Does John Travolta abuse his autistic son?
Categories: Development, Celeb Kids, Celeb Parenting, Rumors, In The News
Maybe he just couldn't handle the utter awesomeness of not only getting to meet Olivia Newton-John, but of getting to play her love interest (including getting to kiss her!) in Grease, and that's why John Travolta turned to dianetics. Me, I could handle it. (Just in case, you know, ONJ is reading this.) Whatever the reason, though, he and wife Kelly are indeed scientologists.It is also rumoured that their teenage son Jett is autistic. Now, the parents of a 4-year-old autistic girl want child protective services to investigate the Travoltas for what they claim is abuse. The Kennys, who run a Florida restaurant where John Travolta and his daughter once dined, say that the Travoltas "let Jett sit in front of video games all day eating junk food, while they eat the best organic food money can buy. They exclude Jett from all social events because they are embarrassed."
I have to admit, I don't think much of scientology. And, some of their adherents can be pretty wacky (yes, I mean you, Tom!). Still, I'm not sure how the Kenny family knows what's going on in the Travolta household or that it's any business of theirs whether the Travolta family chooses to make their son into a poster child or deal with his autism privately.
Mind you, if a child of mine was autistic, I'd be doing everything I could for them and, with Travolta's money, that would certainly be a lot. But I can certainly understand wanting to avoid exploiting him, even if it were for a good cause. What do you think? Is it possible that the Travoltas are mistreating their son? Should they be expected to do more to help with things like fundraising and publicity? Or, should they be allowed their privacy? Should their treatment of their son be investigated and, if the allegations are true, does letting a child play video games and eat junk food constitute child abuse?
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Jessica 5-11-2007 @ 11:17AM
I do not believe he should be *expected* to do publicity and fundraising. It is his choice. Expectation of that seems ridiculous to me.
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Ally 5-11-2007 @ 11:29AM
Scientologists don't belive that autism is real, or really any mental disorder/illness, etc. for that matter. I would almost err on the side that they ARE abusive, in that they refuse to acknowledge that autism can and should be treated as much as possible to ensure a happy, healthy life for their child. That being said, I don't know if Jett was every diagnosed as autistic, I just know that it's been rumored that way for years and that the Travolta's are strict Scientologists, which doesn't allow for acknowledgment of autism as real.
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ang 5-12-2007 @ 3:01PM
Sometimes it is better to leave the autistic child at home than to put him through the rigors of a social event. And when I was a teenager, all I wanted to eat was donuts, milkshakes and pork rinds. I'd err on the side giving those rumors little weight. And it's certainly the Travoltas perogative to support whatever charity they deem fit. I wouldn't want people telling me how I should spend my belevolent money.
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Jeff Ritze 5-11-2007 @ 12:37PM
THIS is the kind of Hollywood Gossip that means something and has real implications. Great work to you and Mark Ebner.
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Julia 5-11-2007 @ 4:59PM
Sounds like a lot of speculation. IF their son is autistic, it is up to them how to handle it. There are parents who have their child go through every type of therapy and try every type of "snake oil" out there in the hope of curing their child, and others who for whatever reason do nothing. I am inclined with my daughter to be in the middle of those two, but I wouldn't judge another family for not talking about it or for not treating their autistic child. Who is to say that they are not. It sounds as if this person (maybe) saw one example of them as a family. Some autistic children will ONLY eat certain foods, and maybe he will only eat junk food, and maybe the only way to keep him from running around or screaming was to have him play the video games, who knows and who cares. The few times I have seen John Travolta on talk shows he always talks about both of his children with love. He doesn't have to disclose his child's autism to the world.
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bremarie03 5-13-2007 @ 4:56PM
I don't think the major complaint is that aren't making him a poster child for autism, but that they aren't treating him for his autism at all. Scientology doesn't recognize autism, (one reason being because there isn't "a test" for it) so the Travoltas claim he has Kawasaki syndrome (which, incidentally, there also isn't a test for) caused by carpet cleaning chemicals.
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Gayle 5-15-2007 @ 6:00PM
I think that they shouldn't by any means have to feel obligated to be a face for Autism Awareness.
I don't think that it is abuse if they allow him to watch tv and eat junk food, I do think that they should be doing better to help their son and tv and junk food are not the way to do it. I would hope that they are finding the best care for their son if he is indeed autistic. Because they could not believe in the label Autism and still get him the best care that is out there.
Hey if I had their money, gee my autistic son would be soooo nuerotypical now with all that I could give him. And i would still do that without plastering his face all over the world.
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Shannon 5-16-2007 @ 7:28PM
I know for a fact that their son is Autistic. I am acquaintances with a father of another Autistic boy who knows the Travoltas. I gathered, from what he said, that they are fighting for their son, trying to find a cure, etc. but they're doing it privately.
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Josh 5-21-2007 @ 3:42PM
If you do not conform you are not trusted and are put under the microscope of mediocrity. This family is happy prosperous and talented. Their choices have served them well. Normal is not all it is cracked up to be...Someone whom harms themselves or others needs help. This is the basis that intervention's line should be drawn. Not everyone born different needs to be forced into 'normality.' My down's syndrone brother is the most perfect person I know. He could have been redesigned but he has mostly been cared for and honored as a human being and is perfect...not what we cal 'normal' though.
Lastly we want to prescribe a spending budget for others to deem them good or bad for our approval???????
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