On Friday, we discussed the latest news in the John Travolta scandal, which I’m now just going to call Masseur-gate. (Sidenote: the name “Masseur-gate” makes John Travolta think of entryways and backdoors.) Last we heard, a third man, a Chilean named Fabian Zanzi, had come forward to claim that Travolta had propositioned him for a massage and for sex on a Royal Caribbean cruise ship. Travolta allegedly offered Zanai $12,000 for the services, which Zanzi refused. On Friday, we also discussed how Travolta’s first accuser, John Doe #1, had changed his story – Doe #1 now says that he got the dates wrong, and that Travolta groped and assaulted him on an earlier date. I said at the time that Doe #1’s credibility took a big hit with the story change, and it looks like Doe #1’s lawyer feels the same way – the lawyer just dropped the first masseur.
The first man who filed a shocking lawsuit accusing A-list actor John Travolta of assault and sexual battery has been dropped by his legal counsel RadarOnline.com has learned exclusively. The shocking move comes on the same day that RadarOnline.com broke the news Travolta’s accuser admitted he was wrong about the date of the alleged attack.
The Texas man who filed the lawsuit as John Doe #1 hired Los Angeles lawyer Okorie Okorocha to represent him but in a stunning turn of events, Okorocha is no longer handling his case. John Doe #1 claimed Travolta sexually assaulted him in Los Angeles on January 16, 21012 and said he could prove Travolta was in town then.
But Travolta’s attorney Marty Singer not only vehemently denied the charges, he also provided proof that his client was in New York on the day John Doe #1 claimed the assault took place.
The accuser’s attorney decided on May 11 to drop him.
“Okorocha did not feel he could represent John Doe #1 going forward anymore and recommend him finding another lawyer,” a source exclusively told RadarOnline.com. “He is still representing John Doe #2 other alleged victims who are possibly coming forward.”
Singer, one of Los Angeles’ top attorneys, adamantly denied the incident took place since the lawsuit was filed, telling RadarOnline.com that he had definitive proof, including flight records and hotel receipts, that would show his client was not even in Los Angeles on January 16, 2012 when John Doe #1 said the assault took place in the Beverly Hills Hotel. As RadarOnline.com exclusively reported, John Doe #1 has said that his original date of Jan. 16 was a “miscalculation” and that the alleged assault actually took place a few days earlier.
[From Radar]
That’s pretty rough. But… I still think it’s odd that Travolta’s lawyer has yet to go after the second masseur’s story, which, in my mind, seemed WAY more plausible and easily verifiable. As Masseur-gate picks up steam, the common thread is always massages, groping, sweat and desperation. It feels like a pattern. It feels like Travolta has pulled this act so many times. Guess what? The New York Daily News has an interesting piece about just that – their sources claim that Travolta was so skeevy and gross to the masseurs at the Peninsula Hotel Spa, the spa had to “ban” him. You can read the whole piece here, and here are some highlights from the report:
A staffer at the swank Peninsula Hotel claims John Travolta was banned after several creepy run-ins with the spa’s male employees. But the temporary ban in the early 2000s was eventually lifted and the “Pulp Fiction” star was welcomed back, says a former staff member.
Travolta was banished to the Fifth Ave. hotel’s “no-thigh zone” after his inappropriate antics led to an insurrection, said Michael Caputo, a one-time Peninsula masseur.
“Travolta would always request a man for his massage, but after a while no one would take him because of his inappropriate behavior,” Caputo said. “It got to the point where they couldn’t find any men to take him, and they had to ban him,” recalled the masseur known as Magic Mike, who claimed he worked at the Peninsula from 1992-2008.
Travolta’s stay on the blacklist was about three years, and followed a complaint to the hotel’s bosses, said Caputo — who boasted his past clients include Ricky Martin and Jennifer Lopez. The masseur said the sanction against the former “Sweathog” occurred roughly a decade ago. Hotel officials didn’t respond to requests for comment.
Travolta’s attorney, Marty Singer, dismissed the allegation as complete nonsense — noting that his client was at the hotel’s famous rooftop spa as recently as six months ago.
“If he was banned, do you think he’d ever go back?” Singer asked. “He’s never been banned, I guarantee you. . . . The hotel never told John he was banned, and John never acted improperly.”
Caputo, 55, said male staffers complained about Travolta removing his towel, grinding against the massage table and lifting his butt in the air.
“These are signs to a massage therapist that he was trying to see how much he could get away with,” said Caputo. “They went to management.”
[From The New York Daily News]
OMG. Do you have the image now? Do you believe this “disgruntled ex-employee”? Or do you believe Travolta’s lawyer, who doesn’t explicitly deny that Travolta ever grinded against the table and lifted his butt in the air – the denial is only about the ban and a vague “John never acted improperly.” Define “improperly.” Do it.
Meanwhile, some of you have been wondering about Kelly Preston and what she’s been doing while Travolta’s dirty, sweaty laundry is being aired in public. Well, she had a “new” interview on The Conversation with Amanda De Cadenet which aired last week – but it was recorded before Masseur-gate. There are reports that Team Travolta is “purposefully” keeping Kelly “under wraps”. A source tells Fox News, “It’s a means of damage control and will protect her from any public scrutiny.” Basically, Kelly is being told to STFU and just wait until John is ready to do a happy heterosexual family photo op.
Photos courtesy of WENN.
gross and skeevy all over. not to mention pathetic. i assume that kelly is getting paid big-time to be involved in this gross man’s life. or she’s been xenu-brainwashed. or both.
She’s a bigger Xenuphile than he ever was. If Xenu tells Kelly to do something she obeys.
I hope she is not blackmailed to act in a certain way.
Take note of the wording “to protect her”.
It is John who needs protection and it is John who is under public scrutiny, not her.
So, the only one her silence is serving is John and the Scientology group.
I hope she is not being pushed to do so and is acting out of her free will (or state of confusion/ shock/ humiliation…).
I was a member of the Peninsuula health club and spa ten years ago. Michael Caputo was a respected member of the staff. Good, good guy.
^^^ This to me is interesting! It’s a reminder that these are real people.
Good to know.
See, now this is the kind of stuff people need to hear/read. Surely not ALL of these guys (there WILL be more) are lying!
I agree. Typically when there is smoke, there is fire. Travolta’s behavior has been the means of blinds, outing, etc., over the years.
I really think he would come out but he feels or is told that he has too much to lose.
Also, how would Preston come across? Happy with the lifestyle and accepting or divorce him immediately. I think she’s brainwashed by Xenu but she would have to do some damage control herself if he ever came out.
She’s actually the one that stands to lose the most, imho.
Love it, inside scoop and tidbits on lots of stories! And I have internet.
I hate getting 4 days behind…
My only surprise is that it took this long. He was banned from Carmel Spa about 7 years ago for harassing massage therapists. He harassed a therapist from my company about 5 years ago. He’s probably done this hundreds of times.
Probably. It is worth noting that Mr. Caputo’s claim that JT removed his towel, humped the table, and waved his butt in the air is pretty much consistent with the claims made by John Doe #2.
See, I KNEW I’ve read that he’s been banned from more than 2 hotels! And it’s got to take A LOT to be banned from a H-Weird Hotel!!! 😉
I notice that Caputo is not part of the lawsuit. Not that there’s anything wrong with being part of the lawsuit. But this is just a guy speaking up for his fellow massage therapists because his own experience leads him to think they’re telling the truth. I believe him.
Masseur-gate is very similiar to Watergate in that one of Nixon’s people said:
“When you’ve got them by the balls, their hearts and minds will follow.”
In this case though, JT has got them forcefully by the balls, “so lawsuits and endless trials will follow”.
There’s a lot of closets full of skeletons in Hollywood. More than we think. One of them was just opened. But I bet it is not the ugliest and dirtiest one.
You are right. Far more disturbing things have happened. One of these days, it will come out. I just hope the predators will still be alive to take the blame.
Nope, one of ’em belongs to Bruce Willis.
Do tell! No teasing, details if you pretty please.
@Maguita
“Jeannette Walls of MSNBC.com reports Bruce Willis bought Aaron Carter $1 million worth of gifts, a recent lawsuit by the teen heartthrob against his mother revealed”.
That’s older news but now you know what to google.. This came out when Aaron Carter decided to emancipate from his mother. Also, he once publicly thanked Michael Jackson for a car he bought him.. 0__o
No effing way!!! Brucey?? All macho-skirt-chasing Brucey??
Never thought he also shopped in the pedo-junior kilt department…
And poor Aaron, no wonder he turned to drugs and alcohol so early on… Just sad what some parents allow their children to go through in the name of “stardom”.
Ikr.. aren’t you glad you asked? lol
as much as I love gossip, wish I could unsee some of it ._.
I hope I get to hear them all. Yeah, I love my gossip and sleaze as long as it doesn’t affect anyone I know.
A sexual predator, plain and simple.
exactly. and just like a predator, he cannot stop himself.
disgusting.
Love Is A Battlefield!
I hope they Get Shorty.
Don’t you mean love is a Battlefield Earth? 😜
HA! Mort. Happy Mothers’ day! 😀
Hey Bells!
Happy mothers day to you too 😄
He’s Stayin Alive for now
Ha! “Inappropriate behavior” makes me think of someone who’s picking their nose in public, not grabbing the wang of service people! I have some fond memories of Vinnie Barbarino and Danny Zuko, but this current, creepy perv, needs to get help and get out of his closet and Scientology. I really hope it gets proven and he has to stop pretending to be Mr. Happy Hetero.
Also- I think his wife knows everything and supports the “church” more than John’s mental health.
His “wife” is maintaining her part of the deal. His health is not important. I just wonder about the kids. Ella is going to hear about this. She’s 12ish? It’s on the local news in LA and it’s on normally kid friendly news websites.
There will be more of these stories just wait.
I believe that is why the lawyer dropped Doe #1, not enough solid proof, but more Does are building stronger cases with more evidence… If it’s true that more than 100 victims had contacted him so far.
Like I said, Tiger Woods-esque.
Hahhaahah…i love that his homosexual antics are finally coming to the limelight. Just be who you really are, JT!
I don’t think these antics have anything to do with repressed homosexuality. I think he’s just a gross pervert who happens to be a homosexual. The story wouldn’t be any less disgusting if he were doing this to female staff.
Thank you for the wisdom… I also believe that John has a drinking problem. The first things to go are judgment and inhibitions, straight or gay.
There seems to a point when a rising star who just may be ambitious yet still centered and true to his or her values just completely breaks down and…becomes weird. I don’t know what it is: too much selling of one’s soul, being all things to everyone, too much fake persona to please “the public”, losing all sense of self…
…I cannot be sure of the psychology but it is as if there is a tipping point-of-no-return where these guys (gals) just become thoroughly warped. I mean to say, that the charming Travolta of Saturday Night Fever and Grease was perfectly charming (and a fine actor) and “still” came across as genuinely solid, not perverted, not “off”. But something around Pulp Fiction began to bother me…He became old, decrepit and well, as I say, just weird.
Apologies for the essay and there are more important things to concentrate on, but it is all too sad and strange. This all said, there are many actors and actresses who still seem to remain sane and principled.
Anna, I love your post. How observant and wise. It is very sad for John. I wish he could just come out and be happy.
I think he would be unhappy coming out and losing his huge income. This man lives an opululent lifestyle, which he says he loves. He has many jets, full-service airplances with his own staff and co-pilots. He has personal chefs. He has homes all over the world. The man lives a grand life and has his children with him almost always. He has said maintaining his fleet of airplanes and lifestyle requires even more than his huge movie star salary. He said that’s why he is the spokesman for Quanta (whatever it’s called) Airlines. He said it is great money to offset his costs. He lives a free life. It doesn’t appear he wants an emotional relationship with a man. I think his emotional relationship is with Kelly, thus why they lasted 21 years together. She can’t be a beard since they are always together, not living separate lives.
They, obviously, have an agreement for his bi-sexuality as far as maybe happy endings for him with men, no sex. Who knows? I don’t judge. But if he has some fetish where he gets off coming on to masseurs, then he obviously needs help. John can get high-paid escorts, high-paid boyfriend on the side easily. Exhibitionism to masseurs or service people isn’t about his homosexuality. A powerful heterosexual male married compulsively coming on to females massage therapists would be comparable. It’s more about some compulsion that turns him on, which needs to be addressed.
@Jayna: Agree 100%. This is how I see the situation, too.
It’s called the CO$ smothering effect.
Like extreme dieting, your being cracks under constant pressure and binges. Even if it is hurtful, or even in certain extreme cases suicidal, causing the exact contrary behavior you were aiming for.
@ Anna: I wholeheartedly agree with you. It’s like the fame hollyweird machine does something to these people. That business attracts narcissists anyhow. I guess being surrounded by enablers and being treated like a semi-god by everyone brings out Frankenstein’s monster in these actors/performers. Such an odd, but privileged life they live
Acting/fame/hollywood does attract extreme narcissists. And I think acquiring fame, power and wealth is what pervs like travolta do in order to continue to practice their skeevy behaviors. Being a famous movie star is an elite life…it allows one to get away with all kinds of stuff. But the fame was never the real goal–it was what allowed him to accomplish the real goal–his sexual perversions.
Travolta did not become a skeevy perv at middle age–he’s always been that way. And his powerful fame is what has allowed him to practice his perversions freely — up until now.
He met Tarantino? Great director but talk about creepy and “off”. My feet wear sneakers if they hear he is around.
Most of this would just go away if Travolta admitted he’s bisexual (cough). His resistant response to this is what’s bringing men out of the woodwork, a la the Tiger Woods scandal. It’s not like Hollywood has considered him a sex symbol for a while now.
Not if his interactions with them are unwanted. There is a difference between people saying they engaged in consensual sexual acts with a person, and people saying that person groped them.
Are all of the male Scientologists raging closeted homosexuals??
yup!
They are an easy target when it comes to blackmail, so my guess is there are quite a few of those in the ‘church’.
John Travolta is still a “sweathog” but in a different way…lol…
If he is gay or bi, I have no problem with that, but I do have a problem with this creepy, perverted, sexual harrassment of these hotel workers…I feel like I need a shower after reading that story…
yes, i have no issue with his bisexuality, except it being sad he has to pretend to be straight.
however, sexual harassment is something completely different. this creep needs to start paying for that, and i don’t just mean financially.
LMFAO….”sweathog”. Thanks for making my day.
As for Kelly Preston, I would stay in hiding too if this business was all about my husband.
What do you mean keeping her under wraps? I rarely see photos of her unless it’s an extremely rare red carpet or something for him. They live a good bit of the time in Ocala, Florida, a small town in Florida, an hour from where I live, and it has a fly-in community. She just isn’t photographed much ever.
I totally believe he’s gay or bi, and that likely it’s all kept secret with support from his wife, and they’re all Scientology-brainwashed to handle it this way. For all we know, him and wife aren’t even at all romantically involved. Their last child was most likely artificial insemination. I find it hard to believe she got pregnant on her own at 49, just like that. If Scientology keeps him from being able to be true with his sexuality, that’s a shame. But it doesn’t give him the right to be creepy and solicit staff at all these hotels and spas he goes to.
ITA…there is no way Kelly got pregnant the old fashioned way at age 49…def artifical insemination…not that there’s anything wrong with that!
It’s possible but highly uncommon, and given the timing so soon after Jett’s death, deffo IVF.
i do not really understand why people are shocked by this. These stories about either his behaviour or his sexuality have been floating around for so long it’s actually embarrassing for him to act all outraged that it’s finally front and centre.
It’s not as though there haven’t been pictures of him kissing a guy [he is an affectionate guy replied his publicist!], Carrie Fischer all but outs him [ she’s a drunk, how can she possibly remember, besides she’s a joker!], The various spas where his behaviour is deemed ‘inappropriate’ [ they are just shaking him down coz he is a big celebrity, who are these little people, how dare they?]
Urgh. And yet for more than ten years now, these stories pop up.
Do you know who was surprising, Michael Jackson. I’ll even go so far and say Tiger Woods. There really was no whisper that anything untoward was going on. In the case of MJ, yes we thought his spending time with children was strange, but easily explained away by the fact he was so asexual that the thought of him having any kind of sexual relations was as alien as Mars.
Sorry for the long post, but i ask again, who is really surprised by all this?
It’s not the sexuality LAK, it’s the predatory behavior that is very surprising. Always thought it easy for him to get some on the side. Obviously, HE prefers it the hard way.
i don’t think his predatory behaviour has been a secret. He has always had publicists explain it away. There has been a story here and there over the years. The man has been hiding in plain sight.
The difference now is that someone, whether it’s co$ or this lawyer etc, has decided to out him.
if people were paying attention, they would not be surprised by any of this.
Honestly, I’ve never heard anything about him being aggressive before. We all knew he was gay, but not a sexual predator.
Like the sauna story in Gawker, he took refusal politely and moved on. He was just, very-much horny.
These lawsuits paint quite a different man from the sauna stories. I now find him very offensive, and should be treated like any other sexual predator: sexual offender listed, and rehabilitation.
Find this much worse than the Tiger Woods thing, which was all consensual (I think? Am not sure since I found all people involved so extremely trashy that I ignored it most of the time).
@Flan
Tiger Woods had CONSENSUAL sex with all these women. None of them admitted to being forced, heck, many admitted to pursuing the then married man.
The comparison with Tiger Woods stands from the fact, that like Tiger, we could be very well surprised at the sheer number of men coming out of the woodwork. Although with Tiger they were women, and they were consensual. But we always thought Tiger to be a somewhat faithful man. And we would have never thought John to be a sexual predator.
I dont think anyone is, really. I mean this has been going on for years. I think he was also banned from the Morongo Casino & Resort near Palm Springs and I also think the Bel Age Hotel (in West Hollywood) a few years ago.
With at least 6 different hotels/spas mentioned here that he’s allegedly been banned from, you’d think he’d find another way to get his rocks off. Oh, wait, what are the “bath house” stories? That was what I thought was just another joke (like the Gere gerbil nonsense). I mean, there are male prostitutes whose job is to give you a job…why keep harassing masseurs?
Is anyone acting shocked? I haven’t seen that….just commenting on the ‘newest’ stuff that’s popped up about him. The stories about him have been out for years. If anyone’s acting shocked, they’ve been living under a rock.
I don’t give a damn about Travolta’s sexuality. What bothers me is the spa employees who got harrassed. Noone should be a victim of a sexual predator.
Michael Jackson???? He always set off my creep-dar. I thought he and Bubbles were an item when I was 12 or whenever that was. I always knew something was off with that one. It’s the same as my thinking something is off with Tarantino – more than just the feet thing. He seems off.
Regardless the issue with JT isn’t that he is gay – who didn’t know that – it’s that he is creepy. At best he is an exhibitionist who violates other people’s space at worst a near rapist. I know that I have no wish to see JT naked. I don’t think these guys did either.
Improperly: unsuitable or inappropriate, as for the purpose or occasion.
For John Doe #2, it may be that JT did get a massage while staying in that hotel. Unless the actual massage sessions are video taped, how would he prove the allegations are false – this one will probably have to go to court. I disagree w/ this being a civil suit – it should be a criminal case. As for all the other tabloid stories, unless they come forward with a lawyer, they really have no place in this court case. Of course, since JT is presumed gay and in the closet, he is presumed guilty will have to somehow account for who was with and what he was doing everyday of his life and then, people can just say that it is a CoS cover-up. Either way, in the eyes of the public, he is guilty.
Thank you for the literal definition of “improperly.”
I think the only problem with that definition is that some people define “proper” or “properly” flexively, i.e. how I define “proper” may be (is) different than how JT defines “proper.” Just like entitlement.
Because I’m just a normal SoCali native chick, whereas JT’s been famous for years. I feel entitled to not being further than 20 miles from a beach and have central AC; whereas he feels entitled to his own fleet of aircraft, several homes, and accosting masseurs.
I totally believe this lawsuit is bogus, that being said the can of worms has been opened, those who have really been victim of Travolta’s nasty behaviour are now more likely to talk.
Personally, I find myself increasingly upset with this story. I don’t really give a damn about what Travolta does or doesn’t do, his sexual preferences or his quirks. I do care about these lawyers who go on witch hunts trying to grab a big payday. Particularly when the basis for that witch hunt is clearly attempting to humiliate a public figure over what may or may not be their private life.
In this day and age do we really care if Travolta is gay or in the closet? I’m satisfied to let that be his business. Clearly, this pathetic excuse for a lawyer can’t earn a living without making it his own business. He’s no better than these lawyers that sue bittorrent porn downloaders en masse, who are then given the choice of paying up or being publicly embarassed.
Who among you reading this would want some lawyer breathing down your neck just because he smells the scent of some money, giving you a choice of being publicly humiliated over your weaknesses or maintaining your privacy at a price?
I think it smells! I think we’re wrong to help enrich this poor excuse for a lawyer by paying this story any mind.
sexual harassment is not a quirk.
you are right, sexual harassment is not a ‘quirk’. Of course, it’s questionable as to whether any of this would even constitute sexual harassment, since Travolta had no real power or authority over these people — that’s a critical requirement in a sexual harassment suit.
I don’t really believe that a masseuse rearing his head (no pun intended….) years after the fact (and at the urging of a thieving shyster no less) is really complaining about sexual harassment, anyway.
You don’t seriously think that you’d be hearing the same complaints from these fellows if it was against some guy that no one knows, has ever heard of, and has no money, do you? Please! This is about embarrassing the guy into paying, plain and simple. Anyone who thinks otherwise is living in a dreamworld.
I’m not attempting to support or condone Travolta’s alleged behavior. I just think we all do things in our lives that we know are better off left private. This story seems to me no better than blackmailing someone who might want to keep those things private.
@ renata
“…it’s questionable as to whether any of this would even constitute sexual harassment, since Travolta had no real power or authority over these people — that’s a critical requirement in a sexual harassment suit.”
– You can be sexually harassed by people who have “no real power or authority” over you. It’s not like it’s legal if the perpetrator doesn’t fit the “power & authority” prerequisite….
Anyhoo, JT being the monied & influential client would have some power stance over an employee & the establishment.
……….
“I’m not attempting to support or condone Travolta’s alleged behavior. I just think we all do things in our lives that we know are better off left private. This story seems to me no better than blackmailing someone who might want to keep those things private.”
– Since I don’t know of many or any sexual predators who DON’T want to keep their actions “private,” going by this standard, then all victims should keep secret about what has been done to them since it was done in “private” and that’s how the perpetrator wanted it classified?
…………………
“You don’t seriously think that you’d be hearing the same complaints from these fellows if it was against some guy that no one knows, has ever heard of, and has no money, do you? Please!”
– There are people who are not famous but who are sexual predators and they do get complaints against them for their behaviors. Obviously, the reason the public doesn’t hear about it these cases is because they’re not public figures.
And many of these cases involve criminal suits as well, so it’s not just about the money. So whether it’s a civil or criminal case, it’s about the victim’s personal & civil rights.
Thus it’s not true to say that nobody sues anybody over predatory sexual harassment or assault if the perpetrator isn’t famous or doesn’t have money. Again, about legal prerequisites to get legal immunity for such predatory behavior, it’s not like it’s legal if the perpetrator doesn’t fit the “non-famous & no-money” prerequisite….
Also, even if the perpetrator is a famous person, that doesn’t excuse them from their ‘private’ predatory behavior. There should be no immunity just because one is famous.
@anne_000 —
I find such a level of disagreement with your take on this, that I’m not sure where to begin, or if this is even the appropriate place to discuss it. Given that, I’ll attempt to keep this response very simple….
1- Without “power and authority” over another individual there’s just no cause of action for a S-H lawsuit. There’s only 2 scenarios I can think of where it might be otherwise. First, Travolta would have to have kept deliberately returning to the same masseuse over and over again, each time engaging in conduct he had been told to stop. Very difficult on that basis, since it invariably turns into “he said, she said”. Second would be if Travolta complained to the guys employer and cost the guy his job on a false basis because he was angry his alleged advances were rebuffed. Outside of that, what are the guys damages? His feeling were hurt???
2- The fact that all these guys are using the same lawyer speaks volumes about what’s going on here. This is a planned attack by a sleazebag attorney who’s collecting names and making very public accusations.
3- Let’s not forget, one of these accusers has already had to withdraw a substantive element of his allegations. Apparently the man was so disturbed by what happened with J.T. that he couldn’t remember WHEN it happened.
4- Again, I’m sincerely not trying to defend J.T., nor do I want to make light of sexual harassment. I just think celebrities can become an easy target for lawyers who are doing little more than attempting to blackmail someone.
@ renata – I posted a reply to your comment at post # 31. I meant to attach it under yours, but I accidentally created it as a new post.
Of course JT was in a powerful position before. When he would so something like that to one person, that person would likely remain quiet, for fear of not being believed, for fear of being harassed by a powerful Hollywood person with an army of lawyers and being fired.
You do know, by the description of some of those situations, if the victims were women, it would be considered attempted rape, and other cases eliciting?
Too many stories, too many men had kept quiet for a long time. It took one courageous enough to stand up; The rest will follow.
Say what you will, but you don’t bar a hugely paying customer from your establishment, heck, from many establishments,because he’s asking for a foot massage.
@maguita – thanks! I feel like I am the only one seeing “rape” here. Of course I don’t think that is true because I never believed the first guy BUT taken at his word and if true it’s very close to rape.
The other lesser stories are at minimum indecent exposure. I personally have never been naked for a massage but if I were I keep the towel on – whether I’m a guy or a girl. If I were a guy I would be worrying about being accidentally aroused not flaunting it.
There are other types of masseurs for me or women in indulge in quirks, legitimately. If this it true he gets off on the surprise and humiliation of said masseuse – gay, bi, straight he doesn’t care – a gay masseur would be just as offended because he is WORKING!
I think if your personal “weaknesses” are against the law, getting sued is par for the course. If Travolta’s just sleeping with men or propositioning them, that’s his private business and I would agree completely that he has every right to not be shaken down for it. However, he is assaulting these men, which is, rightfully, against the law and should be stopped. And should also not be excused away because he has weaknesses. He is making a choice to assault people and expecting his status, money, fame to protect him from punishment. He has no right to privacy when he chooses to engage in illegal acts.
Extraordinarily well said!!
I don’t think anybody is going after JT because he may be gay or bi. His sexual preference is not what they’re suing over.
And they’re not suing over gay sex either.
I think the issue is his alleged predatory actions. And if it’s true that he kept forcing himself on other people without their consent, then he should have to accept personal responsibility for his own actions.
look at it this way…what if this was a woman giving the massage and JT grabbed her breast and requested a sex act, that would definetly be sexual harrassment…especially because this person is technically in his employ because they are working for the hotel that JT is paying to stay in, so of course they don’t want JT making false complaints about them, they could lose their job…just because it is a man and he is grabbing their crotch it should not be treated differently…
Adding what Lucy said – JD2 tried to get out of it, he could not, he went up there against his better judgment due to fear of losing his job… that is textbook harassment.
It’s exactly what happens if I woman has to give her boss a BJ or lose her job.
All that said I think JT believes they are going after him because he is gay. It’s not true but I think he believes it.
Bottom line: if he’s famous and you’re a waiter, bus-boy, licensed massage technician, whatever, HE is in a position of power.
Anyone who can threaten your job, your livelihood, is in a position of power.
If he finally comes out and even if he never gets another movie role, so what, he has enough money to live a very lavish lifestyle without working again.
Not necessarily. JT, remember, loves to fly. Owning and maintaining a collction of aircraft is not like owning/maintaining a collection of automobiles. VERY expensive and even when they’re not up in the air, requiring maintenance and attention. You can’t just park them in a garage somewhere. Speaking of which, even parking aircraft somewhere costs tons of money because of their size.
It’s an unbelievably expensive hobby/avocation, and I’d bet nearly every penny he earns is spent on it. Of course living expenses etc. are not much if you’re in the upper circle of C0$ (referring to recent articles on the subject … all that unpaid 24/7 labor by underlings).
So, yeah, he probably REALLY needs the money.
If he came out he’d have a million movie roles. Please. It’s not ten years ago. If a major movie star came out as gay, it could just make his stock rise.
Especially if he quit $cientology. Can you imagine the good press? All this crap would be instantly forgiven, and Travolta would be the victim of a homophobic cult.
@Katija: Girl, you should do PR work! That was fabulous! I agree, the public is more forgiving when the TRUTH is told. When these stars try to cover up their actions with lies- it backfires. The general public does not like being treated like naive, fools (Kim K fans), esp when something is obvious.
If he came out as a normal, decent gay man trapped by his Italian Catholic upbringing yes he would do well.
But he is being forced out as a predatory, pervert – gay or straight this is Mel Gibson level bad if true.
I don’t think he can come out and claim they are persecuting him because he is gay anymore. He may have after the first one… Craiglist masseuse or masseur who over charges? JT almost had a right to assume that was an add for prostitution but now that the professional service people have come out, it’s too late.
Think of Neil Patrick Harris (granted he is not a movie star), he came out, kept his job and is renowned as a serious actor. The fact that somebody is gay does not mean they can’t play a hetrosexual individual.
Even if JT is bi-sexual, I wish he would come clean.
Now, this assault on other people needs to stop. It is not okay to touch somebody who does not want to be touched!
Yup. Being “out” hasn’t hurt NPH or John Barrowman any. They’ve both proven that an out gay man is perfectly capable of playing it “straight” for the cameras and being believable.
LOL – Thanks doll… actually, I work part time in PR/marketing… but most of my clients are AC and construction companies… so I don’t have to deal with a lot of gay scandals, LMAO.
GAAAAAAAAAH!
Can we stop using the term “masseur” please. If these people are TRAINED, CERTIFIED, ACCREDITED PROFESSIONALS then they are RMT’s or MASSAGE THERAPISTS.
Big difference.
And one the profession has fought very hard to distance/differentiate itself from.
Or is there not that differentiation in the US?
A “masseur” actually is someone who WOULD work at a ‘rub & tug’ and is generally not accredited, nor professional (in massage therapy that is! Haha)
*carry on… but the misidentification of the profession is really annoying!
I totally understand Layla… kind of like the difference between a dancer and a stripper. Although most strippers I’ve met liked to refer to themselves as ‘dancers’ (but the bar staff just called them ‘peelers’).
@Skuddles – No. The difference between a dancer and a stripper (depending on the kind of dancing) is negligible. An RMT has STUDIED multiple YEARS AT SCHOOL. Anatomy, Physiology, the Vascular system, Circulatory system, etc etc.
Unless you are comparing a prima ballerina from the Russian Ballet to a stripper, the analogy does not stand up.
Thanks for explaining layla.
I was confused by the terminology used with regard to this whole thing. And I hate the word masseur anyway.
Yeah, we do have this differentiation in the US. We say massage therapist or LMT. I’d be embarrassed if I referred to a licensed massage therapist as a masseur or masseuse.
I’m not in the profession, but I’ve been a client many times.
(And just for the record everyone, it has zero to do with sex. Coming on to your massage therapist is akin to coming on to your chiropractor.)
Thanks you made it easier for me to say what I was trying to say I used “service professionals” which still sounds bad.
So… the first “masseur” sounded bogus and JT had every right to assume he was not an RMT given he was advertising on Craigslist at a double rate.
The people who have come out since then are 2 professional RMTs and one cruise director – they are legitimate and makes it harder to prove BS. I think the lawyer is BS and got lucky.
Agreed – the first guy sounds questionable as to his “profession” and more like a “masseur”. (I don;t know any RMT’s that offer services online) But the others, having being employed by spas, cruise lines etc… would have to be RMT’s, one would think.
The terms are not interchangeable.
Think of it this way – An RMT is covered by most health benefits. A massuer would certainly not be. Haha. 😉
I really think the use of the term “masseur” is actually helping to discredit these guys as some shifty “alternate” service. It would be like reporting on a licensed, practicing physician and referring to him as a quack.
I’m am also not in the industry, but know many who are and have visited RMT’s for rehabilitation of sports injuries many times. The bad reporting and constant use of an incorrect term was just really bugging me!
Thanks! Been bugging me forever! Massage therapists are there to help you get over an injury, rehab, etc.
They resent being called masseurs, I never let that word slip out. Like I said for work, hubby and I get weekly therapy massages. His are required. They get a lot of wear and tear on their bodies.
We are all naked under the sheet and the therapist covers all your parts when they get there. Man or woman, never had one make me feel weird, all over the world. You aren’t ever seen naked. Most insist you change and get on the table under the sheet and then knock before hey come in. Very pro. Even at Massage Envy.
It’s hard to have clothes on hen you have lactic acid buildup in your low back, high gluts and they have to grind that down. SO painful and not at all erotic, usually I am tearing up from the pain.
I have to wonder aloud if all the people crying homophobia would be more likely to empathize if the LMTs coming forward were women?
It reminds me of the same discrimination that male victims of rape and physical abuse face.
It doesn’t matter what kind of genitals you own no means no.
Well said!
Who is crying homophobia? Read quite a few of the comments here and saw none that say their accusations stem from homophobia.
There are some people who seem to have some sympathy for JT based on him not daring to leave the closet. This is misguided in my view since he harassed these people.
@Jayna
All the opulence and luxury lifestyle in the world mean zilch when you cannot manage to live your life with dignity and self-control.
Wealth is to enhance life, not warp it.
My point was he loves his lifestyle. I think losing it would affect him. I think losing Kelly would affect him terribly emotionally and having his kids on a part-time basis. I have read articles by people who said they have never seen someone enjoy their life so much and live like a true movie star.
I was addressing it more towards people keep saying, poor John, he needs to come out, like that would solve his problems. I don’t even get an inkling this man wants a male emotional relationship, just trysts, kind of like some married men like on the side with women. Coming out would have no bearing on his predatory behavior, if the allegations are true, which apparently the first accusor was false. Being a closeted gay or bisexual has absolutey nothing to do with exposing himself ad nauseum to masseurs and/or someone in the service industry. The man is rich and could pay for it easily to an escort/boy toy. So coming out isn’t what this is about as the answer. It is about a man who (if this is all true, not proven yet) has a predatory and/or exhibitionistic behavior towards service people, which he gets off on. It reminds me of an attorney I did work for, who was happily married (he adored his wife), but got off on having very inappropiate behavior, remarks, touching, sexual comments, towards woman who worked for him in some capacity or self-employed people like myself who came in contact with him. It seemed to be a power thing for him, towards those hired by him, as he could easily afford a girlfriend on the side. It was well-known around town. He was arrested for truly bizarre behavior (drugged her, handcuffed her) towards a client’s (the client was in jail) wife, which shocked us all.
Every time I see Travolta in photos these days he makes me think of Jerry Sandusky. Something twisted and predatory is fighting its way to the surface.
Thought the same thing!
The resembalance between Sandusky and Travola is creepy, but there is something there with that.
The little piggish-cold eyes.
It’s your creep-dar or perv-dar going off.
I read in one of the articles that Kelly drinks, smokes and does drugs but recently admitted to have stopped bc she wanted to be a better and fit mother. Maybe that’s how she coped with her husband’s impropriety and indiscretions?
I read on Dlisted that Kelly has a secret disabled child she doesn’t care about, IIRC Kelly’s parents have sole custody of her kid ever since she fought them in court because she didn’t want her kid to receive any kind of drugs (because of the cult of course). I think Kelly is actually more despictable than John , she only cares about the money and that crazy cult.
Gotta admit, I do get a creep vibe from her too. Ugh, how can anyone be expected not to be creepy inside that brainwashing factory of a “religion”? Sorry, to each their own, I’ll get off my soapbox now.
Although I have no feelings about JT and his sexual propensities, I doubt that he was on a middle class Royal Carribean cruise EVER. I lost respect for JT years ago since he is just not true to himself and is involved in that crazy ass cult.
JT was on a cruise in the summer of 2009:
From an NBC-Chicago article in June 2009:
“[John Travolta] was stuck on a cruise ship with 2,000 other passengers after the Belize government decided to quarantine the boat amid fears someone might have swine flu.
[…]
Travolta, who reportedly was on vacation, was scheduled to board a private jet for another trip.”
http://www.nbcchicago.com/entertainment/celebrity/Belize-Tells-Travolta-Cruise-Passengers-to.html
I forgot to mention that 2009 is the year the cruise ship massage therapist said the JT incident happened. So it could have been on this particular trip.
I want to hear from all the men who did the work and got paid. Surely some of them will come out if this is true. Makes for a more plausible story.
Altho isn’t it fishy that suddenly everyone is climbing out of the woodwork now while none of his “friends” (members of CoS) are coming out in support of him? CoS could be behind this whole thing, they’ve washed their hands of him and flung him out while besmirching his name – he pissed them off (rumor has it he’s been unhappy with the church for years especially since Jett died). Not only that, it’s a warning to any other high profile member.
I do love conspiracy theories. Maybe he’s just gay but not a predator. Not saying that’s fact, but it’s a consideration.
Of course if these accusations are true, then he certainly is a skeevy pervert who has gotten away with it for much too long, and should be in a criminal category.
That is my alternate theory… the CO$ is putting him in his place for wanting to leave and for starting to speak out when Jett died.
They can be both his tormentor or his savior in the end.
Wouldn’t put it past them, but they might also all do it together, because the first accusation makes the others less afraid to talk about it too.
If all these allegations fizzle in the coming weeks, and we then see him publicly endorse Co$ shortly afterwards, I’ll be convinced this whole thing was orchestrated by them to scare him into staying.
It will be very interesting to see if any dirty laundry gets aired in the near future about Lisa-Marie Presley (and possibly Kirstie Alley) too, now there is talk of them wanting to leave.
For normal members, they don’t let you leave without losing your whole life.
After 3 re-brainwashing attempts they finally let my grandfather go. He had to move to KY, never speak to his wife/ex now or his kids ever again.
It’s a damn sick cult. My Aunt tried to run for a few years to my mom’s house but the black cars show up about an hour later and away you go to the big blue building in Hweird. My grandfather now has no family, no money and no life.
Who knows what they are doing to handle this.
In response to OriginalTiffany:
No matter how many times I hear these horror stories, it doesn’t make it any easier. That is really awful. I’m sorry your family was subjected to that. No group should be able to intimidate and alienate family members by splitting loved ones up, but these evil bastards get away with it daily. It angers me that this could ever happen. It makes my blood boil that it is allowed to continue. I am struggling not to go on a total rant about it.
Although I imagine that every member has the same issues when they try to leave, I do think that a wealthy, public person could probably escape them more easily than a private middle-class one. They have the means to hide, the properties with walled perimeters to keep the goons in black cars out, and the security staff to protect them from their intimidatory tactics. Granted, they would be far more humilated with their e-meter secrets divulged, but providing they have nothing to hide or don’t care what people know, that threat too, is diminished. (Presley might fall into this category. Travolta, I guess not). They will probably be blackballed anyway, so their image mightn’t be as important when there is no chance of future work in the industry. (Hopefully they managed to save some of their money from getting into the cult’s hands). The hardest thing for them, I imagine, is the hardest for everyone: the ex-communication. Leaving behind loved ones, being totally isolated because Co$ wouldn’t let them keep their non-believer friends, as anyone with objectivity was considered “suppressive.” So it means people trying to escape have no support network, something crucial for their success. It is just so insidious! But I think that every person who tries to leave pays dearly. Every ex-member has to completely rebuild their life, because Co$ controlled so much of it when they were indoctrinated.
It’s hard to imagine JT being banned in an official sense from the Peninsula Hotel Spa. However, I do believe Michael Caputo. JT was probably banned in that there was an understanding that they would never, ever book those appointments. Then the hotel probably brought in outside massage therapists or had JT sent to another spa– all accompanied by profuse apologies and by the Peninsula comping everything in sight for him.
It’s the hospitality industry. They desperately want to get and keep celebrity clients. There’s no way the hotel will officially admit that Travolta was unwelcome in any part of the hotel by any member of the staff. Upper management at the hotel probably doesn’t even know about it.
He is a laughing stock.
How could this woman sell her soul?
Look past the smile and into her eyes, she is dead inside.
I feel so sorry for his daughter.
I wish he would stop being a coward and just accept who he is and I wish she would speak up and divorce him if he is too cowardly to do so. I’m sure this situation isn’t healthy for anyone in that family.
@ renata –
“Without “power and authority” over another individual there’s just no cause of action for a S-H lawsuit.”
– Untrue. You can also be sexually harassed by a co-worker, underling, younger person, weaker person, invalid, etc. and it will still be considered an unjustifable action i.e. sexually harassment.
Otherwise by your standard, any one who is considered to have less ‘power & authority’ over another will be free of any legal restraints & personal responsibility in forcing himself upon the other person.
………………
“First, Travolta would have to have kept deliberately returning to the same masseuse over and over again, each time engaging in conduct he had been told to stop. Very difficult on that basis, since it invariably turns into “he said, she said”.”
– No, a person can be sexually harassed at the first meeting. A person does not have to tolerate and go through multiple instances of sexual harassment in order for it to be considered so.
………………..
“Second would be if Travolta complained to the guys employer and cost the guy his job on a false basis because he was angry his alleged advances were rebuffed.”
– A person does not have to have his job in jeorpardy in order for sexually predatory acts against him to be considered sexual harassment.
………….
” Outside of that, what are the guys damages? His feeling were hurt???”
Yes, one can sue based on the maliciousness of the act. Also, what was ‘damaged’ was a person’s personal rights to the safety of his own body. There is no law allowing anyone, including JT, to put any part of his body on another person. So basically, by your standards, anyone can forcibly touch anyone else so long as no skin was lacerated or bruised or any other physical damage. Wrong.
…………………..
“The fact that all these guys are using the same lawyer speaks volumes about what’s going on here.”
– If a victim heard of a lawyer going after his attacker/predator, then the victim could very well be inclined to speak to that same lawyer and ask for help in the SAME type of case against the attacker/predator. There is nothing unusual about this. Why should various victims of the same individual have to go to different lawyers?
………………
“Let’s not forget, one of these accusers has already had to withdraw a substantive element of his allegations. Apparently the man was so disturbed by what happened with J.T. that he couldn’t remember WHEN it happened.”
Yes, being a victim of sexual harassment is disturbing. So we agree on this point. The only point he had to change was the date, not the actual accusation of unwanted sexual predatory behavior by JT (allegedly).
………………………
“Again, I’m sincerely not trying to defend J.T., nor do I want to make light of sexual harassment. I just think celebrities can become an easy target for lawyers who are doing little more than attempting to blackmail someone.”
Just because a famous person is sued does not mean that the case should be belittled or be considered discreditable.
Being famous should not mean one has more immunity against being held accountable for one’s action than someone who is not famous. There is an equality in the law that should be respected.
I agree with your analysis. I also dispute the claims that Okorie Okorocha, the attorney representing the masseurs, is a sleasebag or a shyster. I don’t know him personally but he posts a lot on an online attorney forum that I frequent. He is passionate about the law and helping victims. For him money is not a motivating factor.
My only conclusion, at this point at least, is that the laws must be quite different wherever you are from where I reside. I’ve litigated s-h matters and can assure you I’m well frequented with what will or won’t fly. Furthermore, you’ve so drastically misrepresented what I’ve said, that it appears you have some axe to grind related to sexual harassment issues. I don’t. I simply view it as yet another aspect of the law. Given your distortions of my comments, I won’t be responding any further. Good luck!
Lol… Lawyers. Smh.
For what it’s worth it doesn’t read to me like anything was misrepresented in her response to you.
Your comments were directly copied and pasted. No distortion there.
“…harassment is illegal when it is so frequent or severe that it creates a hostile or offensive work environment or when it results in an adverse employment decision (such as the victim being fired or demoted).
The harasser can be the victim’s supervisor, a supervisor in another area, a co-worker, or someone who is not an employee of the employer, such as a client or customer.” (http://www.eeoc.gov/laws/types/sexual_harassment.cfm)
So, it would appear that there is a clear cut case for sexual harassment in these cases.
I actually do get where the distortion is… it’s not in the copy and paste but in the interpretation. Anne makes an emotional argument against sexual harassment; renata seems more to be making a “legal” observation about the situation. I’ve had to go to lawyers a few times in my life and it’s so true that they right away want to know what the damages are. It’s not enough to say you’re ticked off with someone. There has to be some measurable way in which you were damaged, like you lost a job or you lost property because of someone else’s actions. If Travolta did really misbehave (and we don’t know that for sure) it’s still not clear in what way these people were hurt. What is certain is that their lawyer sure seems to want to make a very public issue out of it, which of course will lead to a very “private” settlement. Given the way this has all been handled, I don’t find myself very fond of either side.
@ Frieda – “If Travolta did really misbehave (and we don’t know that for sure) it’s still not clear in what way these people were hurt.”
Whenever I see this same statement by you and renata, I wonder why you both think that victims who are sexually harassed are not hurt in any way. That makes no sense to me at all.
And yes, you can sue for punitive/exemplary damages because they’re based on maliciousness, which is what sexual attacks are.
@anne_000 —
Thats’s precisely the type of distortion that drove renata away from the conversation! I certainly didn’t say these people “weren’t hurt in any way”. Going through the posts I don’t see where renata said that either. YOU ARE MAKING THAT UP! What I said, and what renata seemed to also be saying, was that in ALL this publicity that this lawyer has drummed up against Travolta, I’ve yet to see any of these people cite the particulars of how they were damaged by John Travolta’s alleged behavior. They complain of the behavior, but no where have I seen anything related to how in particular it damaged them, for example did they miss work, did they lose sleep, were they so upset they needed to see a shrink, etc.????
By distorting what others say here, you are sounding more and more like you’re either a troll hired to drum up support on public forums for this publicity-hound lawyer, or someone who once made a sexual harassment claim them-self and now want to chop the head off of anyone who has a similar claim made against them. In either case, I wish you well but ask that you not re-invent what I’ve said here — it’s classic trolling and kind of lame!
@ Frieda –
What I said: “Whenever I see this same statement by you and renata, I wonder why you both think that victims who are sexually harassed are not hurt in any way. That makes no sense to me at all. ”
What you said: “I certainly didn’t say these people “weren’t hurt in any way”. Going through the posts I don’t see where renata said that either. YOU ARE MAKING THAT UP!”
My response: My assessment of both yours & renata’s statements stands, because this is what I perceived was written by both of you. Here are some of the quotes from both of you that made me think this way:
From post #19, renata:
“This is about embarrassing the guy into paying, plain and simple. Anyone who thinks otherwise is living in a dreamworld.”
“Second would be if Travolta complained to the guys employer and cost the guy his job on a false basis because he was angry his alleged advances were rebuffed.Outside of that, what are the guys damages? His feeling were hurt???”
“This is about embarrassing the guy into paying, plain and simple. Anyone who thinks otherwise is living in a dreamworld.
I’m not attempting to support or condone Travolta’s alleged behavior. I just think we all do things in our lives that we know are better off left private.”
From post #31, Frieda: “It’s not enough to say you’re ticked off with someone.
[…]
If Travolta did really misbehave (and we don’t know that for sure) it’s still not clear in what way these people were hurt.”
………..
Btw, regarding this sentence from your post:
“There has to be some measurable way in which you were damaged, like you lost a job or you lost property because of someone else’s actions.”
Again, such a thing called “punitive damages” do exist, which are not dependent on jobs &/or physical properties.
Definition of punitive damages:
“Punitive damages are designed to punish a defendant and deter bad conduct. Unlike most compensatory damages for civil suits, the purpose of punitive damages is not to make the plaintiff whole, but to punish the defendant.”
“Punitive damages, on the other hand, are not awarded to compensate the plaintiff. The purpose of punitive damages is to deter bad actions on the part of possible future defendants and to make sure the defendant is appropriately punished for any wrongdoing.”
http://law.freeadvice.com/litigation/legal_remedies/punitive-damages.htm
So it sounds like he’s been banned from 3 hotels (thus far): 1 on the west coast (LA) and 2 on the east coast (NY, FL), from what I’ve read. Does anyone detect a pattern here? No? Just me?
It sounds like a classic case of Xenu-like entitlement and cover-up.
My only surprise is that it has taken so long for all this to be made so public. John needs to come out and own it or be willing to put up with these sort’s of stories. The problem I see for the case is that the one who started it has been shown to have either got the date wrong or just lied outright. John has proved he wasn’t in LA. Kelly has always been called a beard and there is no way was her last baby gotten in the old fashioned way. It makes you wonder what she does for “comfort”. I’m sure the “church” will do what they can to protect him. Kelly doesn’t seem strong enough to get out of the marriage or the church.
I wonder what Kelly Preston hates more…being shot by Charles Sheen, or Masseurgate? I’d probably go for the bullet…at least there’s only one of those.
JT was infamous at Burke Williams on Sunset in the 90’s, too. And by infamous, I mean the men’s staff was completely frustrated that they had to deal with his shenanigans in the men’s changing room.
Dearie me. What would his good friend (G)O(d)prah think if it’s all true?
Perhaps, the first guy did get his dates wrong or perhaps he was the bait–to get the real victims to come forward. You know, sort of like the Catholic church scandals. the first brave soul to stand up, opened the flood gates. (That was denied and denied too, we all know it happened.) Kelly, imho, knows all too well–as does the COS, about JT.
Plenty of rumors around, after the death of Jett, JT wanted out of the church and to come out but it was Kelly and COS that nixed that.