Bert and Ernie Sesame Street - H 2011
Less than two weeks after Sesame Street earned six daytime Emmy awards, Sesame Workshop laid off 30 employees, about 10 percent of its work force.
The cuts follow previous winnowing in the spring of 2012. A Sesame Workshop spokesperson confirmed the cuts.
“Sesame Workshop, the non-profit organization behind Sesame Street, is constantly assessing where we must invest for the future in response to today’s rapidly changing digital environment,” the organization said in a statement released to the media. “After careful review, we have concluded that we must reduce our workforce by approximately 10% to strategically focus our resources. We remain optimistic about our future and remain committed to our mission of helping children reach their highest potential here and around the globe.”
Sesame Workshop last winter weathered a scandal involving Elmo puppeteer Kevin Clash, who resigned amid accusations of an inappropriate relationships with underage boys. Clash won three Emmys at the 40th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards on June 17, including outstanding performer in a children’s series.
