Well this is awkward.
UPDATE: After a third man came forward last week and accused John Travolta of sexual harassment, a fourth man has come forward and said Travolta was blacklisted from a New York hotel for three years for inappropriate behaviour.
It comes after two masseurs in as many weeks have separately accused 58-year-old Travolta of trying to have sex with them during private massage sessions.
The first anonymous masseur alleges Travolta propositioned him during a massage session in January. Last night a second anonymous masseur stepped forward and claimed to have substantial documentation and numerous witnesses to support his claim that Travolta made unwanted sexual advances. Both masseurs are asking for $2 million in damages.
The third man is suing Travolta for $1 million and claims the actor tried to have sex with him in 2009 while he was working on the Royal Caribbean cruise ship as an employee in charge of VIP customers.
His story comes as one of the two men who initially accused Travolta of sexual battery released a statement. John Doe #1 wrote:
“As the unidentified masseur in the John Travolta case I have an opinion that I wanted to share.
“I don’t think anyone should form any opinion about Mr. Travolta, his family, his counsel, myself, John Doe #2, and our counsel.
“Instead, I would urge everyone to understand that guilt or innocence in our Justice System is decided by our court system. Too often these matters are decided by swaying public opinion through elements that would never be considered in an actual court case.
“Even though Mr Travolta and his counsel are on opposing sides in this matter, I do wish them good health, happiness, and want them to be judged with absolute fairness as our great nation affords all citizens regardless of their wealth or station.
“A photograph, a restaurant receipt, testimony, and other things that may or may not constitute proof have strict guidelines that must be followed. A fine example is the amazing number of guilty people that escape their crimes due to the mishandling of evidence. Is it disappointing, of course it is, but it is a price we must pay in order to have a justice system that runs in a constitutional manner.”
“In consideration of that, I ask the public to not judge anyone, and allow all parties to work things out in a respectful and dignified manner, and if these matters do go to court than only that final decision past appeals, etc should be considered a definitive statement on ‘guilt’ or ‘innocence’.”
But “absurd and ridiculous” is how John Travolta’s lawyer has described the claims of sexual battery that are being held against the Pulp Fiction and Grease star. They’ve released a statement, denying the claims. It read:
This second “anonymous” claim is just as absurd and ridiculous as the first one. The attorney who filed the lawsuit on behalf of his second anonymous client, who does not want to disclose his name although he is required to do so, was notified that his first client’s claims were totally false and fabricated, since our client was not in LA when anonymous “Doe #1” claims he interacted with John Travolta.
That fact is easily provable since John Travolta was on the east coast working on a movie on the date that anonymous “Doe #1” claims he interacted with our client. After we were able to establish that anonymous “Doe #1’s” claims were totally absurd, the same attorney has now filed a claim on behalf of another plaintiff, whom he identified as “Doe #2.” Significantly, although the same attorney made the fabricated claim for Doe #1, there was never any claim made by anonymous Doe #2 before he filed his specious lawsuit.
Before the attorney for the two anonymous plaintiffs filed the claim on behalf of the second person who refuses to disclose his identity although required to do so, it is obvious that he checked media reports that my client was in Atlanta working on a movie.
However, the claim by Doe #2 is just as fabricated as the claim by Doe #1. Our client will be fully vindicated in court on both of these absurd and fictional claims.
Comments
44 Comments so far
I remember seeing JT on Oprah several times and I always remember thinking ‘goodness, he seems so gay..’.
Saying that, asking somebody if they’re gay or not is another way of asking ‘who do you like to have sex with?’. That’s nobody’s business, no matter if you’re straight or gay!
I’ve just read Portia de Rossi’s bio ‘Unbearable Lightness’, where she discusses what it’s like being gay in Hollywood and how Ellen’s coming out on the ‘Ellen’ show and resultant implosion of her career basically made anybody who was gay in showbiz stay firmly in the closet. It was an interesting read. Portia came out..and her career went off the boil. Now she’s just Ellen’s arm candy. Bit harder when you’ve got a wife, kids, Scientology, tough-guy career and have been a sex symbol for decades.
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I find so many things here sad. The following is all conjecture. I neither know nor care if JT is gay.
1. That anyone would feel like they had to hide their sexuality in case it hurt them professionally.
2. That anyone feels pressured to “come out” to be a role model for someone else. It’s your sexuality, your choice.
3. That we’re discussing JT’s sexuality. It’s his business.
4. That I don’t have any more Lindt balls left because I ate them.
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Being gay hasn’t stopped Neil Patrick Harris’s career. Barney is still awesome!
I dont care about JT’s sexuality, that shouldn’t be news, but sexual harassment and assault IS news.
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That is very true. The alleged crime is the news, not Is he gay or not? Just come out already and get on with the rest of your life. The truth will set you free, but keeping it hush-hush, you will end up doing the most regrettable things that will hurt those closest to you, your family.
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I think if people read what the allegations are it might put things into perspective (warning: graphic)-
http://www.buzzfeed.com/gavon/the-worst-of-the-john-travolta-lawsuit
It has nothing to be with being gay and everything to do with sexual assault.
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It’s interesting how many people are commenting and using statements like “in This day & age” … especially when gay marriage is still not legal! Seems to me that “this day & age” still has a really long way to go.
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I find speculation about a person’s sexual orientation to be appalling. It’s none of your business. No one should ever be forced to come out as gay or even have to prove their sexuality to satisfy your need for some celebrity gossip.
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No, they shouldn’t.
On the other hand, if JT is gay then why does he keep up the ‘happily married to a woman’ routine? Why not just live his life and not hide a major part of who he is?
I don’t agree with outing people against their will, but I can see why gay people might be a little pissed off with other gay people who are ashamed of who they are, hiding behind a wife and children.
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I not going to speculate of John Travolta’s sexuality.
In my own experience, many people within the LGBT community understand that coming out can be difficult and have probably experienced that difficulty themselves. Hopefully they wouldn’t be pissed off but understanding instead.
Also, sometimes people don’t come out not because they are ashamed but maybe because they aren’t ready, maybe they are scared, maybe they like their life as it is and don’t want it to change, etc.
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No, they shouldn’t. But similarly, no one should be forced to keep quiet if they were treated in an inappropriate way during the course of their job (giving a massage).
It would be equally as bad if it came out that John Travolta had treated 4 female masseuses inappropriately. The actual core issue is whether he behaves in a sexually inappropriate way towards strangers who are giving him a massage.
It is a shame however that homosexual celebrities don’t feel they can come out due to hear of losing work. George Clooney (also an ex of Kelly Preston, which is interesting) and Bradley Cooper are also homosexual but are worried about their careers. I reckon they’ve got it the wrong way around – female fans would still pay to see their movies (after all, you don’t suddenly become less incredibly incredibly good-looking if you bat for the other team), but if they came out they’d get the gay male movie-going dollars too
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When did George Clooney & Bradley Cooper say they were gay? What are you basing that on? How odd.
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Hang on….now George Clooney is gay!!!!!
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Ever consider he might be bi?
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A few years ago a friend of mine was involved in the Hollywood scene and got to know a few celebrities. Apparently it is an open secret that JT is gay and I even met with an agent through my friend who had been propositioned by him! And also apparently his wife is “the biggest lesbian in hollywood” so a great arrangement for them both.
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Yes – sounds like they have a nice arrangement in that way – best friends, having children together.
Shame they have to hide who they really are – and his behaviour seems a bit out of control. She’s obviously a bit more discreet.
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5 years ago a hairdresser told me he had pashed JT. Have also heard other stories. The “rumours” have been around for years.
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Anyone who has read lots of websites for the past 10 years have heard very similar stories. I guess the only shocked people are the ones who don’t get online. I don’t get how anyone could think he’s straight! my gaydar PINGS. same with tom cruise though i find him more asexual than anything else.
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People have been saying that john Travolta is gay for years, so he probably is. Apparently he frequents “bath houses” a lot etc. What I don’t get unless I misread something, is why someone wants $2,000,000 for being propositioned?
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Read:
http://www.buzzfeed.com/gavon/the-worst-of-the-john-travolta-lawsuit
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Nooooo I can’t believe this!!! next they’ll be saying Tom Cruise and Hugh Jackman are gay????? This is outrageous.
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is Hugh gay? Really?
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not allowed to say that because it would be slanderous. Lets just say if John Travolta is NOT gay then neither is Hugh Jackman. Google it and put.. is Hugh Jackman ___ and you will not even have to write the word before it figures that is what you are going to write.
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Genuinely curious ..are you saying that because google comes up with the full phrase before you finish typing it that makes it true? Cause I don’t think it does.
If HJ is gay, why wouldn’t he just come out? Doesn’t make a lot of sense in this day and age. I really hate that this sort of speculation is taken as gospel, with no corroboration.
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no I am not saying just because it says it on google makes it true and I am being very careful what I write because past comments have been deleted. I think a lot of Hollywood and leading men don’t come out because they think it would harm their image. Maybe they wouldn’t be cast in roles that they can get as a heterosexual man. I’m not saying its right but their lives depend on their careers and I don’t think people especially in parts of America are quite as open minded as some of us. In fact far from speculation it is well known by a lot of people that certain actors are gay but nobody would say that because they would be scared of being sued for defamation.
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Oh J……I’m so with you! Nothing more to be said
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Look at what coming out did for poor Rupert Everett’s Hollywood career. I think it is true that big movie stars are reluctant to admit that they are gay as it will hinder their reputation. It stinks that they can’t feel they can in this day and age but it’s reality.
But it seemsit is now acceptable if you are a talk show host – Ellen and Graeme Norton!
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A very wordy well written, careful statement. If he is guilty and wants to be a key figure in scientology, then let him pay those whom he wanted to take advantage of just because he has money.
I don’t understand what sexual battery is however? I thought battery is when you have actions inflicted on you when you have a lack of control of the situation. Perhaps their lower status in the service chain made his fame/customer status an automatic loss of control or difficulty to them?
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No, battery is just unwanted touching
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Money, money, money.
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Just saw this story and, since it has been up for a couple of days, was wondering about the fact that there are so few comments. Then I wondered – is it just because so few of us are really surprised?
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Or… people don’t want to believe it. If the same thing came out about someone I loved and admired (like Ryan Gosling), it would break my heart to read it, so I’d probably avoid it altogether.
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Maybe its because so few of us care?
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I care.
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Ok – here’s my John Travolta story:
So three weeks ago I was at a conference in Tucson, Arizona and on the last night, I decided to treat myself to a quiet dinner in the fancy restaurant. Because I was by myself, they gave me a table in the bar instead of the restaurant. As soon as I sat down I saw John Travolta having pre-dinner drinks with a guy. I told the waitress I left something in my room and LEGGED it back to get my phone like a LOSER. He was super flirty with all the (male) waiters but I was waiting for him to… I don’t know MAKE out with someone.
Of course, my previously “having a migraine” room mate had to come down too AND took a pic with her flash on. (pic attached).
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How exciting! So did you get any feel that he was straight or gay?
I think his cover was pretty much blown when he was caught pashing that guy on the steps of his plane. And there’s been heaps of other reports as well.
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ooohh I didn’t know about that but I suspected he was gay for a very long time. I think just one of those many Hollywood/entertainment men who hide it to save their image. I’m pretty sure his marriage is one of convenience for both of them….off to google John travolta pashing man on plane.
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His wife had already gone into the plane and he was on the steps farewelling his “friend”
Who cares if he’s gay, he’s a great actor. It’s a shame he feels the need to hide behind a pretence.
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Agree it is a shame but I think it might have a lot to do with being a scientologist as well. I don’t think he will ever come out but if he did it would certainly not make me not watch his movies. I guess their personal life is their own and such a shame that he would feel the need to hide who he is.
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I had read the stories for years, so I was hoping to “catch” him in the act. Apart from some mild flirting, there was nothing to get a photo of – but I wonder why he was in Tucson of all places.
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This is why fame has no appeal to me. Because it means I don’t need to worry about someone with a camera phone “catching me in the act” of anything.
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I know – I was a bit ashamed of myself really.
People left him alone, but there was a definite buzz that he was there. Everytime someone left the restaurant, you could hear them saying “OMG, JOHN TRAVOLTA!”.
Nobody spoke to him though, but you could tell he noticed all the attention.
I guess there are a LOT of perks (the money etc), but it’s not a life I’d want for myself.
There’s be too many photos of me picking my nose or my bum!
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It’s not just now – there have been stories like this for years, being banned from various spa and hotel chains – pretty much since the 90s.
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Publicity for the new movie ‘Look Who’s Talking Now’?
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It’s John Travolta. Surely he could have spent a few extra bucks on a masseuse who was down with this. Or maybe it’s the ‘SURPRISE’ aspect that’s appealing?
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