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Thursday, March 28, 2024 | Back issues
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Travolta Faces Third|Claim of Gay Sex Assault

LOS ANGELES (CN) - A former cruise line worker is the latest man to accuse actor John Travolta of sexual assault, filing a federal complaint on the heels of similar claims from male masseurs last month.

Travolta's camp has vehemently denied the allegations against the actor since the first masseur filed suit anonymously in May.

Shortly after a second masseur joined that case, the first plaintiff admitted that he had gotten the dates of the alleged attack wrong, and attorney Okorie Okorocha dropped him from the complaint.

Famed civil rights attorney Gloria Allred has since signed on to represent the first plaintiff, known in the case as John Doe No. 1.

Last month, a Chilean man told reporters that Royal Caribbean Cruise fired him after Travolta allegedly tried to have sex with him on a June 2009 voyage.

Fabian Zanzi sued Travolta over the alleged incident Thursday, but does not name Royal Caribbean as a defendant.

The 58-year old "Pulp Fiction" star allegedly took the offensive when Zanzi delivered a meal to the Travolta suite on the afternoon of June 9, 2009.

Zanzi says he delivered the meal, but that Travolta asked for more food. When Zanzi returned, Travolta was dressed in a bath robe and complained of discomfort in his neck, according to the complaint.

The actor then "solicited physical contact" from Zanzi, pleading with him to touch his neck, the complaint states.

Zanzi claims that he thought Travolta was complaining about a label tag on his bathrobe and reached to touch him, at which point the actor allegedly took off his bathrobe "exposing his erect penis to plaintiff."

"After disrobing in front, and close proximity, of plaintiff, defendant Travolta proceeded to forcefully embrace plaintiff," the complaint states. "Defendant Travolta forced his naked person and his erect penis against plaintiff's person causing plaintiff to experience pain, shock, embarrassment, distress, and fear."

"Defendant Travolta stated to plaintiff that he was beautiful and asked plaintiff to 'take me, I will take care of you, please.'" (Italics in original.)

Zanzi says he asked the actor to release him so that he could return to work.

"Defendant Travolta maintained a hard and painful grasp on plaintiff's hands," the complaint states. "Defendant Travolta continued pressing his erect penis against plaintiff's person."

Travolta also allegedly offered Zanzi $12,000 in exchange for the worker's "discretion and silence," and asked him to pick up the money later that night.

Zanzi says he immediately reported what had happened to three of his superiors, but that they would not let him mention nudity or sexual contact in a written report.

A human resources manager made Zanzi write the report in English, though Spanish is his native language, and "further advised plaintiff that he may be fired," according to the complaint.

Cruise line workers then "restrained" Zanzi in a segregated room for five days until Travolta left the ship, telling Zanzi that he was on indefinite sick leave, the complaint states.

Zanzi says he had to file a demand with the American Arbitration Association because Royal Caribbean Cruise did nothing to resolve his claims.

He seeks punitive damages for emotional distress and assault and battery. Sarah Golden with Golden & Timbol of Costa Mesa, Calif., represents Zanzi.

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