Just days after Joe Gatto was accused of sexual assault by a woman on TikTok, a second woman has come forward to allege that the Impractical Jokers star exhibited unwanted and inappropriate behavior toward her during her time as his employee. The new allegations describe sexual harassment rather than assault, further complicating Gatto’s public image. The second woman, who worked for Gatto during his tenure on Impractical Jokers, claims his behavior shifted after she turned 18, becoming increasingly flirtatious and inappropriate. These new accusations come at a time when Gatto is already facing public scrutiny following the earlier assault allegation.
The Initial Allegations: A Shift in Gatto’s Behavior
The second woman, who spoke exclusively to PEOPLE, says she first met Joe Gatto when she was just 15, attending one of his live shows. She alleges that once she turned 18, Gatto’s behavior toward her changed drastically, with him becoming flirtatious and making inappropriate advances. According to the woman, Gatto began making frequent inquiries about her sex life and asked her to perform physical acts, such as giving him back massages. She claims that he also invited her to his hotel room and asked her to cuddle, behaviors she found uncomfortable and inappropriate.
Before accepting the job, the woman claims a colleague warned her about Gatto’s past behavior, advising her to set clear boundaries if he became flirty or handsy. This warning appears to have been accurate, as she alleges that Gatto would often cross those boundaries, creating an uncomfortable work environment. The warning also included advice to shut down any advances immediately, yet the woman claims Gatto’s actions became more frequent and persistent. This growing discomfort ultimately led her to speak out, following the allegations made by the TikTok user, joozyb.
The woman’s account highlights a disturbing pattern of behavior that allegedly started once she was legally an adult. This shift in behavior, according to her, was not an isolated incident, but a recurring issue during her time working with Gatto. She also recalls that Gatto would often joke about bringing women up to his office in the freight elevator to avoid being seen in the building’s lobby, a remark that made her uncomfortable and seemed to align with the behavior described by joozyb in her TikTok videos. These details paint a troubling picture of Gatto’s conduct on and off the job.
Gatto’s Response: A Statement and Taking Time Away
In response to these allegations, Joe Gatto issued a statement to Page Six, which was later referenced by his representatives. In the March 22 statement, Gatto acknowledged using poor judgment, admitting that he had violated the trust of those closest to him. “I have used poor judgment and as a result have violated the trust of the people I love most,” Gatto said. While he did not directly address the new allegations, he continued by emphasizing that anyone who knows him understands that he would never assault anyone, denying the accusation made by the TikTok user.
Gatto’s statement also included an acknowledgment of his ongoing personal journey. “Working on myself is an ongoing process,” he stated, adding that he would be stepping away from the public eye to focus on improving himself and addressing his past behavior. The comedian’s departure from Impractical Jokers in 2021, prior to these allegations surfacing, was officially attributed to personal reasons, but now it seems his decision to leave may have been related to these ongoing issues. His statement reflects a shift in focus towards self-reflection and addressing personal flaws, although it remains unclear how these actions will affect his career moving forward.
Though Gatto has denied the specific allegations of assault, the comedian has not addressed the second woman’s claims directly. The ongoing nature of his personal reflection, coupled with these new accusations, will likely lead to further scrutiny. His decision to take time away from the public eye is an attempt to address the situation privately, but the impact of the allegations could affect his public and professional life for the foreseeable future.
Details of the Alleged Assault: A Second Accuser Comes Forward
The second woman’s accusations come in the wake of the earlier sexual assault claims made by a TikTok user named joozyb. In her now-deleted TikTok videos, joozyb accused Gatto of sexual assault during a show in Milwaukee in September 2023. She alleged that Gatto sent her instructions to meet him at his hotel room, where the assault allegedly took place. joozyb also claimed that the incident resulted in bruising on her buttocks, but she did not go into further detail about what transpired between her and Gatto.
The second woman’s experience further complicates Gatto’s situation, especially as her allegations suggest a pattern of inappropriate behavior that spans years, potentially indicating that the comedian’s actions were not isolated to the 2023 incident. While she does not accuse Gatto of sexual assault, her claims of unwanted flirtation, physical advances, and inappropriate inquiries into her personal life have brought additional negative attention to Gatto. The fact that these allegations are coming from multiple women in different contexts suggests a troubling pattern of behavior.
Gatto’s previous statements, coupled with the new accusations, raise important questions about accountability and the broader implications for his career. While Gatto has admitted to making poor judgment calls, the ongoing nature of these claims will likely result in increased public scrutiny. The comedian’s decision to step away from the public eye is a step towards addressing the situation, but it remains to be seen how these allegations will impact his reputation and career in the long run.