find out the truth, I think people should give him the benefit of the doubt, just as people gave Armstrong the benefit of the doubt during his controversy.
Matt Grippi is a senior journalism major and the diversions editor for the Daily 49er.
