Joe Gatto, who owes his fame to his appearance on the popular TV show Impractical Jokers, announced his decision to leave the show via an Instagram post in 2021. This has left his fans in wild speculations, up to date, about his reason for leaving the show. So, why did Joe leave Impractical Jokers? Read along to find out.
Who is Joe Gatto?
Officially known as Joseph Anthony Gatto Jr, Joe is an American improvisation comedian, producer, and actor who was born on June 5, 1976.
Joe is of Italian descent and was born in the New York City Borough of Staten Island. He attended Monsignor Farrell High School and later proceeded to Liu Post where he bagged a degree in Accounting.
Quinn, Murray, and Vulcano of Impractical Jokers were his schoolmates at high school. Aside from acting, Joe also published the book: The Dogfather: My Love for Dogs, Dessert and Growing Up Italian.
He married Betty Gatto in 2013 and is the father of two kids: a son by the name of Remington, and a daughter, Milana. His filmography includes Clerks III, The Misery Index, and Impractical Jokers.
Who was Joe in Impractical Jokers?
Impractical Jokers is a hidden camera reality show centered around a foursome referred to as The Tenderloins (AKA jokers) who pulled embarrassing stunts on each other to the amusement of the audience.
Gatto was one of the four Jokers who starred consistently on the show for its first nine seasons. Other jokers who co-starred alongside him were Sal Vulcano, James Murray, and Brian Quinn.
Interestingly, Joe Gatto was the only joker who didn’t take alcohol. Impractical Jokers had its debut episode released in December 2011, with Joe starring ever since.
The TV show witnessed massive success, becoming a hit on Tru TV and growing into a feature-length film in 2020. Joe and his friends even got their own game show known as The Mistery Index. The series was hosted by Jameela Jamil.
However, in a saddening turn of events, Joe announced that he was pulling out of the popular TV show in 2021. This announcement came after a decade of thrilling fans on the show.
Why Did Joe Leave Impractical Jokers?
Why did Joe leave Impractical Jokers? Joe stated that he would be leaving the show because he needed to ‘focus on being the best father and co-parent to his two incredible kids’.
He made the announcement on his Instagram page on New Year’s Eve of 2021, shortly after he parted ways with his wife and mother of his kids, Bessy Gatto.
“Alongside my friends, I’ve devoted a decade of my life to building this franchise and couldn’t be prouder of what has been accomplished,” the message read in part.
“However, due to some issues in my personal life, I have to step away. Bessy and I have decided to amicably part ways, so now I need to focus on being the best father and co-parent to our two incredible kids,” he added.
He went on to shower accolades on the crew members whose ‘hard work’ was a major contributor to the entertainment The Tenderloins were able to bring to his fans.
“And even though the four of us are the ones who you all see, this show is only possible due to the hard work of the talented crew members who work behind the scenes. I am very thankful to have worked with each and every one of them.”
Are Joe Gatto and His Ex-wife Back Together?
On Saturday, September 2, 2023, Joe Gatto posted pictures of himself and Betty Gatto as they celebrated their ten-year wedding anniversary on Instagram. This was barely two years after they both announced their split.
While there is no information about when they officially got back together, rumors of their reunion were already on air following their attending a Taylor Swift concert in May.
Bessy also shared an Instagram post including a throwback photo of herself and Joe, revealing her thoughts about her experiences with Joe so far and reaffirming her evergrowing love for him.
Following Joe’s reconciliation with his ex-wife, fans speculate that he might make a comeback to Impractical Jokers. At the time, Joe is yet to make any such moves.
Final Words
Joe Gatto was a major character in the Impractical Joker franchise and is also a big contributor to the massive love fans have for the TV show.
A big void was created when Joe left Impractical Jokers. Following the release of the Franchise’s tenth season in 2023 in which Joe didn’t appear, there have been several celebrity guests.
So far, the list has included big names such as Bret Michaels, Post Malone, John Mayer, Kesha, and Paul Rudd.
On the side, Joe is also a big lover of dogs and also runs campaigns against pet bullying. He and his wife are owners of several dogs.
Despite reuniting with his wife, Joe has not made any move to return to the Impractical Joker show. If he does, his fans should expect some good laughter.