They may share a bedroom, but Bert & Ernie are definitely not a gay couple, according to the show's powers-that-be, because puppets "do not have a sexual orientation"...

A former writer for the popular kids TV show recently said in an interview that these two lovable characters were based on his same-sex relationship with a film editor.

“I always felt that without a huge agenda, when I was writing Bert & Ernie, they were [gay]. I didn’t have any other way to contextualise them," writer Mark Saltzman remarked.

Mark added that he was Ernie and film editor Arnold Glassman was Bert. Mark explained: “I was Ernie. I look more Bert-ish. And Arnie as a film editor — if you thought of Bert with a job in the world, wouldn’t that be perfect? Bert with his paper clips and organization? And I was the jokester.

"So it was the Bert & Ernie relationship, and I was already with Arnie when I came to Sesame Street. So I don’t think I’d know how else to write them, but as a loving couple.”

For whatever reason, Sesame Workshop have now felt it necessary to make it abundantly clearly that Bert & Ernie couldn't possibly be gay and have a released an official press statement.

"As we have always said, Bert & Ernie are best friends,” it reads. You can read the full statement below.

The legendary Frank Oz, one of the show's creators, also felt it was important to clarify that Bert and Ernie couldn't possibly be gay.

"It seems Mr. Mark Saltzman was asked if Bert & Ernie are gay. It’s fine that he feels they are. They’re not, of course. But why that question? Does it really matter? Why the need to define people as only gay? There’s much more to a human being than just straightness or gayness," writes Frank.

Please see our statement below regarding Bert and Ernie. pic.twitter.com/6r2j0XrKYu

— Sesame Workshop (@SesameWorkshop) 18 September 2018

It seems Mr. Mark Saltzman was asked if Bert & Ernie are gay. It's fine that he feels they are. They're not, of course. But why that question? Does it really matter? Why the need to define people as only gay? There's much more to a human being than just straightness or gayness.

— Frank Oz (@TheFrankOzJam) 18 September 2018