WASHINGTON – The man known as the voice of Elmo has taken a leave of absence from “Sesame Street.”

TMZ reports a 23-year-old man claims he and Kevin Clash began a relationship when the accuser was 16 and Clash was 45.

Clash adamantly denies the allegations, and tells TMZ the relationship only occurred after the accuser became an adult.

Sesame Workshop officials tell TMZ they investigated the allegation of an inappropriate relationship and found it was unsubstantiated.

But the accuser reportedly has hired the law firm that represented a victim in the Jerry Sandusky case and felt that Sesame Workshop lawyers tried to keep him quiet, TMZ reports, citing sources.

Clash says the allegations are “false and defamatory” and has taken the leave of absence so he can take actions “to protect his reputation,” Sesame Workshop tells TMZ.

Follow WTOP on Twitter.

(Copyright 2012 by WTOP. All Rights Reserved.)