John Travolta’s having a little renaissance at the moment. The 64-year-old actor was in Cannes, France recently to promote his latest film, Gotti, as well as celebrate the 40th anniversary of Grease.
The Daily Beast thought it would be an excellent time to speak with three ex-Scientologists with close connections to Travolta about–well, what do ya think?!–those omnipresent gay rumors, among other things…
Mike Rinder is the former top spokesman for the Church of Scientology and one of its main “enforcers.” During his time with the church, he says he got to know both Travolta and his wife, Kelly Preston, well and that he “liked” both of them.
“Kelly is a much more dedicated Scientologist than John,” Rinder claims. “Scientology dictates every choice in life and informs every decision a Scientologist makes.”
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As for those gay rumors that have followed Travolta since, well, forever, Rinder has this to say: “I cannot say if he is gay or not. I’m not going to speculate. All I know is it would be a catastrophe if he or anyone else in Scientology came out as gay. You can’t. The church is anti-gay even if they don’t publicize it.”
Related: New Scientology Documentary ‘Going Clear’ Outs John Travolta. Again.
Karen de la Carriere used to be one of Scientology’s most powerful executives before leaving the cult. She first met Travolta when he joined back in 1986 and describes him as “a bad boy who likes risky sexual adventures.” Meanwhile, Preston is “either deluded or more likely just deaf to the whole thing.”
“Kelly’s been trained to not believe what she hears in the media. She’s been trained to think that these are evil people making things up.”
De la Carriere’s husband and another ex-Scientologist, Jeffrey Augustine, concurs.
“Kelly is a true believer,” he says. “John loves aviation more than Hollywood but because of Kelly he’d never leave Scientology.”
Augustine continues, “He loves his family. He’s just got a dark side and he’s reckless. But he really has no reason to want to leave the church. People at his level never see the ugly side of the church. Plus he’s got OSA [Scientology’s Office of Special Affairs] as his own private Mafia if he gets into trouble.”
A spokesperson for Scientology said it does not comment on individual Scientologists and that its website has no listed policy or “stance” against homosexuality. Meanwhile, Travolta declined to comment on the story.
In 2014, the actor granted a rare interview about the gay rumors he can’t seem to escape and allegations he had a gay relationship with his former pilot, telling The Daily Beast:
This is every celebrity’s Achilles heel. It’s just about people wanting money. That’s all. It happens on many levels. I don’t care that much about it. Other people may attack it back more than I do, but I let all the media stuff go a long time ago because I can’t control it. I think that’s why it persists, to some degree.
Related: John Travolta Grants Rare Interview On Gay Sex Allegations
Hussain-TheCanadian
Personally I don’t care what religion, cult, group, or political affiliation John Travolta belongs to, I like him for his films, hes a great actor and he seems like a really nice guy when giving interviews.
It seems to me John is not liked, respected, or even desired by the dictator of Scientology one David Mascavige; it makes sense that hes still in Scientology because of his wife; it doesnt seem to me that Scientology has stopped him from having sex with men.
Is he gay? I think so.
Kangol
If John Travolta is gay and DL, that’s his business and between him and his wife, but if he’s engaging in sexual assaults, that’s another issue altogether, and probably should be investigated by the authorities.
From all I can tell, Scientology, despite the statement above about is website, does not seem to be gay-friendly or trans-friendly at all. But again, that’s based on observation and is not meant to be a definitive assessment.
QueerTruth
Honestly… Who cares anymore? This rumor/story is 20+ years old.
Scientology and Travolta are no longer relevant. Neither works.
Greg
Where did it say anything about Travolta engaging in sexual assaults? Why are you being careful about what you say about Scientology, but with Travolta, you advise getting the authorities to investigate something that wasn’t even part of the article?
Frank
He said IF John committed assualts
Kangol
@Greg, in the original Daily Beast article, not Queerty’s shaky version, it says this:
As the Travoltas take Cannes, it’s hard to remember that they’re two of the most powerful and loyal Scientologists in the world. Or that as a couple they’ve managed to dodge, or “handle,” in Scientology parlance, years of accusations from male masseurs and his former co-pilot, among others, of sexual assault and harassment against Travolta.
That’s why I wrote what I did. Reading is fundamental.
Aires the Ram
So if I, or anyone else, “says”, yes, just “says”, that someone ought to be “investigated” (read-life ruined) for sexual assault, they actually should be? That’s pure and utter but*s&%t. This has to stop.
Unless you got proof that you were personally ‘assaulted sexually’ by somebody, quit throwing around accusations like this against people whom you just don’t ‘like’.
Chrisk
I just don’t get it. A failed Science Fiction writer that used the very same Fiction to come up with Scientology. Although I have to say I did like the movie Battlefield Earth.
Hussain-TheCanadian
Seriously Chris you liked that travesty of a movie? You’re trolling 😉
radiooutmike
I hope you liked it for it’s unintended campiness!
Foolish Man-animals!
Donston
There is not a single openly gay Scientology member in Hollywood. And tons of ex members have said that the church is anti-gay. So, there’s no way around that.
No one who has spoken has any real idea of Travolta’s sex life or the dimensions of his attractions, desires, passions, romantic satisfaction, etc or at least they’re not coming foward. He does seem like a kinda head-case-y dude who might get off living in a glass closet. Ultimately, the dude is married to a woman and is in his sixties. He’s not going to any pride parade any time soon. I’ve been over it. And he honestly seems like another Kevin Spacey as far as getting off on being subversive, secretive and a megalomaniac.
Brian
We definitely know what John is into. He likes cruising gyms and spas, and he likes hitting on masseurs.
Billy Budd
EVERY scientologist, including Tom Cruise and Travolta, is a nut case. This is even more important than the fact that both of them are gay. They are insane. Travolta’s son DIED because he would not give him psychiatric drugs to prevent seisures. He killed his own son.
MaxH
Psychiatric drugs don’t prevent seizures, and in fact, according to some research, psychotropic drugs can actually lower the seizure threshold and increase the likelihood of having an epileptic fit.
Jett Travolta died from an epileptic fit most likely caused by Kawasaki disease. Scientology wasn’t to blame for that.
I do remember something about Jett apparently being autistic and the Travolta’s refusing to publicly admit it.
Billy Budd
DEPAKOTE.
Billy Budd
AKA Convulex.
simulations
I was on meds for about 10 years for the express purpose of preventing seizures, which they did. I was weaned off the meds 4 years ago and have been seizure free since then. Meds work for controlling seizures.
Donston
That was a rumor and less substantiated than many rumors about Travolta. However, yes, the circumstances of his death were incredibly suspect. Whatever their sex lives are like or their inherent romantic and sexual preferences, it’s been apparent for quite a few years that both Travolta and Cruise are complete nutjobs, and I’m sure at least part of that has to do with their connection to the church. Gays should really want nothing to do with either.
alfy
Got a massage in Orlando once from a guy that massages him; he said it wasn’t sexual but he only wanted male massage in the middle of the night because he stays up all night and sleeps daytime. Another guy I know says he’s seen him at the bathhouse in Orlando. Who knows or cares if he’s closeted or not because it’s the Scientology part that is weird.
MaxH
Does anyone know why Queerty make it so ridiculously complicated to upload an avatar? There should be an option to click “upload profile pic”, not force people to sign up to some third rate website nobody has ever heard of.
Juanjo
I don’t care if the man is gay or not. He is a washed-up movie star who is irrelevant. He does not go around making vehemently anti-gay statements. That said, he was known to show up in certain bathhouses in the LA area. Rumors which were very specific as to date, time, location and who was with him and what they did. Back about 7 years ago or so, an attorney I know filed a lawsuit against him on behalf of a couple of male masseurs who did work on contract for reputable hotels. The basis of the lawsuit was Travolta groping the men. The lawsuit settled very quickly and had a very strong non-disclosure clause.
Mick406
Way back in 1975 (I think it was that year), as an employee of the ABC-TV network, I attended a premier gala in Hollywood for the new Fall lineup. “Happy Days” was making its debut that season. I sat at a table with Travolta, Ronnie Howard, Anson Williams, and the rest of the cast. We chatted while we ate. Travolta was mighty young at that time (and so was I). He never did anything outwardly to show he was gay. But let me just say this. And this is ONLY MY opinion. I got almost instant gaydar that he was homo.
I got the same feeling with Anson Williams (Potsy) . A year or so later he came to my city and we both co-hosted the March of Dimes telethon. We sang together and were on-air constantly for hours. I was with him for two days and he even came to my house to rest. I was single then. I got the vibes he could be homo too. But I think we were both so young and in the advent of our ‘TV careers we were too afraid to make any advances.
I will end this with I have no positive proof of either of them having gay tendencies, but I firmly believe that either could have been ‘had’, or if left long enough alone with them, they could have possibly made an effort to ‘had me’!
Eiswirth
A straight guy I used to work with was hit on by Travolta in a spa in Florida about 20 years ago; my co-worker had to be forceful in his insistence he wasn’t interested. That’s the only truth I know about Travolta’s sexual history. Really, though, who cares?
Donston
Although rumors of Spacey trying to get with teens and being aggressive with strangers have been around for years, there’s actually been far more expansive talk about Travolta’s aggressive, persistent, touchy tendencies with strangers. Thankfully, there’s been no flat-out assualt or sleeping with 14/15 year olds rumors. This is the troubling stuff about Travolta (along with the Scientology thing) not him chilling in a glass closet.
rand503
I don’t recall the details, but a friend of mine published a small magazine about horror movies. They knew personally of a lot of faded stars, one of which told them that she was in a touring musical with Travolta back in the day. She said that no one thought he would amount to anything, and then suddenly he landed “Stayin’ Alive.” She also said that he slept with all the boys on the tour.
I don’t recall the star, but it was a name we would all know from the 70s and 80s, and she was old enough by then not to care what anyone thought.
bill195463
I believe if you’re famous in whatever genre you should come out of the closet. You can help so many people that look up to you. The last good movie John did was Pulp Fiction. And I have no use for Tom Cruise because he won’t come out.
Donston
That’s easier said than done.
One of the reasons some people seek out fame or Hollywood is because of internal struggles. There are plenty of people who contend with convoluted/contradictory senses of self and instincts or damaged egos and have no idea what they want and can’t feel genuine satisfaction with anyone romantically, sexually and emotionally and are in constant “search mode”. Homophobia is alive and well, as is internalized homophobia. Hollywood has plenty of both. And there’s a ton of pressure to mold and calculate a persona when you are a public figure. Never mind the sheer amount of flat-out nutjobs and extreme megalomaniacs there are out there, and Cruise and Travolta definitely fit into both categories.
While being honest and not manipulating yourself and others is nice (especially if you’re over 50 and single like Cruise), on the other end, constantly looking for representation is lame and dangerous. It’s important to build up your own ego, confidence and sense of self independently. Also, that “representation” frequently disappoints. Once you’re past your teen years you should never be depending on others to give you affirmation, approval and praise.
Finally, I thought Primary Colors was pretty solid.
rand503
After Stayin Alive, Travolta’s career took a nose dive. He played mostly bit parts, lackluster movies, nothing really memorable. His career bounced back with Pulp Fiction, and he really ought to thank Tarentino for that. After that, he got paid a lot for a lot of high profile movies.
But yeah, lots of forgettable stuff. He’s not a good actor.
LilMesican
IMO: The ‘is he or isn’t he’ story that follows John Travolta is as tiring as the one that follows Tom Cruise and did Kevin Spacey… And we know how that story ended.
Is it jam or jelly, tomato or toma-toe, and I can’t believe it’s not butter… You know?!?!
At this point, after his long career, I hope he’s happy. I don’t think Kelly Preston is as oblivious as the article states. She’s doing well, why leave Fantasy Island?
Donston
I pretty much agree with this. People are going to live their lives the way they feel. And people are motivated by a ton of different things. The groping and harrassing rumors that have followed Travolta for years is the only thing I find disturbing. Who they’re fvcking with and whether or not there’s genuine romantic, sexual, emotional attraction, affection and satisfaction in their marriage is ultimately none of our business. The man is 60 years plus. So, who really even cares at this point? Also, yes, there’s no way kelly is oblivious to anything. This is Hollywood we’re talking about. Everyone in the industry knows what’s up with everyone else.
batesmotel
There has always been speculation about his sexual orientation as well as with Tom Cruise and Jeremy Renner, but there is physical evidence that is a blatantly obvious out there that even they could no longer deny it. This doesn’t mean they’re not gay or straight. Just saying there has yet to be firm evidence where the whole world has to now expect it. Jodie Foster’s orientation was always under speculation until she finally later in life thanked her love partner who was a woman for an award. Then people finally got over the speculation and whispering and moved on. Its hard to believe these actors would be part of a church that is so restricting on them when it’s their job as actors to be fluid. Besides I believe most actors are either bi or open to experimentation sexually. They’re actors and artists who tend to be open to most experiences anyway.
Donston
There’s actually been a few photos of him throughout the years making out with dudes as well as the man who sued him in a lawsuit that was settled out of court. So, there’s hardly no evidence and only speculation. Ultimately, no one knows the dimensions of Travolta’s orientation, his motivations or his exact behaviors. I really don’t care about Travolta’s sexual behavior or most of those freakshows in Hollywood. But let’s not pretend that the persistent, aggressive rumors that Travolta has faced equates to him being merely “open to experimentation”, especially the groping and harrassing stuff.