For years, rumors about John Travolta’s sexuality have made headlines, with many people whether he is gay. Despite the star’s successful career and his long marriage to actress Kelly Preston, the rumors have persisted. In this article, we explore the history behind these rumors.
How Did Rumors Start?
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Following the sudden death of his son Jett in 2009, stories began to surface that linked Travolta to secret relationships and a hidden gay lifestyle. A tabloid story published by Gawker in 2009 claimed that a male nanny, Jeff Kathrein, found Jett when he passed away.
The story also featured an old photo that appeared to show Travolta kissing Kathrein. This led to more rumors about Travolta’s sexuality and relationships with men.
The Daily Mail once claimed Travolta visited bath spas in Los Angeles for secret encounters with men. In 2012, two massage therapists accused him of making unwanted advances. Travolta denied it, and the cases were settled privately.
In 2014, Travolta faced a lawsuit from Douglas Gotterba, a former pilot who claimed they had an affair in the 1980s. Gotterba planned to write a tell-all book, but Travolta tried to stop him using a cease-and-desist letter, per the New York Daily News. Though a judge ruled in Gotterba’s favor, the book was never published.
What Did Travolta Say?
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In 2017, Travolta spoke with the Daily Beast about rumors. The actor said, “This is every celebrity’s Achilles heel. It’s just about people wanting money. That’s all. It happens on many levels.”
“Other people may attack it back (sic) more than I do, but I let all the media stuff go a long time ago because I can’t control it. I think that’s why it [gay rumors] persists, to some degree,” he continued.
Travolta added, “I found it most offensive with the loss of my son. I felt like that was the lowest I’d ever felt. Sex stuff is always going to be interesting to somebody, but you stay away from family. You really should. With that, I always felt like the media — not all of the media, but parts of it — went too low there.”
Other Hollywood Stars’ Words On Travolta’s Sexuality
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Previously, actress Margaret Cho said on her Australian tour, “I will be in trouble, but I will say it. He is very gay. John Travolta is gay. He is not just a homosexual. Not only does she like men,” as reported by Telegrafi.
She added, “But he is an Oscar Wilde type of homosexual… just like Lord Byron… I feel sorry for him because I know he would be much happier if he admitted it publicly. But it can’t.”
In an interview with the Advocate, actress Carrie Fisher said everyone knows John Travolta is gay. She noted, “Wow! I mean, my feeling about John has always been that we know and we don’t care. Look, I’m sorry that he’s uncomfortable with it, and that’s all I can say. It only draws more attention to it when you make that kind of legal fuss. Just leave it be.”
Travolta’s close friend and co-star, Kirstie Alley, denied the gay rumors. She said they fell in love while filming ‘Look Who’s Talking’ but didn’t act on it as they were in other relationships. She told ABC News’ Barbara Walters, “I know John with all my heart and soul. He’s not gay. I think in some weird way, in Hollywood, if someone gets big enough and famous enough, and they’re not out doing drugs and they’re not womanizing, what do you say about them?”
Preston stood by Travolta amid rumors about their marriage. She defended her family and dismissed the speculation as absurd. Preston called Travolta the best partner she’d ever had, as reported by The Things.
