John Travolta fights back as two male masseurs allege sexual harassment
BY BILL ZWECKER bzwecker@suntimes.com May 8, 2012 9:36PM
Actor John Travolta is sick of the “insidious, ongoing whispering campaign” about his sexuality, a close friend says. | Ryan Pierse~Getty Images
Updated: June 10, 2012 8:04AM
J ohn Travolta’s legal battle with a masseur who claims the actor made unwanted sexual advances during a massage in January got twice as ugly Tuesday as another masseur filed a second lawsuit Tuesday making similar claims.
Both plaintiffs are represented by the same Los Angeles attorney, and both filed anonymously as “John Doe” (No. 1 and No. 2). Travolta’s team has charged the lawyer is merely seeking his “15 minutes of fame” and promises to sue both the lawyer and his clients after moving to have the suits thrown out of court. The second man claimed in his suit — asking $2 million in damages — that he had “substantial documentation and numerous witnesses regarding the substance of Travolta’s actions.” This second incident supposedly took place in an Atlanta resort in late January. The first man’s claim was immediately challenged by Travolta’s representatives, who say they can prove the actor was on the East Coast that day — across the country from the Beverly Hills Hotel, where the incident allegedly occurred. Along with vehemently denying these lawsuits’ validity, Travolta is “sick and tired of fighting this insidious, ongoing whisper campaign that has gone on for years,” a longtime close friend of the actor told me Tuesday. Stories have long circulated, raising questions about Travolta’s sexual preferences — despite his 20-year marriage to
Paul Barresi a reported $100,000 for a story in which Barresi claimed he’d had a two-year affair with Travolta in the early 1980s. Several months after the story was published, Barresi bowed to pressure from Travolta’s legal team — retracting his story and stating in a letter that he had never engaged in homosexual behavior with Travolta. According to a show source, more candidates are awaiting a first tryout with Ripa, and there are several others she and the show’s producers would like to have back for a second “audition,” based on very solid first appearances.
Bill Clinton, the show’s keynoter, spent most of his speech talking about the election, NATO and various international and domestic issues, Daniels was thrilled the ex-president (and noted amateur saxophone player) spent 10 minutes afterward chatting with him about Daniels’ rare 1923 curved soprano sax.“Truly a fun and memorable encounter with the former leader of the free world,” quipped Daniels.
NOT MUCH THERE: According to those privy to the financial affairs of the late Gary Coleman, the current battle between his ex-wife Shannon Price and ex-girlfriend Anna Gray over the former child star’s estate could eat up what assets remain. Given Coleman’s property consists mainly of a Utah home valued under $400,000 and a few small bank accounts, “most of that could go to lawyers’ fees,” said a former Coleman associate.
