Joe Gatto, the comedian best known for his decade-long run on TruTV’s Impractical Jokers, is facing fresh accusations of inappropriate behavior, this time from a former employee. The claims, detailed in a People report, follow closely on the heels of a TikTok user’s allegations of sexual assault against Gatto, which he has denied. Now, a second woman—who worked for the comedian during his time on the hit prank show—has come forward, alleging a pattern of unwanted conduct she describes as sexual harassment.
The former employee, speaking anonymously to People, claims Gatto’s behavior toward her shifted after she turned 18. Hired in August 2019 shortly after graduating college, she says the comedian became flirtatious and physically inappropriate, including grabbing her and requesting back massages. She recounts a specific incident during a work trip where Gatto allegedly grabbed her upper thigh in a hotel elevator. When she pulled away, she says he acknowledged her discomfort, remarking that he “knew” he’d make her uneasy during the trip.
The woman also alleges Gatto made frequent comments about bringing women to his office—a two-bedroom apartment—via a freight elevator to bypass the building’s lobby. She says these remarks took on new weight after a TikTok user, known as joozyb, recently accused Gatto of giving her similar instructions to discreetly access his hotel room in September 2023. The former employee says she was warned about Gatto before starting the job, with a predecessor advising her that he could be “flirty and handsy” and urging her to “shut it down immediately” if he crossed a line.
Gatto’s representative declined to comment directly on the new allegations, instead pointing People to a statement the comedian issued in response to the initial TikTok claims. “I have used poor judgment and as a result have violated the trust of the people I love most,” Gatto said at the time. “But anyone who knows me at all knows full well that I wouldn’t assault anyone.” He emphasized his intent to step back from the spotlight to focus on personal growth.
The first accusation surfaced days ago when the TikTok user alleged that Gatto assaulted her after a comedy show in Milwaukee in September 2023, when she was 19. She claimed they exchanged Instagram messages before he invited her to his hotel room, where the alleged assault occurred. Accompanying her posts were screenshots of their purported conversations and a photo of a bruised buttock she attributed to Gatto. “Yes, he did S.A. me,” she stated in her videos, adding, “Yes, he had just gotten back together with his wife.”
Gatto, now 48, exited Impractical Jokers in December 2021, citing “issues in my personal life” amid his separation from wife Bessy Gatto, with whom he shares two children. The couple reconciled in 2023, the same year the alleged TikTok incident took place. Since leaving the show, Gatto has pivoted to stand-up, releasing a 2024 special, Messing with People, as he worked to rebuild his career post-Jokers.
These dual allegations mark a sharp turn for Gatto, whose everyman charm and quick wit made him a fan favorite on Impractical Jokers, a hidden-camera series that became a cultural juggernaut over its 10-season run. His 2021 departure stunned viewers, and while he’s maintained a lower profile since, the comedian has stayed active in comedy circles—until now, when these claims threaten to cast a long shadow over his legacy.
No criminal charges have been filed against Gatto, and the allegations remain unproven. Still, the accounts from both women have ignited broader discussions about power imbalances in entertainment, particularly between high-profile figures and those in their orbit, whether fans or staff.
As the story unfolds, Gatto appears to be keeping a low profile, leaving fans and observers alike waiting to see how—or if—he’ll address this latest chapter in his public life.
