HOLLYWOOD - NOVEMBER 09: Actor John Travolta arrives at the premiere of Walt Disney Pictures' 'Old Dogs' at the El Capitan Theatre on November 9, 2009 in Hollywood, California.
Jason Merritt/Getty ImagesThe anonymous masseur who sued John Travolta for sexual battery and intentional infliction of emotional distress has withdrawn his claims. On Tuesday, the “John Doe” formally filed a notice of dismissal.
The $2 million lawsuit was filed on May 4 with salacious details about how Travolta had allegedly touched a man inappropriately and propositioned him during a massage session. Others have since come forward with allegations against the star, prompting Travolta attorney Marty Singer to go on the offensive with promises to sue the accusers and their attorneys for malicious prosecution.
The original complaint was soon amended to detail a second masseur with similar claims, and then a third accuser, a Royal Caribbean cruise line employee, made claims about being offered $12,000 for sex in 2009.
But the first case quickly unraveled after Travolta’s legal team produced evidence, including pictures, that apparently showed he actor wasn’t in Los Angeles at the time of the alleged event. The accuser later changed his story, claiming he was wrong about the date of the incident but not the underlying facts. Then the first accuser split from his attorney. The third accuser was confronted with a leaked cruise ship incident report that portrayed what happened as being a request for a massage and nothing overtly sexual.
Meanwhile, Travolta’s Singer continues to be adamant that the allegations have been cooked and the accusers’ attorney, Okorie Okorocha, shares much blame.
Singer wasn’t available for comment on whether he intends to still pursue the first accuser for malicious prosecution now that the claim has been dropped. For now, the lawsuit from the second accuser survives as the actor continues to deal with a media frenzy.
Email: Eriq.Gardner@thr.com
Twitter: @EriqGardner
