Some of us have always suspected it, while others haven't given it a second thought, but recently a regular writer of the show Sesame Street made the claim that characters Bert and Ernie were in fact gay. The BBC wrote, "The organisation behind Sesame Street has denied co-habiting duo, Bert and Ernie, are gay, following comments by one of the show's writers."
The writer in question, Mark Saltzman made the statement during an interview with LGBTQ+ magazine Queerty.
Independent wrote how Saltzman claimed that "The co-habiting characters' relationship was based on his own with Film editor Arnold Glassman." Bert and Ernie have been regular characters on Sesame Street since 1969.
Relationship status
Many have speculated over the year that Bert and Ernie may be more than just friends using their striped clothing as a subtle clue that they were more than just best friends. Although the pair slept in separate at 123 Sesame Street, many still believed that they were a couple.
Independent quoted from Mark Saltzman's interview with Queerty, where he said, “I remember one time that a column from The San Francisco Chronicle, a preschooler in the city turned to mom and asked ‘are Bert & Ernie lovers?’ And that, coming from a preschooler was fun."
In recent years there has also been much debate on the age at which children should become aware of different sexualities and lifestyles. The new claim that Sesame Street, a show for pre-schoolers are presenting homosexuality through two of their characters will help to promote acceptance from a young age.
The BBC also made the point that "Bert and Ernie have become icons in the gay community over the years, and even inspired parts of the puppet Broadway musical Avenue Q." Puppets are often used by parents or teachers to help children understand difficult or confusing subjects. So, the point can be made that the same can be said for Bert and Ernie.
Sesame Street denies
However, not everyone is happy about Saltzman's claims. Although public reaction has been positive, the organisation behind Sesame Street released a statement denying the relationship. Independent quoted from a statement Sesame Street's Twitter in which they said, "Bert and Ernie are best friends" going on to say that the pair "Do not have a sexual orientation."
BBC quoted Saltzman's interview with Queerty "I don't think I'd know how else to write them, but as a loving couple," where he explained why he believed that Bert and Ernie were more than just best friends. But in Sesame Street's Twitter response they claimed, “They were created to teach pre-schoolers that people can be good friends with those who are very different from themselves."
Although Sesame Street categorically deny Saltzman's claims, social media seems to be on board with the idea, while some seemed unphased by the claim as they already believed that the pair were a loving couple.
The BBC confirmed this writing "There have been decades of speculation about the puppet pair, who have been roommates - albeit in separate beds - at 123 Sesame Street since the programme's pilot episode in 1969."