Voice Of Sesame Street's Elmo Accused Of Relationship With Teenage Boy

Kevin Clash, the openly gay actor who voices Sesame Street's Elmo, has taken a leave of absence after accusations that he had a sexual relationship with 16 year-old boy.

Earlier this summer, the accuser, then a 23-year-old man, reached out to Sesame Workshop alleging Clash had a relationship with him when he was still a minor. After the accuser came forward, Sesame Workshop took immediate action. The company "conducted a thorough investigation and found the allegation of underage conduct to be unsubstantiated. Although this was a personal relationship unrelated to the workplace, [their] investigation did reveal that Kevin exercised poor judgment and violated company policy regarding internet usage and he was disciplined." Clash, who would have been 45 years old at the time, acknowledged the relationship. However, he "insists it only took place AFTER the accuser was an adult." "I had a relationship with [the accuser]. It was between two consenting adults and I am deeply saddened that he is trying to make it into something it was not," Clash told TMZ.

The above-linked article notes that Clash's accuser has hired the same law firm that represented one of the victims of Jerry Sandusky.