Actor and comedian Joe Gatto has canceled upcoming dates of his comedy tour and entered an in-patient treatment facility in the wake of recent sexual assault and harassment allegations.
Gatto, who starred in TruTV’s hidden-camera show “Impractical Jokers” from 2011 to 2021, said in a statement Wednesday that he had voluntarily started treatment at an undisclosed facility, according to People.
The announcement comes less than a week after a woman took to social media to accuse the Staten Island-born improv actor of sexual assault.
In a series of since-deleted TikTok videos shared on March 20, the woman said the assault happened in 2023 when she was 19.
Three days later, a second woman came forward with different allegations against the 48-year-old comedian, which she described as sexual harassment.
The woman, who worked for the comedian during his “Impractical Jokers” days, told People that as soon as she turned 18, Gatto’s behavior changed and he became very flirtatious. He would allegedly inquire about her sex life and ask for back massages, once even inviting her to his room and asking to cuddle, she said.
Gatto, a married father of two, has denied the allegations but admitted that his past “poor judgment” had led to a breach of trust with those he loves most.
In a statement on Wednesday, Gatto said that after “having taken some time to reflect” he decided to “voluntarily enter an in-patient program to continue working on myself.”
He also thanked his friends, fans and “especially [his] family for all of their support — never more so than over the last few days.”
In late 2021, Gatto announced that he and his wife had decided to split after eight years of marriage. Two years later, he said in an Instagram post that the two had reconciled.
Gatto’s latest comedy tour, Let’s Get Into It, kicked off in Lafayette, Indiana, on Feb. 13 and is currently scheduled to end in Atlanta on Nov. 14.
According to Ticketmaster, the event organizer has canceled most of his dates through the end of June. Refunds will be automatically issued to the original payment method used at purchase.
