Voice of Elmo Denies Sex w/ Underage Boy Takes Leave of Absence from Sesame Street

TMZ ^ | November 12, 2012

[maggief]

Kevin Clash -- the man known as the voice of Elmo -- has taken a leave of absence from Sesame Street in the wake of allegations he had a sexual relationship with a 16-year-old boy, TMZ has learned ... allegations Clash adamantly denies.

We've learned ... Sesame Workshop lawyers recently met with a 23-year-old man who claims he and Clash began a sexual relationship 7 years ago ... when he was 16 and Clash was 45.

Clash has acknowledged to TMZ he had a relationship with the young man -- but insists it only took place AFTER the accuser was an adult.

Sesame Workshop honchos tell TMZ ... "In June of this year, Sesame Workshop received a communication from a young man who alleged that he had a relationship with Kevin Clash beginning when he was 16-years-old. This was a personal relationship, unrelated to the workplace. We took the allegation very seriously and took immediate action."

Sesame Workshop officials acknowledge to TMZ they met with the accuser twice and had a number of other communications with him.

Sources with direct knowledge of the situation tell TMZ ... after the accuser's initial meeting with Sesame Street, the accuser felt Sesame Workshop's lawyers were trying to muzzle him ... so he lawyered up with Andreozzi and Associates -- the firm that represented one of the victims in the Jerry Sandusky child rape case.

[castlegreyskull]

Yeah he (PeeWee) is a creep. Shouldn’t be entertaining children. One interesting thing about him, he refused to advertise for candy or cereal when he was in his heyday, because he believed it promoted unhealthy eating.

[ArrogantBustard]

Yeah he (PeeWee) is a creep

I agree, both as to Paul Reubens the Wanker, and as to the Pee Wee show itself.

Interesting about the refusal to advertise. Fred Rogers also refused to be involved in advertising on the grounds that childrens' television was too commercialized. I am inclined to agree. Sesame Street, B'harnei and Fiends, and other PBS properties are thoroughly and disgustingly commercialized.