John Travolta flubbed Idina Menzel’s name because he’s attracted to women

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I mentioned some of this John Travolta stuff in a few of the Oscar posts yesterday, but there’s new information so we might as well recap. Even after one of the most viral flubs ever last year, John Travolta was still invited back to present this year. The WTF-ery began on the red carpet, when John Travolta spied his friend Scarlett Johansson (they worked together when she was just a kid). He snuck up behind her to plant a kiss on her cheek while she was posing for the bank of cameras. The photos are pretty creepy.

The WTF-ery continued inside, when Oscar producers decided to lean in to the Adele Dazeem debacle by having Travolta and Idina Menzel present an award together. It was actually one of the funniest and most well-written parts of the evening, and I say this with no shade: I like Travolta more for being willing to eat it and be the butt of the joke (double entendre alert). I think he was genuinely sorry that he mangled Idina’s name and he really did want to make it up to her.

Unfortunately, Travolta decided to fool around with the blocking while he was on stage with Idina. He ended up stroking her chin and touching her face in a rather creepy way. Then, after the Oscars, Travolta put on four layers of guyliner, some mascara and some pancake foundation (NO JOKE) and made an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live. He joked with Kimmel that “Apparently I played with her chin too much.” And that’s it. That’s the only explanation he gave for the chin-fondling. But he did explain the original Adele Dazeem debacle and how it came about. Guess what? It involved Travolta acting creepy with yet another woman!!

John says that backstage, last year, “I run into Goldie Hawn. Now, Goldie Hawn is sexy, charismatic, beautiful … amazing, and I was star-struck. I’m star-struck, hugging and loving her up, forgetting that I have to go and do this bit. And they said, ‘You’re on.’” He says he was presented with a card that had Idina’s name written out phonetically, and it was different than the card he was using during the rehearsal.

And all’s well that ends well, I guess. Travolta says that Idina has “had one of the best years of her life and credits me for that.” Riiight.

Photos courtesy of WENN & Getty.

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103 Responses to “John Travolta flubbed Idina Menzel’s name because he’s attracted to women”

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  1. Snazzy says:

    He grosses me out

    • GoodNamesAllTaken says:

      Yeah, eww, yuck, pttttth, bleck. I used to like him, but he has turned into a serious creeper.

      • doofus says:

        “eww, yuck, pttttth, bleck” sums up my reaction to this (alleged) predator perfectly.

      • Diana B says:

        That sounds like a comic book. No ‘pow!’ ‘bam!’ ‘zap!’. In GNAT’s comic book we get ‘eww’ ‘yuck’ ‘pttttth’ ‘bleck’. 🙂

      • I Choose Me says:

        I don’t like people touching me unsolicited so kudos to her for keeping her cool and laughing it off because I would have straight up clocked him.

        I am seriously repulsed by the pics alone so I’m not going to play the vid.

    • Dani2 says:

      Me too.

    • paola says:

      He and Tom Cruise have really gone down in the same way. No wonder they fight from the same psycho front and for the same insane things.
      Nothing will ever get me back to the cinema to watch one of their movies or watch them in whatever show they’re on. That boat has sunk a loooong tome ago.

    • Nk868 says:

      Same. Couldn’t get through the video! Ick is off the charts

    • Kiki04 says:

      I’m surprised Idina kept her cool…..if he touched my face like that the results would not be pretty, on camera on not!

      • lucy2 says:

        I know, I feel like I would have jerked away. That makes me uncomfortable to begin with, but on a stage in front of that audience, plus the TV audience? NO. Keep your hands to yourself, Mr. Travolta (not the first time someone has said that).

    • Belle Epoch says:

      SNAZZY + eleventy million

    • pikny says:

      omfg .no one cares who he bonks .he is getting really icchy.bet he gets banned from gyms for lewd behavior

  2. Charlotte says:

    Classic Scientology move – claim credit for shizz!
    I know some people still love JT, and I get it, because I feel sorry for him too, but the man is a predator. He has had some truly horrible strife happen to him, and I do think he would have bailed on Co$ if they hadn’t babysat him for two years following his son’s death (and they clearly thought so too which is why he wasn’t allowed out of their sight) but… He’s a grown man. He needs to be accountable for his actions.

    • TX says:

      I also think some of this behavior may be because of that scientilogy movie coming out soon. Maybe he’s afraid of how he’ll look when people see it so he’s freaking out a bit

      • Jan Harf says:

        Yep, totally. That’s what I was thinking, too.
        That doc is going to be EPIC. I can not wait.

    • kcarp says:

      If he did the things he did to women that he has been accused of doing to men, he would be in jail.

  3. paola says:

    yeah. Aaaand he’s not wearing a wiglet.

    I hate HATE people who feel the urge to touch your face.

    He touches his peen with that hand and god knows what else!!!
    Keep that hand away from a face that is beeing broadcasted worldwide and that has spent hours in the make up department.
    So disrespectful.
    idina should have touched his wig just to reciprocate. that would have made two very uncomfortable people in front of millions of people

    • Charlotte says:

      It’s like his character in ‘Face Off’. Touching the face was his signature move, and showed his wife and daughter it was really him.

    • GoodNamesAllTaken says:

      I don’t like people to touch my face, either. I also don’t like the way he is touching Scarlett’s waist. That seems too intimate for their relationship. Just stick with shoulder or arm.

    • GingerCrunch says:

      BOUNDARIES!!!

    • Pinky says:

      Traded one embarrassing moment for another. A year apart. On the same stage. With the same woman. Next year, STAY HOME!

  4. maeliz says:

    It’s creepy the way he plays with other peoples faces. I’d smack his wierdo hand away

  5. the original rachel says:

    Travolta’s pre-Oscars Auditor, handing him Ecstasy before the show: “Here, take these vitamins. They’ll help you act like you’re straight, er, I mean, feel closer to Xenu.”

  6. EC says:

    Call Xenu, because something is really off about John Travolta. His public appearances need to be monitored before something really insane(ly amazing) happens.

    Credit to Idina for remaining professional in what had to be one of the most awkward moments of her life.

  7. Dani2 says:

    Scarlett should’ve pulled off his wiglet, so inappropriate and unnecessary the way he was all over her and Adele Dazeem.

  8. QQ says:

    No One except David Miscavige, My Mama and the People Magazine readership Believes You Like Women..at least not “that way” Boo!… Not even your wife

    • Charlotte says:

      Nah, McSavage wanted to bump him in favour of Kelly Preston a few years ago when he was tired of both JT and his homeboy TC.

  9. Nev says:

    The weirdo has more courage than this guy. Stop with this.

  10. MizFabulous says:

    And what is up with that weird contouring on his cheeks? I agree, the Travolta ship sailed a long time ago. He has morphed into a creepy caricature of himself. (Shudder!)

  11. t.fanty says:

    Damn. I was just about to leave the house and now I have to go and take another shower.

  12. Deri says:

    Oh, Caspar Troy went out for a chill.

  13. MrsBPitt says:

    “John Travolta flubbed Idina Menzel’s name because he’s attracted to women” HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!! Good one!!!!! I might believe, John saw Goldie Hawn and she was standing next to Kurt Russell, and you know how sexy and charasmatic, Kurt is, and John was hugging him and loving up on him and forgot he had to do that bit! Now, that I might believe!

  14. Crocuta says:

    You cannot just go and touch people. That they’re hot or you’re starstruck is no excuse.
    And no, it’s not funny.

    • Jacqueline says:

      My husband says touching people without their permission is assault. The whole presentation made ME feel uncomfortable. She handled it as well as she possibly could.

      • jen2 says:

        It did feel a bit like sexual harassment. He just looked so pervy and kind of wild eyed running his hands all over these women. Idina was very professional about it though, but I wanted to take a bath and I wasn’t even there. No comment on the “hair”.

      • Crocuta says:

        It is assault. That he didn’t mean any harm or that they’re friends shouldn’t be an excuse. Not so much for their sake, I’m sure they’ll work things out, but because so many perverts use that as an excuse because they don’t know their limits. This type of behaviour should never be tolerated.

        I guess to some I am overreacting, but I’m extra allergic to people with all hands.

  15. FKA Pri says:

    Goah! He’s so fake its annoying. I can’t stand him anymore than I can Tom Cruise and that other Scientologist, the one who constantly blabs her mouth and rips off everyone who wanted to go for a total mind cleanse, ugh.. I can’t remember her name…Anyway, and Tom Cruise gets on my last nerve. Travolta was fine before, I somehow don’t remember him shilling for the cult like TC and that woman, I guess that’s why his stupidity never showed. Now, yeah I over him.

  16. gritsngreens says:

    All I could think of when I saw him being highly inappropriate was – perhaps he’s headed for a meltdown? I wonder how hard it is to lie to the world about your sexual orientation for decades and as you get older you just kind of lose your grasp? I feel badly for his “wife”; she would have gotten more respect had she left him some years ago IMO.

  17. Kiddo says:

    He was moving so-o-o slowly and unnaturally, it was like watching a technologically-advanced animatron of an elderly man. I thought maybe he was sick or high. Anyone else get this vibe, aside from the pawing?

    • Bridget says:

      To me it read as just plain weird, but I wouldnt be shocked if it turned out he’d popped a couple (or more than a couple) of Xanax at the start of the night. And really, my attention was split between his weirdness and that rug on his head.

      In all seriousness, we’re talking about a man who hasn’t been able to live truthfully in public for decades. What we see of him in public is an act – about his sexuality, his religion, and even about his family (I don’t know if folks remember how weird the $ci folks were about his son). His every public appearance has been such a put on for so long, I sincerely wonder if he even knows how ‘normal’ people behave anymore.

      • Kiddo says:

        Now you’re just making me feel sorry for him, Bridget.

      • GingerCrunch says:

        Same here. Makes you wonder to what extent this happened to Whitney Houston. Tragic.

      • Bridget says:

        I do and I don’t. While it’s really sad to think about someone living their life like that, Travolta has done so willingly – he and Preston got together in the 90s, when he was very much an adult and it’s easy to surmise that he did so as a career move (word has always been that Preston was the true believer of the couple). One of the reasons why he stays a $ci is because he chooses to do so, because he would have to walk away from Preston and his children, and while he and Preston clearly don’t have a traditional marriage they’re also by all accounts absolutely devoted to each other and their family. He strikes me as similar to Tom Cruise, in that he’s always trying to give the audience a show, to give us what he thinks we want to see. Similarly the internet age hasn’t been kind to him because he’s someone that hasn’t benefitted to that scrutiny and the easy access of information. It’s not longer him and People Magazine crafting his image. Plus, there’s that whole issue with Travolta’s predatory behavior which makes me a bit less sympathetic

      • Kiddo says:

        Yeah, the predatory accusations make him incredibly unlikeable. Somehow, though, I don’t think he is as massively driven by ego, as Cruise is. I recently read archived stories on the net the last time the allegations arose again, I think maybe in Time? Anyway, supposedly he was having a torrid affair with a gay porn star and that info was about to leak, which would have been HUGE news in a less gay-friendly time. And his wife had just come off of a relationship with Sheen, that was possibly heavily drug-fueled, where she suffered a gunshot wound. The coupling saved his career and maybe HER life. That is some clusterF-kery that would definitely bond people. There were rumors that he was intending on leaving after Jet’s death, but got pulled back in. Who knows how true that is?

        He seems to be ‘acting out’ in general.

      • Bridget says:

        Preston to this day still won’t admit that Sheen shot her (she still says it was a freak accident) and yet she immediately went from that relationship to a lifetime partnership with a gay man. Could you imagine how screwed up things really were between her and Sheen for her to need that kind of safety net?

        It must have been a huge internal conflict when Jett died. Preston clearly wasn’t going to leave, and the CO$ had all of Travolta’s auditing sessions in their back pocket. If he had left, he would have lost both his family and his career. Instead, they chose to have another baby and keep going. And I’ve gotten the impression that he’s okay with that choice, but I cannot imagine that Going Clear is going to be kind to him. In fact, I think that’s why he made the appearance at the Oscars – early damage control.

      • Cindy says:

        I think you may be right. Was this some misguided, crazy attempt to look “straight”, by pawing all over these women? God he is strange, and somehow really sad.

      • Kiddo says:

        Bridget, I think Sheen wielded an incredible amount of power back in the day, between the family, the name, the lawyers, money and influence, probably CoS was the only safe haven, in her mind. And maybe she doesn’t want to diss Charlie in any way, since he is a loose cannon that can tell tales about her past?

      • Bridget says:

        Charlie Sheen is insane and terrifying. And I wonder how much Preston even recognizes as truth after all these years and years of lies with the cult.

    • Dirty Martini says:

      I thought he was seriously impaired as well. I wanted to feel sorry for him…..but I couldn’t quite get there.

      The thought of losing a child is achingly painful, so of course I have so much sympathy for that loss and what it must do to one’s psyche. I’m sure you are simply never ever the same. However, their denial of his autism publically makes me wonder about the appropriateness of his medical management privately and I wonder what impact that might have had on Jett.

      John Travolta needs serious help and not from the CO$. But the complete denial from him, Tom C, Kristie A etc regarding their sick affiliation gives me shudders. All 3 are basically lost causes, and I’m sure their professional lives will never recover.

      • Kiddo says:

        I hate to think of anyone as a ‘lost cause’, except serial killers and the like.

      • Cindy says:

        He really does need help, but I don’t see that happening because he is so shut off from reality thanks to that nutty religion. No one could get to him, he’s too insulated.

      • Dirty Martini says:

        I agree Kiddo. My pragmatic side typed that sentence. I just don’t see it happening, but I would so love to be proven wrong on that.

    • Bridget says:

      Oops.

  18. Belle Epoch says:

    His gestures with Idina were … peculiar. They kindof resembled how people talk to little lap dogs or how they pinch baby cheeks. I half expected him to talk baby talk to her. The violation of “private space” was EXTREME. I would have felt assaulted!

    JT is exactly my idea of what an old-school vampire looks like. Maybe he is actually 2,000 years old and sleeps in a coffin. He could use some daylight.

  19. Jan Harf says:

    Don’t touch women’s faces, dude! What the serious f*!k is wrong with this guy?

  20. Crumpet says:

    Anyone think he might be on some heavy duty meds? I think his son’s death has really messed him up (to say nothing about his choice of religion!) and he’s not stable anymore. I find it quite sad really. And everyone in Hollywood puts up with him because he was once such a great actor and guy and they know what he’s been through.

    • Kiddo says:

      Crumpet, I said this above. I thought his movements were off and strange. Even while simply standing, he appeared to be jerking a little bit, or swaying, I forget which, but it struck me before he started getting handsy.

      Not only did he have the loss of his kid, but the subsequent accusations against him, the wig-less photo at the gym in the middle of the night, and now HBO is coming out with the CoS documentary.

    • ReturnoftheMac says:

      I actually agree with you. I think he may be in a Xanax hole, maybe Valium. There’s no there there.

      • Kiddo says:

        Does heavy use create altered movement? Also, aren’t they considered psych drugs?

      • Crumpet says:

        If he is on an anti-psychotic (they use those now for depression sometimes) than yes, they could affect his movements. It’s called tardive dyskinesia. I haven’t watched any videos of him moving, but I wouldn’t be surprised.

  21. mkyarwood says:

    I try to remember that his son died, and that it was slightly shady when it happened. On top of that, it seemed like he was about to divorce Kelly and be himself when she was suddenly pregnant. I think he’s on drugs all the time, his sleep is messed up, etc. He’s definitely not all there, and it’s kind of crappy that his life means so little to everyone around him.

  22. Neelyo says:

    The wig, the painted on eyebrows, the caked on pancake, I can only imagine the type of foundation garments he’s got going on under his suit.

    I bet Travolta took longer to get ready for the ceremony than anyone else in attendance.

    • Kiddo says:

      On that note, not to perpetuate stereotypes, but he reminded me so much of a cousin’s gay elderly inlaw. The man was in his 70’s or 80’s, he wore eyeliner on the daily and was remarkably touchy-feely. It wasn’t creepy, because he had been ‘out’ for a long time, but definitely enjoyed women like a grandma would; Like the younger women were precious little dolls, KWIM?
      Maybe Travolta is going to come out? There’s a much different way that men who are sexually attracted to you, touch you.

  23. Kate says:

    John, sweetie, EVERYBODY already knows your “big secret.”
    Get over yourself.

  24. Ginger says:

    I had such a crush on him when I was a little girl. I had his Saturday Night Fever poster on my wall. I adored the film Grease (still do) I prefer to remember the Hot Travolta. Not this odd ball he’s turned into. I will blame Scientology. 🙁 And where was his wife during all of this? Or has she “disappeared” too? I haven’t seen or heard from her in ages. If only John were to come out as his authentic self.

    • Jonesy says:

      Ginger, I know what you mean. I keep thinking back to the “Danny Zuko” JT that I loved as a kid. He was the most gorgeous man I’d ever seen back then, so I choose to remember JT that way, not the joke he has become. It’s just too depressing and sad! Same with Tom Cruise…what the hell does Scientology do to ruin these guys? It’s frightening.

      Kelly was with him at the Oscars last year, and I saw pictures of her with him on the red carpet this year as well. I wonder what she thinks about his behavior, or is she drinking the Co$ koolaid, too?

  25. Greek Chic says:

    First Tom Cruise,then J.T…What pills scientologists give to these guys? The all look into something to me.
    I think they want to keep them medicated to control their moves.And their money of course.

    • funcakes says:

      They joined scientology in the height of its popularity. Now with ex members speaking out about the inner workings of the organization and high profile people making their mass exodus it seems like .tc and jt are the last hold outs. Plus they seem to be a little intellectually unbalanced.

      • Greek Chic says:

        This religion/cult/organization whatever it is, should be banned.It’s clear that it takes advantage of the rich and idiots who are emotionally unstable.

      • GingerCrunch says:

        Their lives are about to be exposed in a major way. Scary stuff for such public people.

      • Funcakes says:

        I am waiting with high anticipation for the Sh#t to hit the fan when the Scientology documentary makes it’s debut. The conniptions Miscavige is going to have is going to be of cataclysmic proportions after years of intellectual, financial and mental manipulation of their members.

  26. Mindy says:

    Travolta is SO attracted to women…

    … and I can marry the pope.

    Hey – it can happen – in bizarro world.

  27. lucy2 says:

    The whole time he was mauling Idina’s face like that, I imagined him thinking “this is how straight men act, this is how straight men act”. It was so uncomfortable.
    Seeing the pics of him accosting Scarlett are extra creepy, especially since the reasoning is they worked together when she was a kid, and he reportedly snuck up on her. She’s an adult now, respect her as one!

  28. kri says:

    Are we really expected to believe that Goldie Hawn cast such a spell over The Masseuse Whisperer that he couldn’t say Idina’s name? You need to listen to some Destiny’s Child, JT. Practice, practice, and say the name.

  29. Anon says:

    The photo stills of JT and Idina lack context, but I am sure in motion this was even way creepier. I think in general he needs to reassess his persona. He used to be known as such a “nice guy” not “creepy” at all. I feel bad, because I used to enjoy watching him, now it’s cringe-worthy. Loose the make up and wiglet and just be yourself, John. It seems like he’s always making excuses now and trying too hard. It’s sad.

    • Jonesy says:

      Thanks, funcakes. I clicked on that link, laughed my a## off, watched it again…and now this song will be stuck in my head all day. HA!!

  30. nicegirl says:

    Poor Adele Dazeem – like she needs this shiz.

  31. Size Does Matter says:

    Isn’t he pretty famously dyslexic? Or is that Tom Cruise? Or am I thinking of his character from Welcome Back, Kotter. That would explain Adele Dazeem. Maybe scientologists aren’t allowed to admit they’re dyslexic because Scientology “vitamins” (which have a side effect to make you touchy feely and weirdly robotic) are supposed to cure everything.

    • FingerBinger says:

      I’ve never heard about John having dyslexia until he mangled Idina’s name. Cruise is dyslexic.

  32. Anna says:

    Damn, eight year old me had such a crush on Grease-era John. Y u gotta be so creepy, John?! Run from Scientology, come out of the closet, and do you. I feel like if he worked the leather daddy look that he’s had a couple times he could get it plenty.

    • Jonesy says:

      I agree, Anna. I’d have so much more respect for the guy if he’d just be himself — gay and bald. Unfortunately, his choice of “religion” doesn’t allow for that and never will. Or, maybe JT hides behind Co$ b/c he’s afraid to be himself. Who knows.

  33. Debbie says:

    He has just become so creepy. Honestly it’s sad really.

  34. LeAnn Stinks says:

    He’s as straight as a forked road.

  35. EricaV says:

    She had one of her best years ever because of FROZEN, not this creep. His poor wife. Everything he does now is just embarrassing.

  36. Camille (The Original) says:

    He gives me a serious case of the Icks. And he was kind of slurring too, he’s definitely on something. Probably to numb the pain of not being able to be his ‘true’ self…

  37. Meg says:

    they invited him back this year to makeup for embarrassing himself last year and he ended up embarrassing himself more-last year seems like no big deal compared to this year doesn’t it? He wanted to be photographed kissing scarlett on the red carpet-usually people wait until they’re done posing for cameras to say hello to someone they know-travolta didn’t because he wants everyone to see him kissing a woman. the stare at cumberbatch during the show was so funny-this poor guy needs to come out of the closet so badly I feel bad for him

  38. Veritas says:

    Overcompensating much travolta…

  39. snowflake says:

    i think he’s bi personally. i would want to tell him off if he did any of that to me. I couldn’t still smile, play it off. those two ladies are either media pros or used to this kind of stuff.

  40. Dr.Funkenstein says:

    It’s entirely patronizing, presumptive, and aggressive for him to touch her in that way. He’s forcing her to comply with his desire to make her a prop for whatever stupid camera moment he’s trying to pull off. The guy is not a child, so no passes from me on that one.

  41. Carol says:

    This JT debacle has made me laugh for days!! Poor thing. He’s so lost in his own little world, he doesn’t even know how to act in public anymore. BTW – does anyone else think he’s beginning to look more and more like Ronald Reagan?