Latest news with #JoeGatto
Yahoo
30-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Joe Gatto cancels Evansville tour stop amid sexual assault allegations
HENDERSON, Ky. (WEHT) — Comedian Joe Gatto, best known from the hit TV show Impractical Jokers, has canceled his upcoming tour dates, including one in Evansville. Ticketmaster's website says his show at Old National Events Plaza on June 19 is canceled. Ticketmaster says it will issue a refund to the original method of payment. This comes after Gatto was recently hit with allegations of sexual assault, which he denies. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Express Tribune
29-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Impractical Jokers' Joe Gatto accused of inappropriate conduct by teens amid prior assault allegations
Former 'Impractical Jokers' star Joe Gatto is facing new accusations of inappropriate behavior, this time from two teenage girls who say the comedian made unsettling requests during multiple encounters in late 2024. Grace Kennedy and Brianna Ochoa, a recent high school graduate, shared their experience in a 10-minute TikTok video, claiming Gatto encouraged them to kiss, asked them to lift their shirts, and stroked their stomachs. They also alleged he messaged them in Instagram's vanish mode, asking for nudes and inviting them to his hotel room. Screenshots shared by the teens include messages from Gatto suggesting they wear pajamas to a show, as well as a Venmo payment of $35 from 'Joe G,' which they say was for 'gas and Chipotle.' The two said they ultimately declined his invitation to visit his hotel room. 'It felt wrong — he's nearly 50, married, with kids,' Brianna said. The latest claims come days after separate accusations from a TikTok user alleging Gatto sexually assaulted her after a show in Milwaukee in 2023. A former employee also accused Gatto of 'unwanted behaviors,' saying he became flirtatious when she turned 18, invited her to cuddle, and asked for back massages. In response, Gatto issued a statement acknowledging poor judgment: 'I have used poor judgment and as a result have violated the trust of the people I love most. But anyone who knows me at all knows full well that I wouldn't assault anyone.' He later announced he had voluntarily entered an inpatient program and canceled his upcoming comedy tour. 'I've decided to take time away from the public eye to focus my energies where I need to,' he added.
Express Tribune
28-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
James Murray accused of sending inappropriate messages to minor, allegations surface amid 'Impractical Jokers' fallout
James Murray, star of the comedy series 'Impractical Jokers,' is under scrutiny after a Reddit user accused him of exchanging inappropriate messages with her when she was a minor. The allegations emerged on March 27, 2025, just days after fellow comedian Joe Gatto faced separate sexual misconduct claims. The woman, using the handle @Pretend_Crab_9160, shared screenshots on the subreddit r/ImpracticalJokers, which have since been removed. The messages allegedly took place from February 2012 to January 2013, when the fan was 16 years old and Murray was 35. In one message, Murray reportedly wrote, "Haha, you're awesome… Once you turn 18, email me the same question and I'll be happy to answer." When the girl teased him about staying single until she came of age, he allegedly replied, "I'll do my best, promise." Oh Oh that's more accusations regarding Murr from the Impractical Jokers — Flutac 🇵🇸🇨🇩 (@Flutaccc) March 27, 2025 The user, who identified herself as Melyssa, claimed the two also exchanged messages about explicit topics, including "d*ldos," and even said "I love you" to each other. She wrote, "I've only shared what I feel comfortable with at the moment. Censored for obvious reasons. I was 16/17 when I first reached out to say I was a fan, that's when he offered meet and greet tickets." According to her post, the pair met in person in both London and New York. "We met up again a few times when he came to London. I would go to the parties and stay in his hotel," she stated. "He bought me lots of nice things, gave me money for private taxis, and things no adult would have been needing money for." One text from Murray allegedly read, "I will not say until me meet in person!!" She said she was uncomfortable with the secrecy and labeled it as "unfair" at the time In a particularly troubling recollection, she alleged that during a trip to New York City, Murray invited her to meet him in the middle of the night. "This all happened between the ages of 16-18. Please remember I was young, I thought this celebrity liked me and that it was the coolest thing ever at the time. I acknowledge my part in this, but people need to be aware so something worse doesn't happen." She added, "His management and team were there. He gave us all access passes, and at the afterparty, both of us minors were given shots all night." The screenshots also appear to show Murray thanking her for a video, calling her "cute," and arranging tickets to his show. "Haha, thanks! Anytime!" she responded to one of the compliments. Murray has yet to respond publicly to the allegations. Notably, one Redditor pointed out he had liked a TikTok video discussing Joe Gatto's case, further fueling online criticism.
Express Tribune
27-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Joe Gatto checks into inpatient program, cancels comedy tour amid sexual misconduct allegations
Joe Gatto has voluntarily checked into an inpatient treatment facility and reportedly canceled his ongoing comedy tour following sexual misconduct allegations from two women, including a former employee. The former 'Impractical Jokers' star shared a statement via People magazine on March 26: "Having taken some time to reflect, I've decided to voluntarily enter an inpatient program to continue working on myself." The announcement comes just days after a TikTok user, known as @joozyb, accused the married comedian of sexually assaulting her in Milwaukee in 2023, when she was 19. She posted alleged evidence, including images of bruises, claiming the incident occurred after one of Gatto's shows. Gatto denied the assault in a statement to Page Six on March 22 but admitted to using "poor judgment" and "violating the trust of the people I love most." A second accuser, who spoke anonymously to People, claimed she worked for Gatto and was warned by colleagues that he could be "flirty and handsy." She alleged inappropriate behavior starting when she was 18, including unwanted massages, flirtatious comments, and repeated inquiries about her sex life. She said Gatto often acted jealous when she posted photos with her boyfriend. The comedian's current tour, Let's Get Into It, which began in January and was set to run through mid-June, is reportedly canceled, though no formal announcement has been made on which dates are affected. Despite the controversy, Gatto thanked his supporters, saying, "I want to thank my friends, fans, and my family for all their support, especially in the last couple of days." Joe Gatto is married to his wife, Bessy, and the couple shares two children, Milana and Remington.
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
'Impractical Jokers' Star Joe Gatto Seeks Treatment At In-Patient Facilty Amid Sexual Assault Allegation
Joe Gatto is entering an in-patient treatment after multiple women accused him of sexual misconduct. The "Impractical Jokers" star canceled all upcoming tour dates, stating he's focusing on personal growth. This comes after allegations surfaced by a TikTok user who claimed that Joe Gatto assaulted her in 2023 after an event. Gatto is stepping away from the spotlight to seek professional help following sexual assault and harassment allegations from multiple women. In a statement, the "Impractical Jokers" star, 48, announced he is voluntarily entering an in-patient treatment program to focus on personal growth. "Having taken some time to reflect, I've decided to voluntarily enter an in-patient program to continue working on myself," he said. "I just want to thank my friends, fans, and especially my family for all of their support — never more so than over the last few days." A source confirmed to People Magazine that all of Gatto's upcoming tour dates have been canceled as he prioritizes his well-being. Sexual assault and harassment allegations against Gatto surfaced on March 20, when a TikTok user known as "joozyb" alleged that the comedian assaulted her when she was 19, though the videos were later deleted. "I got sexually assaulted by Joe Gatto, the 'Impractical Joker,'" she wrote in the now-viral post. In a second video, the accuser claimed the alleged incident occurred at a hotel following Gatto's stand-up show in Milwaukee in September 2023, shortly after he had reconciled with his wife. She did not provide explicit details about the alleged assault but stated that "some stuff happened." To support her claims, she shared screenshots of a DM exchange in which the "Misery Index" alum allegedly arranged for her to receive "two meet and greet passes" and complimented her appearance. According to the alleged victim, they first met earlier that day at a brunch, where she admitted to "fangirling" over him. She claimed they continued exchanging Instagram messages before and after the show. Gatto's accuser alleged that while she was intoxicated, their conversation became increasingly uncomfortable, saying: "I was drunk, whatever, and he was texting me all this stuff. And, like, it was starting to get a little weird, you know." As further evidence, she shared a photo of them posing together. She also claimed that Gatto placed their DMs on vanish mode to erase messages and provided her with details about his hotel stay. Expressing her hesitation about coming forward, she stated, "I've been wanting to tell people this for so long. It's hard with someone this big. I've like, tried in different ways, but it's hard with somebody this big. [I've] come to the realization that if I do say something, that I'm really saying something." Days after the first allegation of sexual assault, a former employee who worked with Gatto on "Impractical Jokers" accused him of inappropriate behavior in 2021, describing it as sexual harassment. The second accuser told the news outlet she first met him at a live show when she was 15. She alleged that once she turned 18, Gatto's behavior became flirtatious. The accuser shared that before starting her job after college, a former employee warned her that Gatto could be overly friendly and touchy. While working for him, she claimed he occasionally grabbed her inappropriately, requested back massages, and once invited her to his room to cuddle. Gatto's accuser also alleged that he frequently asked about her sex life. The accuser claimed that Gatto often boasted about being in an open relationship with his wife, Bessy. According to People, she claimed that Gatto privately messaged her on social media, calling her "hot," and displayed jealousy when she posted pictures with her boyfriend. If she rejected his advances or refused to flirt, she claimed he would act cold and dismissive at work the next day. The alleged victim described constantly feeling the need to keep him in a good mood, fearing retaliation or job loss. The accuser believes Gatto's alleged behavior was part of a broader pattern of emotional manipulation. Gatto and his wife, Bessy, tied the knot in 2013. However, the couple announced their separation in 2022, but in 2023, they reconciled. Sharing the news, the comedian took to Instagram at the time to post a beachside photo of them smiling together. In the caption, he reflected on their journey, writing: "10 years ago when we started out, I could have never imagined the absolute crazy ride with highs and lows our marriage has endured." He continued: "But there was always love. And me knowing that there is no one else I'd want to be my person. I love your compassion, your resilience, and your giggle. Thanks for this decade." "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. Looking forward to more of it all, including laughing together, memory making with our incredible family, and of course…dogs," Gatto added, per People.
