Bert and Ernie creator confirms rumours
After decades of speculation that Bert and Ernie were gay, the creator of the pair, Mark Saltzman, has confirmed the beloved characters are more than just best friends.
Mr Saltzman reveleaed this week that the two characters reflected his own same-sex relationship with film editor Arnold Glassman at the time.
“Yeah, I was Ernie,” he said.
“I look more Bert-ish. And Arnie as a film editor — if you thought of Bert with a job in the world, wouldn’t that be perfect? Bert with his paperclips and organisation?
“And I was the jokester. So, it was the Bert and Ernie relationship, and I was already with Arnie when I came to Sesame Street.
“So I don’t think I’d know how else to write them, but as a loving couple. I wrote sketches … Arnie’s OCD would create friction with how chaotic I was. And that’s the Bert and Ernie dynamic.”
Glad Ernie and Bert are out of the closet. Now what about Noddy and Bigears?