It looks like Kevin Clash (the voice of Sesame Street’s Elmo) wanted the sexual allegations made by Sheldon Stephens to come to quick close. According to new reports, Clash agreed to pay his accuser $125,000 on the condition that he retract allegations that Clash had sex with him when he was a minor.
Sheldon Stephens, now 23, says he was 16 when he and Clash began having a sexual affair, according to TMZ. Clash, 52, admits to having an affair. However, he insists he did not pursue a sexual relationship with Stephens until he was an adult.
A few short hours before Stephens changed his story, the two parties reached a settlement. Under the terms outlined, Clash agreed to pay Stephens $125,000. According to TMZ, the settlement has the following conditions:
“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.’”
Additionally, Stephens is only allowed to repeat the earlier statement if questioned about the nature of he and Clash’s relationship.
But despite the signed documents, Stephens is sticking to his story. According to TMZ, Stephens “continues to insist Clash had sex with him when he was a minor and was pressured into signing the settlement [...] And Stephens was crying during final negotiations and repeatedly insisted he didn’t want to sign.”
Clash is now on voluntary leave from Sesame Street Workshop.
