New York, NY – March 23, 2025 – Joe Gatto, a former star of the hit TruTV show Impractical Jokers, has publicly addressed a serious accusation of sexual assault made by a TikTok user, denying the claims while acknowledging his own missteps. The controversy erupted after a woman, identified as Joozyb on TikTok, posted a video on March 20, alleging that Gatto assaulted her in September 2023 following a comedy show in Milwaukee. The accusation quickly gained traction online, prompting Gatto to respond through a statement shared with Entertainment Weekly and reported on X by @EW at 18:06 UTC on March 23.
Former ‘Impractical Jokers’ star Joe Gatto has denied a TikToker’s allegation that the comedian sexually assaulted her in 2023, but he admits to ‘poor judgment.’ https://t.co/p0hJtpfXzY
— Entertainment Weekly (@EW) March 23, 2025
In her video, Joozyb, who was 19 at the time of the alleged incident, detailed how she attended Gatto’s show alone, took a photo with him, and later received text messages from the comedian while in an inebriated state. She claimed Gatto instructed her to come to his hotel, where she was escorted to his room, leading to the alleged assault. The TikToker noted she had been sharing her story for over a year, but its sudden viral spread caught her off guard.
Gatto, 48, who left Impractical Jokers in 2021 after a decade with the comedy troupe The Tenderloins, issued a heartfelt denial. “I have used poor judgment and, as a result, have violated the trust of the people I love most,” he admitted in his statement to Entertainment Weekly. However, he firmly denied the assault allegations, stating to Page Six that while he may have made mistakes, he would “never assault anyone.” The comedian, who starred in 244 episodes of the hidden-camera series alongside Sal Vulcano, James Murray, and Brian Quinn, also appeared in Impractical Jokers: The Movie before his departure.
The allegations have sparked a wave of reactions online, with some fans expressing support for Joozyb, while others stand by Gatto, citing his long career in comedy. Resources for sexual assault survivors, including RAINN’s National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800-656-HOPE (4673), have been shared widely in response to the story. As the situation unfolds, Gatto’s admission of “poor judgment” leaves many questioning the full scope of the incident, with no legal actions confirmed at this time.
