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Kevin Clash, the puppeteer behind Elmo, has resigned from Sesame Street after a second man has come forward to accuse him of having a sexual relationship with a minor.

We reported yesterday on the story that Elmo puppeteer Kevin Clash had been accused of having a sexual relationship with a teenager. Good news, everyone! The New York Times says the anonymous accuser has recanted the allegations. In a statement made by his lawyers, the accuser is now calling the relationship an "adult consensual" one. That's great news, because yesterday we felt gross. All. Day. Long.

This morning in "Things That Are Terrible" news, The New York Post is reporting that Kevin Clash -- the puppeteer who has brought beloved muppet Elmo to life for decades -- has taken a leave of absence from his work on Sesame Street in the wake of allegations that he had a sexual relationship with a then 16-year-old boy. If you can think of anything more inappropriate or childhood marring this morning, we very seriously don't want to hear about it.

Elmo Monster, and his little known alter ego Kevin Clash, have been making the press rounds this week in the promotion of their bio-pic Being Elmo: A Puppeteer's Journey.  This video is from the premiere of the movie at the Sundance Film Festival, when Clash invited a pregnant festival attendee up on stage to meet Elmo. You might want to bite down on something hard, because these levels of adorable have been known to cause seizures. No matter what else happens in videos where you see the Muppeteers behind the Muppets, the best moment for me is always the split second where the puppet stops being a furry sock, and is suddenly a person.  It never ceases to amaze. (via ToughPigs.)