John Travolta strikes back against cruise ship worker who accused him of sexual assault.
As Mail Online previously reported, Zanzi made his shocking claims in May, alleging the incident occurred when he worked as a room service operator for Royal Caribbean International in 2009 and made a delivery to the actor’s stateroom.
He was among a steady stream of men to step forward earlier this year with accusations against the star including three masseurs and a gym employee.
According to the papers obtained by TMZ; Travolta admitted to being on the 2009 cruise but he denied all of Zanzi’s claims of misconduct.
Zanzi previously described his alleged encounter with Travolta in a graphic, 16-page lawsuit, which said Travolta forced him to engage in contact that was “nonconsensual, inappropriate, extreme and outrageous,” when he was supposedly appointed as Travolta’s personal suite attendant on a cruise.
Zanzi claimed the actor asked for a neck massage, and that when he reached over to comply the 58-year-old actor dropped his robe and exposed his erect penis.
The Chilean-born worker, who is suing for unspecified damages, says he resisted, and then Travolta offered him $12k to keep silent.
It emerged Zanzi he never mentioned many of the details when he went to cruise ship management to complain, and he now claims they refused to allow him to write any details regarding nudity or sexual contact.
In court documents filed on Friday by powerful Los Angeles lawyer Marty Singer, Travolta requested the lawsuit by former Royal Caribbean employee Fabian Zanzi be dismissed and that Zanzi pay for legal fees.
And Mr Travolta’s lawyer Marty Singer drew attention to this in a strongly worded statement.
He said: ‘This is another ludicrous lawsuit with inane claims. It is obvious that Mr. Zanzi and his lawyers are looking for their 15 minutes of fame.
‘The lawsuit’s ridiculous claims are completely contradicted by what Mr. Zanzi told his employer back in 2009 when he was being disciplined for his own violations of company policy.
‘In his handwritten report three years ago, the only physical contact he claimed occurred was allegedly touching my client’s neck.
‘The inappropriate conduct he alleges in his lawsuit is absent from his written report he submitted at the time. That glaring omission speaks volumes.
‘Also calling his credibility into question is his dubious allegation that his employer supposedly restrained him in a room on the cruise ship for five days, yet after that supposedly occurred, Mr. Zanzi continued to work for Royal Caribbean for years, on multiple ships.
‘Now, after waiting three years, and after getting paid to tell his story to the media, Mr. Zanzi has filed this absurd lawsuit.
‘We are confident that my client will prevail on the merits and that he will be completely vindicated in court.’
