With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
John Travolta Sued by Masseur for Alleged Sexual Assault
Photo of John Travolta via Shutterstock
Rumors about Hollywood's leading men being secretly gay aren't exactly new, but a recent allegation against John Travolta suggests that the star was particularly brazen with a man he had just met. An unnamed masseur is suing Travolta, claiming that during a routine massage, the actor tried to have sex with him.
According to the suit, Travolta began groping the masseur -- whom he allegedly found online and drove to the Beverly Hills Hotel -- about an hour into the massage,
reports TMZ. The masseur claims to have told the "Hairspray" star that he didn't have sex with clients, to which Travolta allegedly responded "Come on dude, I'll jerk you off!!!"
The masseur is suing Travolta for assault, sexual battery, and intentional infliction of emotional distress, and is asking for $2 million.
But Travolta's reps roundly deny that such an exchange ever took place. In a statement posted at Entertainment Weekly, the actor's team says that he was on the East Coast the day that the alleged massage took place. They write:
Sponsor
“This lawsuit is a complete fiction and fabrication. None of the events claimed in the suit ever occurred. The plaintiff, who refuses to give their name, knows that the suit is a baseless lie. It is for that reason that the plaintiff hasn’t been identified with a name even though it is required to do so...John intends to get this case thrown out and then he will sue the attorney and Plaintiff for malicious prosecution.”
At LAist, we focus on what matters to our community: clear, fair, and transparent reporting that helps you make decisions with confidence and keeps powerful institutions accountable.
Today, on Giving Tuesday, your support for independent local news is critical. With federal funding for public media gone, LAist faces a $1.7 million yearly shortfall. Speaking frankly, how much reader support we receive now will determine the strength of this reliable source of local information now and for years to come.
This work is only possible with community support. Every investigation, service guide, and story is made possible by people like you who believe that local news is a public good and that everyone deserves access to trustworthy local information.
That’s why on this Giving Tuesday, we’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Thank you for understanding how essential it is to have an informed community and standing up for free press.
Today, on Giving Tuesday, your support for independent local news is critical. With federal funding for public media gone, LAist faces a $1.7 million yearly shortfall. Speaking frankly, how much reader support we receive now will determine the strength of this reliable source of local information now and for years to come.
This work is only possible with community support. Every investigation, service guide, and story is made possible by people like you who believe that local news is a public good and that everyone deserves access to trustworthy local information.
That’s why on this Giving Tuesday, we’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Thank you for understanding how essential it is to have an informed community and standing up for free press.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
