Former ‘Impractical Jokers’ Star Joe Gatto Responds to Sexual Assault Allegations

Former Impractical Jokers star Joe Gatto has denied the claims that he sexually assaulted a 19-year-old TikToker in 2023 — however says he has used “poor judgment” up to now.

“I’ve used poor judgment and in consequence have violated the belief of the folks I really like most,” the 48-year-old comic instructed Web page Six in a press release on Saturday, March 22. “However anybody who is aware of me in any respect is aware of full properly that I wouldn’t assault anybody.”

“Engaged on myself is an ongoing course of, and I’m now going to take a while away from the general public eye to focus my energies the place I have to,” he concluded.

In a March 20 TikTok video, consumer joozyb alleged that she was “sexually assaulted by Joe Gatto, the Impractical Joker.”

In a separate TikTok video, she detailed how she met the comic whereas he was performing in Milwaukee in September 2023. She defined that she had been direct messaging with Gatto through Instagram previous to the present and was additionally messaging with him within the hours afterward.

“I used to be drunk, no matter, and he was texting me all these items,” she stated within the video. “And, like, it was beginning to get just a little bizarre, you realize?”

She went on to say that Gatto ultimately despatched her directions on easy methods to get to his lodge room and alleged that the assault occurred when she bought there.

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Earlier than posting the TikTok video detailing the alleged incident, she uploaded a TikTok montage of pictures she and Gatto took collectively earlier than the alleged encounter and shared alleged screenshots of their conversations. She then uploaded one other TikTok shortly after of simply a picture of a bruised buttock, which she claimed occurred from the alleged encounter with Gatto.

“Sure he did S.A me. sure he had JUST gotten again collectively along with his spouse. I’m sorry you guys don’t wish to hear it however,” she captioned the photograph on TikTok.

PEOPLE reached out to Gatto’s representatives and the TikTok consumer for remark.

Gatto and his spouse, Bessy, introduced that they had determined to “amicably half methods” in 2021 after eight years of marriage. In 2023, the TV character introduced that he and Bessy had reconciled and that he was “hopeful” for the longer term. The couple share two youngsters.

When you or somebody you realize has been sexually assaulted, please contact the Nationwide Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or go to rainn.org.