UPDATE: Sesame Street Forces Bert and Ernie Back Into The Closet

The nonprofit educational organization behind Sesame Street was apparently displeased when former writer Mark Saltzman claimed Tuesday that two characters of the show were modeled after a gay couple.

“Please see our statement below regarding Bert and Ernie,” Sesame Workshop wrote.

https://twitter.com/SesameWorkshop/status/1042117602678587395

“As we have always said, Bert and Ernie are best friends,” the statement reads. “They were created to teach preschoolers that people can be good friends from those who are very different from themselves. Even though they are identified as male characters and possess many human traits (as most Sesame Street Muppets do), they remain puppets, and do not have a sexual orientation.”

Big League Politics reported earlier Tuesday:

After years of speculation, Bert and Ernie of Sesame Street fame are gay, according to one of the show’s writers.

“Mark Saltzman, who joined the Sesame Street team in 1984, has revealed he did indeed write Bert and Ernie as a gay couple,” according to a report.

Saltzman said that the characters “reflected his own same sex relationship with film editor Arnold Glassman at the time.”

Sesame Street has a long history of denying that the characters were romantically involved, perhaps stemming from ratings concerns.

Some have taken the news of Bert and Ernie being forced back into the closet roughly.

“So, basically Muppets possess every single human trait except the ability to love each other in a romantic way?” Charlotte Clymer, former Hillary Clinton campaign communications director argued with the creators of the fictional cartoon show.

“Let Bert and Ernie be the gay icons we deserve,” said Blair Imani, self-described “black, queer and Muslim activist.”

“If Bert and Ernie are not gay they’re not gay but your excuse can’t be that they’re puppets. Kermit and Miss Piggy are in an on again/off again relationship and a muppet wedding between them is even a major feature of the most recent movie,” said Jenny Nicholson, who has apparently pondered this question at great length.

This story is developing, and Big League Politics will keep you updated on all of the Bert and Ernie drama as it unfolds.