John Travolta is a controversial American actor who first rose to fame with his role in the sitcom ‘Welcome Back, Kotter‘. He has also done some prominent roles in movies like ‘Get Shorty,’ ‘Broken Arrow,’ and ‘Phenomenon,’ among others. Though his acting has kept him in the good books of the industry, John Travolta has been in the headlines for several controversies throughout his career.
One of the most prominent controversies about his life involved widespread speculations about him being gay. Not only his sexual orientation has been in question, but he has also faced allegations of abusing his gay partners. Here’s all we know about his sexuality and the legal charges against him.
Related: Who Is John Travolta’s Daughter, Ella Bleu Travolta? Do They Have A Good Relationship?
The Truth Behind John Travolta’s Six-Year-Long Same-Sex Affair
John Travolta’s homosexuality first gained concrete prominence in 2014, after his pilot named Doug Gotterba alleged that he had a six-year affair with him. The affair allegedly started in the early 1980s, when Doug was working for him. Gotterba stopped working for Travolta in 1987 and signed a “termination agreement” that included a “confidentiality clause.”
Gotterba contested the legitimacy of the confidentiality clause when he stated his intentions to write a tell-all book about the affair he had with Travolta. The actor refuted the allegations and responded by claiming that it was a blackmailing attempt for financial gains.
Gotterba, on the other hand, remained unyielding and declared that “our issue is solely about declaratory relief and will be a non-monetary ruling. This is about the truth, and it is not for Mr. Travolta to make a judgment. It is for a court to decide who is speaking the truth.”
However, he did promise to keep quiet about the incident in exchange for ten million dollars from Travolta.
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Controversy Around Sexual Assault Allegations Against John Travolta
The very first rumors about John Travolta being gay surfaced in the early 1980s when he was accused by some associated people. Travolta always denied the speculation. However, in 2010, actress Carrie Fisher fueled these rumors again by stating that the actor is openly gay. This made the whole case brew again.
However, all these rumors found a solid base in 2012 when a sexual assault case was filed against John Travolta. A 21-year-old male spa employee made a harassment allegation against him. As per the complainant’s account, Travolta was scheduled to receive a deep tissue massage at the LaQuinta Hotel in Palm Springs, California after midnight. During this session, the spa worker claimed Travolta dropped his towel while standing.
Further, he told the masseur he was gorgeous and “excited,” inviting him into the steam room so he wouldn’t be alone. The harassment continued when Travolta repeatedly removed his towel to expose his buttocks. In addition, he said that Travolta, while face-down on the table, reached out and touched the masseuse inappropriately. The complaint also claims that Travolta made several sexually explicit comments to the masseuse.
John Travolta’s Scientology Connection
John Travolta and his wife Kelly Preston are active members of the Church of Scientology. Mike Rinder, a former member of the Church of Scientology, who is also a friend of John Travolta and his wife Kelly, provided some insight into Travolta’s connection with the controversial church.
Talking about Travolta’s alleged homosexuality, Rinder said that he believes Preston has a greater commitment to religion than Travolta does.
Karen de la Carriere, a former executive of the church, also referred to John’s wife as a “true believer.” She stated that Preston was “either deluded or more likely just deaf” to her husband’s extramarital behavior, but that Preston was a “genuine believer.” Kelly Preston married John in 1991 and the couple has been together for the past 27 years.
Travolta has been subjected to a never-ending stream of allegations that he is hiding his homosexuality. John has never openly confirmed these allegations. So, the true nature of these rumors cannot be verified.
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