According to an article in MSNBC.com’s gossip column, John Travolta is thinking about writing a book. A source said that “it’s “unclear” whether Travolta will address those tabloid rumors that have haunted him.”
What tabloid rumors are those? That he’s a scientologist? That’s not a rumor…it’s fact. I like the guy in many of his roles and I’ve never heard a bad word about him. He’s a good husband and father by most accounts. He’s very likeable. What’s the dish on this guy?
Yes, the rumor is that he is gay. And that there was a man who came forward as his lover, but that it was hushed up. I’m not sure when that was supposed to have occurred. Also, there are rumors that his marriage to Kelly Preston was arranged by the Scientologists are part of that hushing up business (she is also a Scientologist).
A few years ago there was a man named Michael Pattison who sued the Church of Scientology for charging him for a program to cure him of gayness, to the tune of several hundred thousand dollars and several years (ten maybe? It was a long time). He sued them because (surprise surprise) it didn’t work. He claims they held up Travolta as an example of someone who was cured of gayness by the church. I haven’t been able to find any recent info on that case though. I think it was filed in 98, and the most recent mention I can find is from 2000. Who knows what happened? It would be interesting to find out.
There are also persistant rumors that both Cruise and Travolta have tried a time or two to leave the CoS, but were drawn back in. They are held up as such sterling examples of Scientology’s superior techniques for success in life, I seriously doubt they’ll ever get away. They are far too valuable.
Okay that’s my contribution to celebrity gossip for the day! Hope it was useful.
According to this missive from someone purporting to be Michael Pattinson, the suit was dismissed without prejudice. The post is dated July 31, 2001. I couldn’t find anything newer.
The Washington Post, I believe, ran a story on him a few years back, revealing that his reputation as a pilot isn’t terribly impressive. Those in the Know called him inattentive, sloppy, and error-prone. Apparently, he nearly killed himself and everyone else on board during one particularly bumbling near-accident.
Thanks, Otto! I just knew a Doper would come through!
It looks like the usual tactics of Scientology worked on getting the lawsuit removed from due process.
It would have been nice if it could have gone through. Both for the fight against big scary corporations masquerading as religions and for the fight against the supposed ability to cure people of gayness.
The gayness rumor has been around since the 70s- it’s just in recent years that names have been attached to them.
The BATTLEFIELD EARTH sequel btw has been discussed by Travolta, as I think the movie only covered the first half of the book. He’s been quoted as saying something like “BE will find its audience when the second movie comes out.”