'Impractical Jokers' star Joe Gatto denies sexual assault allegation
'Impractical Jokers' star Joe Gatto denies sexual assault allegation
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Would Joe Gatto return to 'Impractical Jokers'? Here's his response.
Comedian Joe Gatto chats with USA TODAY's Ralphie Aversa about his standup special, "Messing With People" and his time on "Impractical Jokers."
"Impractical Jokers" star Joe Gatto is acknowledging he exercised "poor judgment" but denying a TikTok user's claims of sexual assault.
The comedian, 48, responded Sunday after a TikToker known as joozyb alleged in a series of viral videos that Gatto sexually assaulted her in 2023, when she was 19.
"I have used poor judgment and as a result have violated the trust of the people I love most," Gatto said in a statement provided to USA TODAY on Sunday. "But anyone who knows me at all knows full well that I wouldn't assault anyone."
He added, "Working on myself is an ongoing process, and I am now going to take some time away from the public eye to focus my energies where I need to."
USA TODAY has reached out to the TikTok user for comment.
The response came after TikTok user joozyb alleged, "I got sexually assaulted by Joe Gatto." In a 10-minute clip posted Friday, she said she met the comedian after running into him while at brunch, where she said he invited her to see his comedy show that night.
After the performance, the TikTok user alleged that she went to see Gatto at his hotel. "I don't want to go into the details about everything," she said, but added that she doesn't "want any girl to feel" the way he made her feel.
Joe Gatto on going solo: 'I'm responsible now for 100% of the funny'
The user shared multiple photos of herself with the comic and screenshots of alleged messages with him, including one that appeared to show instructions on how to get to a hotel room. The woman also posted a photo showing her with a large bruise on her bottom, which she claimed he left "with his teeth." A video that the user said she took after leaving the hotel room appeared to have a time stamp of 2:26 in the morning on Sept. 9, 2023.
In a separate TikTok video, the woman pushed back on comments expressing doubt about her story. "I'm sorry if you don't want to believe it, but the people you idolize are not always going to be good," she said.
Gatto starred on "Impractical Jokers" for nine seasons before leaving the popular hidden camera show in 2021. He said at the time that he would step away "due to some issues in my personal life" amid his separation from his wife, Bessy. "Bessy and I have decided to amicably part ways, so now I need to focus on being the best father and co-parent to our two incredible kids," he said.
Would Joe Gatto return? Comedian talks 'Impractical Jokers,' new standup special, more
While celebrating his and his wife's anniversary in September 2023, Gatto shared that they had reconciled. "Thanks for this decade," he wrote on Instagram. "And I'm happy and hopeful that we will be able to get a few more in because we have proven with compassion, forgiveness and an open heart we can do this. Together."
Speaking to USA TODAY last year, Gatto said that trying to balance his stand-up career with starring on "Impractical Jokers" "affected my life in an adverse way." But he said he would "never say never" to the possibility of working with the team from the show again.
"It's been three years almost at this point that I've been off the show," he said. "The show's moved on for me. I've moved on from the show."
Contributing: Ralphie Aversa
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