Joe Gatto, former star of the hidden-camera comedy show “Impractical Jokers,” has denied allegations brought by a TikToker who accused him online of assaulting her when she was 19, saying he has “used poor judgment” but that he never 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 to PageSix. “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.”
The woman, who goes by joozyb on TikTok, said on the platform that she in 2023, when she was 19 and he was 46, and accepted his invitation to one of his shows in Milwaukee, which she attended alone. Afterward he invited her to his hotel room where she went voluntarily and left after 2 a.m.
She did not give details of her allegations, other than to say she was sexually assaulted that night, and posted photos of bruises on her backside.
“Impractical Jokers” premiered on truTV in 2011, featuring lifelong friends Gatto, James “Murr” Murray, Brian “Q” Quinn, and Sal Vulcano, who challenge one another to participate in awkward or outrageous public dares, with the catch that they must do whatever the others instruct them through a hidden earpiece.
The show garnered a massive fan base and spawned specials, a feature film in 2020 and live tours.
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