Responding to an Australian online poll that urged “Sesame Street” puppets Bert and Ernie to marry, PBS took the unusual step Thursday to issue a statement regarding the sexuality of the longtime roommates: They don’t have anybody.

The statement from PBS said:

Bert and Ernie are best friends.  They were created to teach preschoolers that people can be good friends with those who are very different from themselves.

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.

Immediately suspicions shifted to Big Bird.