November 14, 2012 | Arts / Entertainment

Elmo puppeteer not guilty of sex with minor

Kevin Clash, the man who created the Elmo we all know and love, is not guilty of having an inappropriate relationship with an underaged male.

A younger male, now 23, had claimed he and Clash has shared a sexual relationship. It started, said the unnamed accuser, when he was 16 and Clash was 46.

Clash took a leave of absence from his work on Sesame Street when the accusations came out late last week. He denied that he had a sexual relationship with a minor. He did admit that he and the accused had been in a relationship, but that it was consenting and that the younger man was of legal age when the relationship started.

"I am a gay man," he said. "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."

The accuser now admits he was lying and that the relationship was legal and consensual. His lawyers stated that “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.”

Understandably, Clash was happy with the news. “I am relieved that this painful allegation has been put to rest," he said in a statement yesterday.

Of course, the allegation of child abuse - even if unfounded or proven false - can forever tarnish one's reputation. Hopefully this will not be the case for Clash and he can continue his work animating one of the most popular muppets.

'Elmo' Accuser Recants Allegations of Underage Sex With Kevin Clash [ABC]