Elmo Accuser Says He Was Pressured to Recant
Elmo, Kevin Clash, Sheldon Stephens (inset)
The man who accused Kevin Clash, the voice of Sesame Street's Elmo, of having an inappropriate relationship with him as a teenager and later recanted now says he was pressured into reversing his story and stands by his initial account, TMZ reports.
Last week, the accuser, who's since been identified as Sheldon Stephens, recanted allegations that he and Clash had been sexually involved beginning when he was 16 and, according to TMZ, received $125,000 from Clash in a settlement.
But now, TMZ reports, Stephens claims he was coerced into the settlement and is meeting with lawyers to try to undo it. Now 23, Stephens insists that he and Clash did have a sexual relationship when he was a teen.
After news broke last week that Stephens had recanted, Clash released a statement saying, "I am relieved that this painful allegation has been put to rest. I will not discuss it further."
Clash is currently on a leave of absence from Sesame Street and there's no word on when he will return to work.