Sesame Street Controversies

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In 2002, Sesame Street introduced viewers to Kami, an HIV-positive puppet on Nigeria's Takalani Sesame, in an effort to educate and fight stereotypes about people with AIDS. Though Kami never appeared on American Sesame Street, some individuals staunchly opposed the introduction of Kami, and a group of conservative US representatives cautioned PBS against introducing HIV-positive puppets to American audiences or risk losing funding.


Photo courtesy of Sesame Street Workshop