Bert & Ernie: The Muppet Love Story (Or Not)
The two lovable roommates from Sesame Street have long been the subject of a half‑sober, half‑foolish debate. Fans have mused whether the lovable green and yellow pals are secretly a couple, but the show’s creators have flatly denied any romantic undertones.
What the Old Writer Says
- Mark Saltzman – former staff writer, 1981‑1990 – claimed he crafted Bert and Ernie’s dynamics from his own long‑term romance with film editor Arnold Glassman.
- He reminisced about a preschooler asking whether Bert & Ernie were lovers, a question that left everyone giggling.
- Saltzman admitted: “When I wrote them, I saw them as a loving couple – not with any political agenda, just a realistic partnership.”
- He also highlighted the friction between “Bert’s OCD” and “Ernie’s chaotic personality,” mirroring the real‑life dynamic he shared with Glassman.
Sesame Workshop’s Official Stance
Despite the writer’s claims, Sesame Workshop (the nonprofit behind the show) issued a statement reinforcing that the characters are best friends only:
- Bert and Ernie were designed to teach kids that “good friends can be very different from each other.”
- They remain puppets and do not possess a sexual orientation.
- Any romantic reading is “a harmless misinterpretation.”
Fans Still Stir
Over the past decade, various online petitions, YouTube videos, and even a New Yorker cover have kept the debate alive:
- In 2011, activist Lair Scott gathered 7,600 signatures asking for the duo to get married on the show to promote LGBTQ+ acceptance.
- The petition sparked heated comments on social media, with some cheering the idea and others pushing back.
- Fast forward to 2013, the New Yorker featured the pair cuddled on a sofa, celebrating the Supreme Court’s legalization of gay marriage.
Takeaway
While the audiences may entertain the possibility that Bert & Ernie are more than best friends, the official line remains: they’re charming roommates, learning to coexist in a world full of differences, but certainly not a romantic pair.
For anyone who enjoys a good debate, the rumor mill is still ticking – whether it’s about puppets or people, the conversation never ends.
Note: This piece includes embedded content from the Sesame Workshop and other media sources.
https://twitter.com/SesameWorkshop/status/1042117602678587395
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pS8psUi1fTk
