# John Travolta's Son Dies **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 3, 2009, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-travoltas-son-dies/479648 "2009-01-03T00:12:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2009, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-travoltas-son-dies/479648/21 "2009-01-03T02:43:23Z")
> [@DigitalC](#): > > It seems like the whole “had a seizure and drowned in the bath” thing seems to come up pretty often. I haven’t had a bath since i was like 4, you’d think people with any seizure prone disease would stick to showers. It happened to a friend of mine about six months ago. However, it was unclear whether the seizure or the water had killed them. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2009, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-travoltas-son-dies/479648/22 "2009-01-03T02:54:02Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > They get this media attention because people watch those retarded stories, and buy those retarded magazines, and start threads like this about dead people who happen to be related to famous people. Most famous people are famous because they sought fame; when you seek fame you accept the risk of unwanted attention for yourself and all near you. And all a famous person’s nearest, save blood relatives, are in that person’s life by choice and knowing the risks. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2009, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-travoltas-son-dies/479648/23 "2009-01-03T02:54:08Z")
Merged two threads about this event, one in Cafe Society and one in MPSIMS. ---
**Author:** ![Stephe96](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Stephe96](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stephe96)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2009, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-travoltas-son-dies/479648/24 "2009-01-03T03:00:43Z")
Was Jett his son from Kelly Preston? Or from a previous relationship? It doesn’t mean anything; I’m just curious… ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2009, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-travoltas-son-dies/479648/25 "2009-01-03T03:05:49Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > I think that most people don’t drown. They are taking a shower in a shower/bathtub and hit their head when the fall. Maybe they should stick to stall showers if possible. So they can then fall through the glass and be cut to pieces? It may not even been the fall that killed Jett, it might have been something to do with the seizure itself. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2009, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-travoltas-son-dies/479648/26 "2009-01-03T03:16:12Z")
What? Where? When? ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2009, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-travoltas-son-dies/479648/27 "2009-01-03T03:24:44Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > I think that most people don’t drown. They are taking a shower in a shower/bathtub and hit their head when the fall. Maybe they should stick to stall showers if possible. Well i thought what happened was that they hit their head and passed out so they drowned. I might be wrong and showers could be just as dangerous, i just dont see how they’d be more dangerous than any other place and you constantly hear about the seizure/bath death connection. ---
**Author:** ![timbicile59](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/aeb1de/32.png) [@timbicile59](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/timbicile59)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2009, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-travoltas-son-dies/479648/28 "2009-01-03T03:39:34Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > What? Where? When? Up your hose with a silver rose. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2009, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-travoltas-son-dies/479648/29 "2009-01-03T03:42:44Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > and then other people post to them! Sure, although i came in mainly because, when i saw the thread title, i was amazed that, even in our celebrity-obsessed society, this death rated a thread of its own. I guess the point i was trying to make is that, in my experience the members of the public who get the most outraged by media intrusiveness into the lives of celebrities are often the same people who enable and encourage such behavior by watching ET and buying _People_ magazine. > [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Most famous people are famous because they sought fame; when you seek fame you accept the risk of unwanted attention for yourself and all near you. And all a famous person’s nearest, save blood relatives, are in that person’s life by choice and knowing the risks. I actually tend to agree with this point. I have little sympathy for celebrities who court all the attention in the world when they are trying to become successful, or when they have a book or a movie to flog, and who then complain about their lack of privacy when some paparazzo tries to get a picture of them at the gym, or on the beach, or whatever. ---
**Author:** ![Pyper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Pyper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pyper)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2009, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-travoltas-son-dies/479648/30 "2009-01-03T03:48:31Z")
> [@SaharaTea](#): > > Rumor is that their son was actually autistic, but their Scientologist beliefs prevented them from getting him proper treatment or even diagnosing it as such. Don’t know if that had anything to do with the death, but I’m sure their religious beliefs will be under intense scrutiny in the coming weeks. I never heard this before, but reading the article about the boy (mental retardation, seizures, problems manifesting at age two) made me think, “Yep, autism.” ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2009, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-travoltas-son-dies/479648/31 "2009-01-03T03:52:07Z")
> [@An\_Gadai](#): > > It happened to a friend of mine about six months ago. However, it was unclear whether the seizure or the water had killed them. It also happened to Persephone, a Doper - 3-4 years ago. I am very sorry to hear about the loss of your friend. Very sad all around. Whatever my feelings re the Travoltas’ pseudoreligion, there’s no worse fear for a parent than losing a child. ---
**Author:** ![Atomicflea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/58956e/32.png) [@Atomicflea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atomicflea)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2009, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-travoltas-son-dies/479648/32 "2009-01-03T04:12:14Z")
My heart just breaks for them. Sometimes life can just be so random. I also feel bad for their daughter. She’s too young to understand and just old enough to really be affected by the loss. ---
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2009, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-travoltas-son-dies/479648/33 "2009-01-03T04:18:26Z")
If their religion ( _s.i.c._ ) prevented them from treating his disorders as best as they could have, then MORE than shame on them. OTOH, as a retired EMT, I know full well that folks who are conscientious and consistent in their medications can seize anyway. I’ve seen it- caught a women as she seized right out of her chair in front of me while we watched the kids in their Tae Kwon Do class. So- who can say at this point? They’re going to autopsy him. I would hope they’d see if he had anti-seizure meds in his bloodstream or not. You are not supposed to outlive your own children. Cartooniverse ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2009, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-travoltas-son-dies/479648/34 "2009-01-03T04:36:07Z")
Regardless of what I think of celebrities or celebrity in general, I can still spare a little sympathy for parents who have lost their child. ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2009, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-travoltas-son-dies/479648/35 "2009-01-03T04:59:14Z")
> [@Stephe96](#): > > Was Jett his son from Kelly Preston? Or from a previous relationship? It doesn’t mean anything; I’m just curious… Yes, he was their son together. They also have a daughter, age 8. ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2009, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-travoltas-son-dies/479648/36 "2009-01-03T05:00:31Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > What? Where? When? Okay, I finally got this… funny. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2009, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-travoltas-son-dies/479648/37 "2009-01-03T05:05:29Z")
> [@featherlou](#): > > Regardless of what I think of celebrities or celebrity in general, I can still spare a little sympathy for parents who have lost their child. Ditto. My sympathy to John Travolta and his family. I’ve liked him since he played Vinnie on “Welcom Back, Kotter” and in any number of films from “Saturday Night Fever” to “Pulp Fiction.” I don’t factor his religion into his acting and don’t concern myself with how others perceive his lifestyle. He is a human being and he and his family deserve my sympathy for their tragic loss. ---
**Author:** ![Stephe96](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Stephe96](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stephe96)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2009, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-travoltas-son-dies/479648/38 "2009-01-03T05:48:01Z")
> [@EJsGirl](#): > > Okay, I finally got this… funny. > > :smack: Could you explain for those of us who don’t get the reference? ---
**Author:** ![dawson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ac91a4/32.png) [@dawson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dawson)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2009, 6:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-travoltas-son-dies/479648/39 "2009-01-03T06:02:54Z")
> [@Stephe96](#): > > Could you explain for those of us who don’t get the reference? It refers to John Travolta’s character from Welcome Back kotter, Vinnie Barbarino, a good looking notoriously dimwitted student who was known to utter this phrase on more than one occasion As for the OP, my heart goes out to John and his family. As a relatively new father, I’m sure this is a worst nightmare come true. ---
**Author:** ![BaneSidhe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c5a1d2/32.png) [@BaneSidhe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BaneSidhe)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2009, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-travoltas-son-dies/479648/40 "2009-01-03T06:10:22Z")
Weird beliefs or not, I feel really bad for the Travoltas. It’s never easy to lose a child, but be in the public eye and it’s 10x worse. Prayers to everyone. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-travoltas-son-dies/479648.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-travoltas-son-dies/479648.md?page=3)