Sesame Street Workshop released a statement today to set the record straight regarding the sexual orientation of Bert and Ernie.
Yes, you read that correctly.
Apparently, Mark Saltzman, who joined the “Sesame Street” crew in 1984, claims he wrote Bert and Ernie as a gay couple.
Sesame Workshop released a statement on Tuesday afternoon that was totally different from Mark’s claims.
As we have always said, Bert and Ernie are best friends. They were created to teach preschoolers that people can be good friends with those that are very different from themselves.
Even though they are identified as male characters and posses many human traits and characteristics (as most Sesame Street Muppets do), they remain puppets, and do not have a sexual orientation.
People were NOT happy with this statement and continued to question the sexuality of the puppets and criticized Sesame Street for not being inclusive.
Hours later they released a second statement that read:
Sesame Street has always stood for inclusion and acceptance.
It’s a place where people of all cultures and backgrounds are welcome.
Bert and Ernie were created to be best friends, and to teach young children that people can get along with those who are very different from themselves.
See the original statements below.
https://twitter.com/SesameWorkshop/status/1042117602678587395
Please see our most recent statement regarding Bert and Ernie below. pic.twitter.com/gWTF2k1y83
— Sesame Workshop (@SesameWorkshop) September 18, 2018
How about just allowing the children, who love watching “Sesame Street,” draw their own conclusions and connect to the characters as they see fit?!
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