<http://schema.org/articleBody>
" Elmo operator Kevin Clash has strongly denied allegations that he had sex with an underage boy. The puppeteer has taken a leave of absence from Sesame Street following claims that he had a sexual relationship with a 16-year-old boy, reports TMZ.  A 23-year-old man is said to have recently met with Sesame Workshop lawyers, stating that he began a relationship with Clash seven years ago, when he was 16 and Clash was 45 years old. Clash has stated that he had a relationship with the man in question, but has insisted it began after he became an adult. Sesame Workshop sources said: &amp;quot;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. &amp;quot;This was a personal relationship, unrelated to the workplace. We took the allegation very seriously and took immediate action.&amp;quot;  The accuser has now teamed up with lawyers Andreozzi and Associates, who represented one of the Jerry Sandusky child rape victims. The firm has accused Sesame Workshop of attempting to &amp;quot;discredit the victim in order to protect its employee and the image of one of its most valuable characters&amp;quot;, adding: &amp;quot;This approach places a greater value on a puppet than the well-being of a young man.&amp;quot; Sesame Workshop officials have stated that an investigation has been launched, and that the allegation of underage sex is &amp;quot;unsubstantiated&amp;quot;, and that no evidence has been produced to prove otherwise. They said: &amp;quot;Kevin insists that these allegations are false and defamatory and he has taken actions to protect his reputation. We have granted him a leave of absence to do so.&amp;quot; Clash told TMZ: &amp;quot;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.&amp;quot;  Speaking about the character of Elmo, the workshop added: &amp;quot;Elmo is bigger than any one person and will continue to be an integral part of Sesame Street to engage, educate and inspire children around the world.&amp;quot; Watch a trailer from Kevin Clash&amp;#039;s documentary Being Elmo below:      "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.digitalspy.com/showbiz/news/a437375/elmo-voice-kevin-clash-denies-underage-sex-leaves-sesame-street/>