Well this story seems to have some long and shapely legs. First, a man accuses Kevin Clash, the voice of Elmo, of molesting him. Then he takes it back. Then it comes out he took it back because he got a $125 K settlement. Now the accuser says he takes back taking it back. Kevin did molest him and he doesn't want the money. You following this?
TMZ broke the story ... Clash and Sheldon Stephens entered into a settlement in which Clash agreed to pay Stephens $125,000, but in return the agreement provides the following:
"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.'"
We've learned Stephens has met with lawyers in Los Angeles and told them he was pressured into recanting his allegation and insists he's telling the truth when he says he had sex with Clash when he was 16.
Stephens -- who is now 23 -- is telling lawyers he will gladly forfeit the $125,000 to restore his name. Stephens is saying he was literally crying during the final negotiations and repeatedly said he didn't want to sign.
This is very messy Elmo.
Either Clash just paid off a grifter who now is angling for more cash...or Elmo did tickle an underage Stephens, and Stephens is thinking he would rather not sell his soul and what's left of his reputation for $125 grand.
Regardless, Clash is very, very messy. He had no businesses fooling around with someone just over the line of consent anyway. He should've found someone in his own age group, then we would not all have weird Elmo images in our heads.
