Joe Gatto, one of the comedians who was part of the hugely successful comedy seriesImpractical Jokers, is facing serious allegations of sexual assault. Two women have come forward in recent days, with both alleging that they went through traumatic experiences of sexual abuse and inappropriate behavior carried out by the comedian. Gatto has since denied these allegations, but has now revealed that he will get treatment and cancel what’s left of his comedy tour.
Gatto hasn’t said why he has decided to voluntarily check into a treatment facility, although the recent media blitz may give you an idea. The upcomingdates of hisLet’s Get Into Itcomedy tourhave also disappeared from the site which was previously selling the tickets. Gatto has released the following statement (via People):
“Having taken some time to reflect, I’ve decided to voluntarily enter an in-patient program to continue working on myself. 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.”
Joe Gatto Exits Impractical Jokers to Focus on Raising His Children
The foursome is down to three after prankster Joe Gatto announced his departure from the TruTV series Impractical Jokers.
Gatto’s fall from grace began on March 20, when TikToker “joozyb” said the following in a video: “I got sexually assaulted by Joe Gatto, the Impractical Joker.” The videos continued, providing details about the assault and allegations that it all began when the pair took some pictures together at a “Meet & Greet” event, with Gatto inviting her to his hotel. She captioned an incendiary photo with the following: “Yes he did S.A me. yes he had JUST gotten back together with his wife. I’m sorry you guys don’t want to hear it but.” These videos have since been deleted from the social media platform. Following this, the comedian released an official statement in which he said:
“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. 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.”
‘Impractical Jokers’ Ended in 2024 After 11 Seasons on the Air
This wasn’t the end of the ordeal, as one day later, another woman spoke out against the comedian. A former employee accused the comedian of harassment and emotional manipulation during her years working closely with Gatto. When speaking to People, she claimed that he grabbed her on multiple occasions and harassed her on social media during the two years she worked with him.
In 2021, after being featured in the hidden camera reality show for nine seasons, Gatto decided to leave the TV series, which remained in the hands of its other hosts, James “Murr” Murray, Brian “Q” Quinn, and Sal Vulcano. Gatto’s exit was pretty unexpected, and while it continued for some timewith guest comedians replacing him, the show ended its run in 2024.
Note: If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, please contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or go to rainn.org.
Source:People
Impractical Jokers
