Those pesky Sesame Street characters are making headlines again. First came the Elmo scandal. Now a Cookie Monster impersonator in New York's Times Square is facing charges after a scuffle with a two-year-old.
According to an article in USA Today, 'Crooky Monster' Osvaldo Quiroz-Lopez apparently pestered Sagar and Parmita Kurada who were out shopping with their son, Samay.
Though the impersonators have no affiliation with Sesame, they happily pose for photos hoping for tips. But Cookie apparently became "verbally abusive and pushed Samay."
He "was right next to me saying, 'Come on, come on! Give me the money!' " Kurada told the Daily News. "I was getting scared. I thought he was going to attack me or he was going to hit me."
Quiroz-Lopez apparently demanded $2. And when Kurada insisted she had no cash handy, the 33 year old said, "You are a bitch, your son is a bastard and your stuff is trash."
He then pushed her son. He lost his balance and nearly fell. Quiroz-Lopez has been charged with child endangerment.
As for little Samay, he keeps saying, "I don't like the Cookie Monster, I don't like the Cookie Monster."
The costumed buskers in Times Square have become a "scourge." Officials are searching for a middle ground that respects freedom of speech and public safety.
A bad cookie in the jar? Or ban the buskers?
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