Settlement Reached In Travolta Family ID Theft
Travolta Family Entertainment announces that it has reached a settlement with twelve individuals claiming responsibility for a series of Internet pranks focused on Travolta family member Rikki Lee Travolta, which took place between 1996 and 2007.
Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA (1888PressRelease) June 26, 2007 - Travolta Family Entertainment announces that it has reached a settlement with twelve individuals claiming responsibility for a series of Internet pranks focused on Travolta family member Rikki Lee Travolta, which took place between 1996 and 2007.
Similar to the Internet-spread Chuck Norris jokes that have spread rabidly in recent years, the perpetrators of the Travolta pranks utilized the World Wide Web to start a series of random rumors about the actor. The perpetrators range in location from the United States, Canada, Japan, and the United Kingdom.
In 2002, the perpetrators successfully convinced the New York Post to run an article alleging Rikki Lee Travolta was a Computer Generated Image (CGI) creation of George Lucas and Steven Spielberg. Other rumors started by the perpetrators include that Travolta turned down the role of James Bond; that Travolta is really a banker/karaoke singer from Phoenix, a community theater actor from Portland, OR, a female, and a Club DJ from Canada; that Travolta is 10 years younger than his real age (31); that Travolta was set to be a cast member on the reality series "The Surreal Life"; that Travolta would star on film in "Grease 3"; and that Travolta had been signed to play the comic book character Thor in a film of the same name.
In actuality Travolta has stayed away from Hollywood for the past several years outside of a few cameo film roles, raising his 2 year old son as a single father, publishing his first fiction novel, "My Fractured Life" in 2002 and supervising a re-issue in 2004. His first novel was named an Amazon Top 10 recommendation. A second novel. "Messy Jesse and Big Daddy Cool", is in the works. Travolta continues to appear throughout the U.S. on stage in the title role in "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" for which he shares Top Three world wide popularity ranking with Donny Osmond and Patrick Cassidy based on ticket sales and marquee name value. In 2003 he became the first member of the Travolta family to appear as Danny Zuko in "Grease" when he guest starred in four performances to raise money to fund fine arts programs for the underprivileged. He was the first celebrity guest star in the "Tony n' Tina's Wedding" stage franchise, reviving ticket sales with appearances around the U.S. and Canada.
During the period the perpetrators spread their Internet rumors, Travolta was also the victim of Identity Theft. The settlement does not affect civil suit or criminal charges that may be facing those responsible for the ID theft.
As a part of the settlement, the perpetrators will pay for the hosting of an Internet domain by September 2007 and be responsible for ensuring that it contains accurate content on the stage actor. A stipulation prevents any perpetrator to publicly or personally discuss their actions or in any other way seek profit from their deeds. Full terms of the settlement are not being revealed at this time.
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With thanks to 'dan.'
