Former “Impractical Jokers” star Joe Gatto said he exercised “poor judgment” but denied a TikTok user’s claims of sexual assault.

The comedian, 48, responded Sunday after a TikToker known as joozyb alleged in a series of viral videos that Gatto sexually assaulted her in 2023, when she was 19.

“I have used poor judgment and as a result have violated the trust of the people I love most,” Gatto said in a statement provided to USA TODAY on Sunday. “But anyone who knows me at all knows full well that I wouldn’t assault anyone.”

Gatto, who held a standup show in Cincinnati on March 15 just days before the allegations surfaced, said he is “going to take some time away from the public eye,” casting doubt on his remaining tour dates.

Here’s what we know.

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Joe Gatto allegations: TikTok user alleged she was sexually assaulted

The 48-year-old’s response came after TikTok user joozyb alleged, “I got sexually assaulted by Joe Gatto.” In a 10-minute clip posted Friday, she said she met the comedian after running into him while at brunch, where she said he invited her to see his comedy show that night in Milwaukee.

After the performance, the TikTok user alleged she went to see Gatto at his hotel. “I don’t want to go into the details about everything,” she said, but added that she doesn’t “want any girl to feel” the way he made her feel.

The user shared multiple photos of herself with the comic and screenshots of alleged messages with him, including one that appeared to show instructions on how to get to a hotel room. The woman also posted a photo showing her with a large bruise on her bottom, which she claimed he left “with his teeth.” A video that the user said she took after leaving the hotel room appeared to have a time stamp of 2:26 in the morning on Sept. 9, 2023.

In a separate TikTok video, the woman pushed back on comments expressing doubt about her story. “I’m sorry if you don’t want to believe it, but the people you idolize are not always going to be good,” she said.

USA TODAY, The Enquirer’s sister site, reached out to the TikTok user for comment.

A second woman came forward about alleged inappropriate behavior from Gatto

Just days after the first woman accused Gatto on TikTok, a former employee of Gatto also came forward in an exclusive interview with People magazine, alleging the comedian displayed inappropriate behavior during the time she worked for him.

The Enquirer reached out to Gatto’s representation for comment regarding the second allegation.

The future of Joe Gatto’s 2025 Let’s Get Into It tour

To USA TODAY, Gatto said, “Working on myself is an ongoing process, and I am now going to take some time away from the public eye to focus my energies where I need to.”

The comedian’s statement casts doubt on the rest of his 38-city Let’s Get Into It tour, but there has been no official announcement on whether it is canceled. The Enquirer reached out to Gatto’s representation for further insight.

According to this website, his next show is slated for Thursday in San Antonio, Texas. His most recent show was March 15 at Cincinnati’s Taft Theatre, meaning it would be the last of his Let’s Get Into It shows if his tour is canceled.

Why did Joe Gatto leave ‘Impractical Jokers’?

Gatto starred on “Impractical Jokers” for nine seasons before leaving the popular hidden camera show in 2021. He said at the time that he would step away “due to some issues in my personal life” amid his separation from his wife, Bessy. 

The two later reconciled with Gatto sharing an anniversary post in September 2023, the same month as the alleged incident with the TikToker.

“Thanks for this decade,” he wrote on Instagram. “And I’m happy and hopeful that we will be able to get a few more in because we have proven with compassion, forgiveness and an open heart we can do this. Together.”

In an October 2022 interview with The Enquirer, Gatto said life after “Impractical Jokers” had been “a rollercoaster, for sure. I take it day by day. Things went from bad, to not bad, to OK, to good and now I’m working on my way to great. But you know, you’ve got to focus on different things and find a reason to laugh.”