Voice behind Elmo, Kevin Clash, accused of having sex with underage boy

The man behind the beloved Sesame Street character Elmo is accused of having a sexual relationship with an underage teen that started seven years ago, according to a TMZ report.

Kevin Clash, the Elmo puppeteer, has taken a leave of absence from the Sesame Street show, but he denies the allegations, and Sesame Workshop lawyers are standing behind Clash.

Clash acknowledges that the relationship happened, but only after the accuser was an adult.

Sesame Workshop lawyers met with the 23-year-old who made the accusations earlier this year. 

The alleged victim says he and Clash began a sexual relationship when he was 16 and Clash was 45, TMZ reports.

The Sesame Workshop lawyers say the allegations are false and maintains that it was a consensual relationship between two adults. 

Clash has taken a leave of absence while he takes actions to defend his name against defamation, lawyers say.

Clash is divorced from his former wife Genia, and has a daughter from that marriage named Shannon.

Read the entire report at http://tmz.me/WX8bhQ .