The man who claims he had a six-year love affair and “gentle but very passionate” sex with John Travolta in the ’80s is hitting back at reports that suggest he’s suing his alleged former lover for money, claiming he’s seeking a “non-monetary” judgement in the case.
64-year-old Doug Gotterba is alleging in the suit that he and Travolta shared an intimate relationship for six years until 1987, when he was fired from his piloting job at Travolta’s aircraft company Alto.
In July, Gotterba filed the suit against Travolta in response to several cease and desist letters the actor sent him regarding a book Gotterba is writing, which purports to reveal “intimate details” of their affair.
The suit itself is not about money on a surface level, but rather an argument over the validity of a confidentiality agreement Gotterba signed upon his discharge from Alto. Travolta’s reps claim that details in the book would violate the agreement; Gotterba claims he never even signed it.
Speaking for the first time about the accusations since July, Travolta told The Daily Beast this week that they’re “just about people wanting money.” “This is every celebrity’s achilles heel,” he said, adding that “it happens on many levels.”
In an interview with the Daily Mail yesterday, Gotterba responds to his alleged former lover:
What John Travolta said about me in a recent interview is an inaccurate description of what our court case is about.
Our dispute is purely about declaratory relief and will be a non-monetary judgement. This is about the truth and my right for a court to decide who is telling the truth, not for Mr Travolta to make a judgement.
But that’s BS, says the DM, which has learned that Gotterba asked for a settlement and would most likely agree not to publish his book for a cool $10 million.
These ladies will continue fighting their battle in California court, but until a judgement is reached, we’ll have to settle for imagining John Travolta making “gentle but very passionate” gay love instead of reading it.
Bauhaus
@ Queerty Editor:
These ladies will continue fighting their battle… Ladies?
Uh, both are men.
Would you call two lesbians, dudes?
Lvng1tor
I find “tell all” books to be low class and the people who write them to be trash. If this $10m blackmail is true then the guy is disgusting beyond belief. Is his name Gotterba or Gutter?
Masc Pride
Just imagine all the PrEP 10 milli could buy! Maybe a whole 3 years worth? haha
@Bauhaus: That’s what gay guys call other gay guys they don’t like….but then turn around and pitch a “stop the bigotry” fit if someone uses gay as an insult.
Milk
John have no qualms about protecting his closet by any means. Since he think that outing could cause major damage to his earning ability. I say the $10 million out of court settlement is befitting. The only kind of language John understand anyway.
odawg
YAWN! Another story about this closet case is so unnecessary.
Alan down in Florida
This may be very shallow of me but while I realize this “took place” 25-30 years ago, unless Mr. Gotterba had seriously let himself go by the time of that photo I can’t imagine Mr. Travolta would have spent the night much less 6 years with him. Just imagine the starfukkers [sic] waiting in line for Johnnie Boy and this was what he chose? Very odd indeed.
Black Swan
It would make sense though timewise. John seemed to disappear after being the biggest thing since sliced toast until he reappeared in “Look Who’s Talking”, and the last time before that when we really saw him was in “Staying Alive”. And he did look positively early eighties scrumptious in that movie. I wouldn’t be surprised if he used that movie as a little enticement to the fellas. But then even the relationship he had with Sylvester Stallone as his personal trainer during the making of that movie sounded positively gay.
I care about John — he was my first movie crush, but Gotterba referring to his “former lover” mockingly in third person as Mr. Travolta? I love the drama. I understand why “Ladies” was appropriate.
NG22
Travolta won’t come out. Whatever. He’s a coward. I don’t really care anymore.
But how can Kelly Preston walk into a room with her head held high? How is she not embarrassed that EVERYBODY knows her husband blows more guys than she does? There’s more to life than money, lifestyle, and social prestige. But I guess that’s her business. Maybe he’s bi — not gay — and they have an open marriage. Maybe it all works for her. Maybe she’s fulfilled.
A reminder that Travolta was handsome once upon a time. And his ‘lover’ really was not. A true dog.
Bobby Christina Crawford
Travolta falls into that category of people who deserve to be outed. He is clearly fucked up on Scientology uses that as an excuse to keep the closet closed.
Where Travolta is fucking up is by his continual demeaning of the EX. There must be something there or the Travolta power machine would have sued this guy into a corner he could never come out of.
Saint Law
@Masc Pride: “Haha”.
It’s just as well you supply your own laughs.
wpewen
Travolta, if he’s gay, reminds me of Jodie Foster-seems very selfish. Uber wealthy, not friendly. I’m 56 and watched Travolta since Kotter-something about him was a turn-off. If you get into Scientology, sorry, you are fucked up, on a certain level to be pitied. But, like Tom Cruise, these people have tons of money and don’t really do much in the entertainment community for the common good. Their sex orientation is really their own business. Lots of folks really can not come out, demanding it is generally uncool. My first work was a wholesale nurseryman, I’ve hung with blue collar gay men and most can probably never come out very easily. And it’s not always necessary. Being a good person is.
Xzamilio
@Alan down in Florida: may be shallow?
Xzamilio
@Saint Law: Boy, you really have a hard-on for Masc Pride, don’t you?
Mike
I wish someone would pay me $10Million to be quiet
Leonard Woodrow
Blackmail by any other name is still blackmail, and Gotterba should be jailed for it.
Stefano
@Xzamilio : and you have a crush on Masc Pride, don’t you?
gskorich
asking for money lessens the case. the guy is persistent though, he has been at this for years. go to travoltas attorneys an tell them you will tell the press travolta has a small dick. lol that should get you a few dollars to keep quiet
Billy Budd
He should call a press meeting and tell if Travolta is a top, bottom, or versatile.
Xzamilio
@Stefano: I don’t “crush” on anonymous strangers on the internet, nor do I follow them, replying to everything they say, like I see with your boy Saint Law… now you may crush on faces and words on a computer screen, but I value myself a little more than that… but do you, babe 🙂
Cam
@Billy Budd:
Bottom, my guess would be a lazy bottom.