Oscar the Grouch would not be happy to learn that Kevin Clash, the voice of Elmo, supposedly paid off a guy accusing him of engaging in underaged sex.
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TMZ is reporting this morning that Kevin Clash paid Sheldon Stephens $125,000 to recant his story that the two had sex when Stephens was only 16. Stephens a few days ago accused Clash of tickling his Elmo, only to recant it shortly after.
Clash acknowledges that he and the young man had sex but insists Clash was an adult when it all started. But several sources told TMZ that just hours before Stephens recanted the allegation, the two settled for the six figures.
A settlement document obtained by the site says “Stephens agrees that immediately upon execution of this Agreement, his counsel, Andreozzi & Associates, P.C., shall release the [following] statement … ‘He [Stephens] wants it to be known that his sexual relationship with Mr. Clash was an adult consensual relationship.'”
Then the document says Stephens must repeat the above statement if anyone asks him about when it all started up with Clash. The guy signed off but now he’s saying he was pressured into signing.