Rumors that "Sesame Street's" Bert and Ernie are romantically involved have been swirling around for years. However, "The New Yorker" magazine decided to bring the speculation to life by depicting the beloved Muppets as a gay couple on the cover of their latest issues which celebrates the Supreme Court's landmark marriage equality decisions.
"The New Yorker" cover shows the famed Muppets cuddling up in front of a black and white TV with an image of the Supreme Court justices in their black robes.
The artist behind the cover, Jack Hunter, named the cover "Moment of Joy" and told The New Yorker that "it's amazing to witness how attitudes on gay rights have evolved in my lifetime. This is great for our kids, a moment we can all celebrate."
Despite the illustration and rumors about the nature of Bert and Ernie's relationship, the Children's Television Workshop, which produces "Sesame Street," has denied that the two are any more than "best friends."
"They were created to teach preschoolers that people can be good friends with those who are very different from themselves," said the company in a 2011 statement. "Even though they are identified as male characters and possess many human traits and characteristics (as most Sesame Street Muppets do), they remain puppets, and do not have a sexual orientation."
And in 2007, the president of the Children's Television Workshop called the Muppets pre-sexual and said that they "do not exist beneath the waist."
The magazine refused an interview request but released a statement reading, "The New Yorker thinks the cover speaks for itself."
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