I was really into this Kevin-Clash-gets-accused-of-statutory rape show when it first came out, but ever since the first guy told everyone he got paid $125K in hush money, and they tried to replace him with another guy who just wants money and might be lying, it really jumped the shark. You can’t just recast the victim like that mid season. But they’re still trying to make it work, even though Kevin Clash has already resigned, and anyone who comes forward now will have even less credibility.

The Emmy award-winning man behind Sesame Street’s “Elmo” is now facing his third allegation of underage sex in two weeks.
This time puppeteer Kevin Clash is facing a lawsuit accusing him of sexual activity with a 16-year-old in 2000.

Which is important, because the age of consent in New York is 17.

The accuser, now 29, will be filing a lawsuit in Manhattan Federal Court Tuesday, says the man’s attorney Jeff Herman.
He said the lawsuit is being filed as a “John Doe” because the accuser does not want to use his name.
A spokeswoman for the puppeteer said, “Mr. Clash believes this lawsuit has no merit.”
Herman said his client started writing a book in 2009 describing his experience with Clash.
The lawyer said he will have pages from that book at a press conference Tuesday to announce the lawsuit.
Herman said the accuser is from the South and was in high school when he came to New York 13 years ago for modeling work.
He said his client connected with Clash — who went under the pseudonym “Craig” and claimed to be only 30 years old — on a gay chat line. The two chatted for a couple of days and then Craig invited the 16-year-old to his apartment.

Moving to New York to model, then finding out the older man who took advantage of you is rich and willing to pay hush money is like winning the model lottery.

In the apartment, Herman said his client realized Craig was older than 30. They also engaged in “some sexual activity.”
Herman said his client met Clash again in 2003 and 2004, and over a period of time figured out who Clash was.
“He saw Elmo dolls, an Emmy award and photographs of Elmo with movie stars,” said Herman. [NYDailyNews]

“And what really cinched it in his mind was finding that New York Driver’s license that said ‘Kevin Clash’ next to his picture. That was when he knew.”

Can this go away now? The guy’s already been disgraced and lost his job and his place as a once-beloved public figure, what more do you want?

Don’t say “money,” that was a rhetorical question.

[Semi, Sort-Of Update: TheSmokingGun reports that Clash's second accuser, Cecil Singleton, is a frequent poster in Craigslist Casual Encounters, in the T4M section.]