Joe Gatto, a former luminary of the hidden-camera comedy series "Impractical Jokers," has categorically refuted the allegations leveled against him by a TikTok user named joozyb, who accused him online of assaulting her when she was just 19 years old. In a statement to PageSix, Gatto conceded, "I承认, I have made poor judgments in the past, breaching the trust of those I cherish most. However, it is unequivocally true that I have never assaulted anyone. Those who know me intimately are well aware of this fact." He further expressed, "The journey of self-improvement is an ongoing endeavor, and I have decided to step away from the public spotlight for a while to direct my energies where they are most needed."
The TikToker, joozyb, recounted on the platform that in 2023, when she was 19 and Gatto was 46, she accepted his invitation to attend one of his shows in Milwaukee, where she went alone. Following the show, she voluntarily accompanied him to his hotel room and left after 2 a.m. Beyond stating that she was sexually assaulted that fateful night, she did not elaborate on the specifics of her allegations but posted photographs depicting bruises on her posterior.
"Impractical Jokers," which premiered on truTV in 2011, showcased a quartet of lifelong friends: Gatto, James "Murr" Murray, Brian "Q" Quinn, and Sal Vulcano. These friends dared each other to engage in uncomfortable or outrageous public stunts, with the stipulation that they must comply with whatever their compatriots instructed them through a concealed earpiece. The show amassed a colossal fan following, giving rise to specials, a feature film in 2020, and live tours.
