Despite scandal, Kevin Clash gets four Daytime Emmy nominations

Kevin Clash resigned from his high-profile puppeteering gig on “Sesame Street” in November 2012 amid allegations of having sexual relations with multiple underage boys. But despite the scandal, Clash’s work as the man behind Elmo helped get him four Daytime Emmy nominations.

Clash was nominated for outstanding performer in a children’s series, as a director and as a producer for “Sesame Street” and also as producer of the program “Little Children, Big Challenges: Divorce,” which is nominated in the category of New Approaches -- Enhancement to a Daytime Program or Series.

Last year, Clash was accused of having a sexual relationship with an underage boy. Though the original accuser later recanted, three others came forward to charge that Clash had relationships with them.

PHOTOS: Celebrity portraits by The Times

Clash was initially suspended from the show, which he had worked on for 28 years, and he eventually resigned. He released a statement saying, “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.”

In previous years, Clash has been something of a Daytime Emmys champ. He’s received 23 of the awards in years past, and won a prime-time Emmy Award for producing the program “Growing Hope Against Hunger.”

Clash has maintained his innocence and kept a low profile since leaving the show, and several of the lawsuits brought against him are still pending, so it’s unclear whether he will show up at the Daytime Emmy Awards ceremony in June.

Officials of the Sesame Workshop, the producer of “Sesame Street,” have stated that they would find a replacement for Clash to voice Elmo, who has become one of the most popular characters on the show.

ALSO:

A&E denies report that three were dropped from ‘Storage Wars’ cast

Matt Lauer on his ‘interesting year,’ support from Kathie Lee Gifford

‘Ellen,’ ‘The Young and the Restless’ lead Daytime Emmy nominations