Kanye West, Paul McCartney and more helped drive ticket sales and donations for MSG show to benefit hurricane victims. By Kara Warner Sir Paul McCartney performs during the finale of the 12-12-12 concert for Sandy relief Photo: Don Emmert/Getty Images
Benedict Cumberbatch finally makes his debut, but his true identity still remains a mystery. By Kevin P. Sullivan Benedict Cumberbatch in the “Star Trek 2” trailer Photo: Paramount Pictures
Kevin Clash, the embattled voice of Sesame Street’s beloved Elmo, is now facing new allegations that he had a sexual relationship with a second underage boy. As a result, he has resigned from the PBS show he has been a part of for decades. In a statement released Tuesday, Sesame Workshop said : “Sesame Workshop’s mission is to harness the educational power of media to help all children the world over reach their highest potential.” “Kevin Clash has helped us achieve that mission for 28 years, and none of us, especially Kevin, want anything to divert our attention from our focus on serving as a leading educational organization.” “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.” “[He has] resigned from Sesame Street. This is a sad day for Sesame Street.” The accuser, who’s now in his 30s, filed a lawsuit against Clash, claiming the two met on a gay phone chat in 1993, when the accuser was 15 and Clash was 32. He says Clash “trolled gay telephone chat line rooms to meet and have sex with underage boys.” In the lawsuit, filed in federal court in NYC, he says Clash “groomed [the accuser] to gain his trust by, among other things, taking him to nice dinners and giving him money.” Kevin Clash , now 52, allegedly “preyed on teenage boys to satisfy depraved sexual interests.” Although the sex occurred nearly 20 years ago, the accuser did not take action until today. Why? Because “did not become aware that he had suffered adverse psychological and emotional effects from Kevin Clash’s sexual acts and conduct until 2012.” One can’t help but think Sheldon Stephens ‘ similar accusations against Clash – which he recanted in a settlement he wants to undo – played a role too. In any case, the second, currently unnamed accuser is demanding more than $5 million. Clash has left the broadcast, effective immediately. [Photo: WENN.com]
dogs eating dogs will be released digitally on December 18, and will be available in several holiday-themed packages. Blink-182 Photo: Kevin Winter/ Getty Images
Justin Bieber may have taken his mother as a date to the American Music Awards last night, but he ended the evening in the arms of a much younger woman: Selena Gomez. Yes, despite the recent struggles of this couple – they were photographed fighting on Friday – witnesses confirm that Bieber cuddled up with Gomez at an AMA after-party in Los Angeles yesterday. “My cub @justinbeiber brought his acceptable and beautifully aged beauty Selena to the AMA after party,” Jenny McCarthy actually Tweeted, with other sources telling E! News Bieber and Gomez left the Nokia Theatre holding hands. Selena did not attend the event, but she was spotted waiting for Bieber to complete his media session backstage. It looks like hope is not lost for these two after all.
Sheldon Stevens, the man who accused Kevin Clash, the voice of Elmo, of having sex with him while he was underage, says he was coerced into recanting. He’s meeting with lawyers to ” undo the settlement ” with the puppeteer, TMZ reports. Clash and Sheldon Stephens entered into a settlement in which Clash agreed to pay him $125,000, but in return the agreement came with one condition. Stephens agreed that upon execution of the deal, he would retract his original accusation and state that his sexual relationship with Clash was consensual and adult. The accuser did retract the allegation at that time … but now wishes he had not. Stephens has met with lawyers and told them he was pressured into recanting, however, and insists he he had sex with Kevin Clash when he was underage (16). Clash has denied this from the start, while acknowledging he is gay and was involved with Stephens, now 23; Clash, 54, says his lover was 18+ at the time. Stephens says he would gladly forfeit the $125,000 to restore his name, and was literally crying during the final negotiations and insisting he didn’t want to sign. Clash’s lawyer had no comment. Stay tuned. [Photo: WENN.com]