A former "Sesame Street" writer has confirmed what fans have suspected for years - Bert and Ernie are a couple.

The Sesame Street Workshop is denying claims from a former writer that the iconic muppet roommates and buddies "Bert and Ernie" are gay.

Sesame Workshop and the puppeteer who created Ernie spoke out after a "Sesame Street" writer said he based Bert and Ernie on a gay couple.