Global Post
David Trifunov
Kevin Clash, the puppeteer behind Sesame Street’s beloved Elmo, has been cleared of sexual abuse allegations.
A man who said that, as a 16-year-old, he had a sexual relationship with Clash recanted today, The Associated Press reported.
The law firm that represented the man, who remains unidentified, released a statement today saying the relationship happened when the man was an adult.
“This office represented a 23-year-old man who was the subject of many media reports regarding Kevin Clash,” the statement from Andreozzi & Associates read, according to Gothamist.
“He wants it to be known that his sexual relationship with Mr. Clash was an adult consensual relationship. He will have no further comment on the matter.”
More from GlobalPost: Elmo puppeteer Kevin Clash denies allegations of under-age sex
Sesame Workshop issued a brief statement on its website, saying, “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.”
Clash also issued a release that said he’s “relieved that this painful allegation has been put to rest,” the AP reported.
Sesame Workshop said on Monday, when the news broke, that Clash would take a leave of absence from “Sesame Street.”
