Impractical Jokers' Joe Gatto Accused of Sexual Harassment by Second Woman, a Former Employee
Joe Gatto has been accused of inappropriate conduct for a second time.
The 48-year-old comedian and former Impractical Jokers star just faced a first accusation of sexual assault on Thursday (March 20), to which he denied any assault.
Now, a former employee is also accusing the comedian, describing her experience as sexual harassment and that he exhibited unwanted behaviors.
Keep reading to find out more…
This second woman, who was employed by him prior to his exit from Impractical Jokers in 2021, says she first met him when she was just 15 years old, and as soon as she turned 18, his behavior became very flirtatious.
Per People, prior to her starting the job, she was warned by a former employee that “she perceived him to sometimes be flirty and handsy,” and he “often tells inappropriate jokes, and advised her to shut it down immediately if he did anything creepy.”
The woman said she learned quickly what the warning was for, as during her time working for him, he “occasionally inappropriately grabbed her and asked for back massages,” with him even inviting her to his room once, asking her to cuddle. He even allegedly made frequent inquiries about her sex life.
She claims he often bragged about being in an open relationship with then wife Bessy (they split in 2021), and he would DM her, responding to social media posts calling her “hot” and acting possessive, getting jealous when she posted photos with her boyfriend at the time.
After rejecting his advances, the woman says he would be rude to her the next day, and she “felt as though she always had to work to keep him at ease, fearing she could lose her job.”
The former employee says there was a larger pattern of emotional manipulation that continued up until she left after two years.
She also alleges that during a work trip, he grabbed her thigh while in an elevator, leading to her moving to the other side of the elevator, and him telling her he knew it would make her uncomfortable.
On another trip, she says he insisted employees come back to his room and drink, though, she notes he wouldn’t drink, just encourage others to drink around him.
Following the first accusations from an account on TikTok, Joe spoke out, releasing a statement where he denied her claims.
“I have used poor judgment and as a result have violated the trust of the people I love most,” Joe shared in a statement via Variety.
“But anyone who knows me at all knows full well that I wouldn’t assault anyone,” he continued. “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.”