Three lawsuits accusing Elmo voice actor Kevin Clash of sexual abuse have been dropped by the presiding judge, who claims that the accusers waited too long to sue.
Clash was suspended from Sesame Street back in November when the allegations arose, but will not be able to " go about the business of reclaiming his personal life and his professional standing," his representation said following the dismissal of the three suits. CNN reports that the accusers were adult males who claimed the actor abused them while they were in their teens.
One of the alleged victims, Sheldon Stephens, was the first to come forth publically claiming he and Clash had a sexual relationship. Stephens, 24, said he was 16 when Clash threw a sex party in his honor. Despite filing a suit against the voice actor, Stephens referred to his alleged escapade with Clash as an "adult consensual relationship."
While Clash has not commented in the aftermath of the dismissal of the suits, which were dropped on the grounds that the statute of limitations had run out, he did come out as gay in November, confirming that he and Stephens did have a relationship.
"I am a gay man," the 52-year-old actor said. “I have never been ashamed of this or tried to hide it, but felt it was a personal and private matter."
According to Goup State , the attorney for the three accusers, Adam D. Horowitz, said that the judge’s ruling “should not be viewed as a vindication for Kevin Clash or a determination that he is innocent," vowing that he will continue to seek justice.
Jeff Herman, another lawyer on the team, said he would “continue the fight to be a voice for victims.”
Clash, who won three Emmy awards last year, formally resigned from Sesame Street last fall. In a written statement, the voice actor explained his decision.
"I am resigning from Sesame Workshop with a very heavy heart,” Clash wrote. “I have loved every day of my 28 years working for this exceptional organization. Personal matters have diverted attention away from the important work Sesame Street is doing and I cannot allow it to go on any longer. I am deeply sorry to be leaving and am looking forward to resolving these personal matters privately."
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