Elmo's right-hand man Kevin Clash says he's done nothing wrong.
Clash, who's performed as beloved Elmo for 27 years, was granted a leave of absence from Sesame Street Monday after allegations that he engaged in inappropriate sexual behavior with an underage boy. Later in the afternoon, Clash, 52, confirmed to E! News that he did have "a relationship with the [now 23-year-old] accuser," but says it was not an illegal one.
"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," Clash said in a statement, denying accusations that he had sex with his accuser when he was just a 16-year-old boy. "I am taking a break from Sesame Workshop to deal with this false and defamatory allegation."
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