The sexual abuse scandal that surrounded Elmo’s voice man, Kevin Clash, had shocked many member of the public, especially given the heightened exposure many public figures have now been put under within the spectrum of child abuse. But now this particular ‘case’ has been put to bed by the person who made the allegations.

The accuser, now 23 years of age, has recanted his allegations, saying that they had an "adult consensual relationship". The accuser's attorney released a statement to E! News, clarifying the nature of his relationship with 52-year-old Clash: "This office represented the 23-year-old man who was the subject of many media reports regarding Kevin Clash. He wants it to be known that his sexual relationship with Mr. Clash was an adult consensual relationship. He will have no further comment on the matter." Clash also issued his own statement in response: "I am relieved that this painful allegation has been put to rest," the Emmy-winning Muppet man said. "I will not discuss it further." 

And Sesame Street, the show in which Elmo, the most innocent of all the parties involved features, also released a statement: "We are pleased that this matter has been brought to a close,” it said “and we are happy that Kevin can move on from this unfortunate episode." Unfortunate indeed, as the full scale of the damaging allegations are yet to be felt by the infamous franchise.