[Updated at 7:40 p.m. ET] A man who alleged he was 16 when he started a relationship with the puppeteer who provides the voice of Elmo on “Sesame Street” now says it was an “adult consensual relationship,” according to his lawyers.
The man, now 23, had told Sesame Workshop in June that he started a relationship with Kevin Clash as a teenager, according to the workshop. The workshop announced on Monday that a thorough investigation found “the allegation of underage conduct to be unsubstantiated.”
On Tuesday, a law firm saying it represented the man released a statement saying he “wants it to be known that his sexual relationship with Mr. Clash was an adult consensual relationship.”
“We will have no further comment on the matter,” the statement from Pennsylvania law firm Andreozzi & Associates said.
Clash, 52, and the Sesame Workshop responded Tuesday with statements of their own.
"I am relieved that this painful allegation has been put to rest. I will not discuss it further," Clash said in a message released by his representative.
“We are pleased that this matter has been brought to a close, and we are happy that Kevin can move on from this unfortunate episode,” the workshop said on its website.
A day earlier, both Sesame Workshop and Clash indicated the man was claiming that he was a teenager when Clash began a relationship with him. Clash acknowledged a relationship between “two consenting adults,” but said the man otherwise was making a “false and defamatory allegation.”
“I am a gay man,” Clash said in a statement issued Monday. “I have never been ashamed of this or tried to hide it, but felt it was a personal and private matter.
“I had a relationship with the accuser. It was between two consenting adults and I am deeply saddened that he is trying to characterize it as something other than what it was.”
Both Clash and Sesame Workshop said Monday that Clash was taking a leave of absence to deal with the allegation and protect his reputation. The show told CNN on Tuesday that it had no comment on when Clash would return.
Clash is the high-pitched voice of the iconic furry red Elmo, whom he's been playing since 1984, winning Emmy Awards along the way.
He was the third Muppeteer to take on the role.
Clash is also Sesame Street's senior Muppet coordinator and Muppet captain, the "Sesame Street" website says.
A documentary, "Being Elmo," focused on his story.
In an interview previously posted on the website of NYC Dads, an initiative of New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, he spoke about how he worked to spend time with his daughter, who lives with his ex-wife outside Baltimore.
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It was ALL about money. No genie to put back in the bottle, just some opportunistic gay man going after a former flame....Can you tell me how to get, how to get to Bigotry Street?
Patreaus. Gingrich. Straight guys, LOL.
Thanks for the parity. Fallen "heroes" everywhere. In a democracy, share the "sin," if its called sin anymore.
Since when is a 16 year old an adult?
I think he's now saying he wasn't getting boned at 16. Just hanging out for a couple of years. Then at 18, greek sauna sort of thing.
Several states consider 16 to be the age of consent...nothing new here. Btw, he was 18 or older.
Maybe Romney was onto something with the Sesame Street crowd hahaha
And Romney wears magic underwear. Wait, what was your point?
Happy for Mr. Clash, not bring Elmo back to. Thank you. I love you Elmo.
Why not bring Elmo back if Elmo good?
Not bring Elmo back to "what"?
Elmo didn't pay him off. He sent Harry and Oscar to pay him a little visit.
Elmo says, Elmo says, take the money and change your story
Yeah because I'm sure being a puppeteer on a PBS kids show means Kevin Clash is just rolling in it.
It's all true. I've seen things. Things I'd rather not discuss.
Nothing wrong with a 52-year-old (or I guess 47 at the time) banging an 18-year old.
would have been nothing wrong with it if he had been 16 and the relationship was in a state where the age of consent was 16.
Time to bring Elmo home to Sesame Street and for friend, Kevin Clash, to sue now 23 year old.
It's a moral destruction now. Consenting or not...the fact the kid was 16..and he was 45 is a moral inappropriateness.
Sales of Elmo items are going to come to a screeching halt and parents will think twice about getting their child that Elmo doll for Christmas.
Elmo himself is a cultural icon that's been around longer then I've been alive. Even if true, why should this story change any child's relationship with a cultural icon like Sesame Street. Get over yourself.
The accuser recanted and admitted he was not a teenager at the time but was an adult. He was NOT 16. Yes it would be terrible if he was but it turns out he was not and therfore Clash is an innocent man.
Which has nothing to do with the story. Don't you realize that sound insane?
I support Kevin Clash and recognize that this kid was just looking for a little attention. This kid is slandering a decent man and I think Clash should sue his attention-seeking sorry self.
Joey ..... Do you like movies about gladiators?
@gallopagus: what he means is that if Obama concentrated on something important, like killing Osama bin Laden, instead of campaigning for free contraceptives for gays, this horrendous story of blatant child abuse would never happen.
uuuh, you do realize that Obama DID KILL Bin Laden right?!
Bin Laden is dead and this was done under Obama's leadership. What are you talking about?
(facepalm) – You mean the horrific story where the 16 year old young man admits the relationship was consensual? That story?
What rock have you been living under? Osama has been dead for a while now. Speak facts or shut up!