Former Impractical Jokers star Joe Gatto is being accused of sexually assaulting a woman while she was still in her teens, with videos released on social media explaining the details of the alleged incident.
TikTok user @joozyb posted a video on the platform on Thursday accusing Gatto of assaulting her when she was 19. She claims the assault occurred in 2023 after Gatto reconciled with his wife of over a decade, Bessy Gatto, after they'd separated in 2022.
@joozyb Idk what my goal is, I just want people to be aware that not everyone is who you think. #awareness #trustyourgut
♬ original sound - jooz
According to Joozyb, the then 19-year-old was out at brunch with her mother and sister in Milwaukee in September 2023 when they saw Gatto at a restaurant and asked to get a photo with him. Following the meeting, she messaged Gatto on Instagram hoping to secure tickets to his upcoming comedy show.
Gatto responded by sending her two show tickets and meet-and-greet tickets to his Milwaukee show at the Pabst Theater, according to Joozyb.
Joozyb attended the show by herself, took a photo with the comedian, and returned home. Once home, her and Gatto allegedly began exchanging messages on Instagram.
"I was drunk, whatever, and he was texting me all this stuff. And, like, it was starting to get a little weird, you know," she said.
Following the conversation, Gatto allegedly put the direct message thread into "Vanish Mode", meaning messages disappear once someone leaves the chat, and gave her instructions on how to get to his hotel.
"Somebody led me to the elevator, and somebody was on the elevator with me and pressed the button," she said, describing how she arrived at Gatto's hotel.
She did not go into detail about what happened after, but she stated that she was sexually assaulted.
"Yes he did S.A me. Yes he had JUST gotten back together with his wife. I'm sorry you guys don't want to hear it but," she captioned the photo TikTok.
"I've been wanting to tell people this for so long. I've like, tried in different ways, but it's hard with somebody this big, [I] come to the realization that if I do say something, that I'm really saying something," she said, concluding the video.
Gatto has since issued a response to Joozyb's allegations, stating that he made some poor judgement calls but ultimately denying having ever assaulted anyone.
"I have used poor judgment and as a result have violated the trust of the people I love most," Gatto said in a statement. "But anyone who knows me at all knows full well that I wouldn't assault anyone. 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."
