After months of seclusion, taking time to heal privately from the tragic death of their son Jett, John Travolta and wife Kelly Preston came out to celebrate the premiere of their daughter Ella Bleu’s first ever film debut in Disney’s Old Dogs. Read more »
Posts Tagged ‘kelly preston’
Ella Bleu Travolta Mirrors Her Career After Will & Jaden Smith
November 10th, 2009 / Author: OK! StaffJohn Travolta & Family “Working Very Hard” to Heal
November 9th, 2009 / Author: Mary Beth Quirk
In the wake of his son Jett’s death, John Travolta says it hasn’t been easy to readjust to life, but that he, his wife Kelly Preston and daughter Ella Bleu are trying to move forward with the help of counseling sessions, friends and family. “We’ve been working very hard every day as a family to heal,” John tells USA Today of coping with the loss of Jett, who passed away in the Bahamas in January. “We have our own way of doing it, and it has been helping.” Read more »
John Travolta Acknowledges Son Jett’s Autism
September 23rd, 2009 / Author: Mary Beth Quirk
John Travolta has never before stated that his son Jett had autism, but in court in the Bahamas today during the ongoing extortion case, he testified about his son’s condition. “He was autistic. He suffered from a seizure disorder,” TMZ cites John as saying, adding that his seizures would happen every five to 10 days and last 45 seconds to a minute. Read more »
Travolta Family Gives Thanks
February 20th, 2009
After going through the terrible experience of losing their son Jett in January, John Travolta and wife Kelly Preston are speaking up to thank those who have supported their family.
In a statement on John’s website, the family says:
"We would like to extend our deepest and most heartfelt thanks to everyone who has sent their love and condolences. Jett was the most wonderful son that two parents could ever ask for and lit up the lives of everyone he encountered. We are heartbroken that our time with him was so brief. We will cherish the time we had with him for the rest of our lives. We have received many messages of condolence from around the world and we want to thank everyone for their prayers and support. It has meant so much to us. It is a beautiful reminder of the inherent goodness in the human spirit that gives us hope for a brighter future.
With love, John, Kelly and Ella"
Jett passed away suddenly in the Bahamas in early January.
Suspect Pleads Not Guilty in Travolta Case
January 28th, 2009
As the details of the alleged extortion plot involving John Travolta and Kelly Preston and the death of their son Jett, TMZ reports that former Sen. Pleasant Bridgewater has pled not guilty to two charges against her, abetment to extort and and conspiracy to extort.
Bahamian police, who have also charged paramedic Tarino Lightbourne with extortion, confirmed yesterday that they were investigating an extortion complaint made by the Travoltas.
"All I can say here is that, you know, there was a complaint made by Mr. Travolta – and those acting on his behalf –that there was an attempt on behalf of a number of individuals to extort initially some $25 million from the Travoltas," Senior Assistant Commissioner of Police Marvin Dames told the The Nassau Guardian.
And while there had been suspicion that a picture of Jett in the ambulance after he collapsed was at the center of the extortion plot, officials indicated yesterday that an "unauthenticated" document absolving medical professionals of responsibility was the basis for the alleged plot.
Bridgewater resigned from lawmaking after she was arrested, and is free after posting her $40,000 bail.
Police Confirm Travolta Extortion Plot
January 27th, 2009
The Bahamas police have confirmed that there were people seeking to gain money from the family of John Travolta to keep a "damaging document" allegedly involved with the death of Jett Travolta private.
"All I can say here is that, you know, there was a complaint made by Mr. Travolta – and those acting on his behalf –that there was an attempt on behalf of a number of individuals to extort initially some $25 million from the Travoltas," Senior Assistant Commissioner of Police Marvin Dames told the The Nassau Guardian.
"Acting on that complaint we initiated the investigation and it has brought us to this particular point."
While the document behind the extortion has only been guessed at – including speculation that it is a picture of Jett in the ambulance – Dames says that isn’t true, claiming that the conspirators evidence is a refusal to transport document. Police have a copy of the document but haven’t been able to verify its authenticity.
Such paperwork would be signed if family wanted to refuse emergency medical services from trained personnel. That kind of document would clear a hospital of any blame if the patient were to die or be injured.
Former lawmaker Pleasant Bridgewater and paramedic Torino Lightbourne have been charged in the extortion case.
"In this context, a document like that does not apply because as we know young Jett was not… he did not have any minor injuries. He was very ill. And so the document does not come into play," Dames said.
John Travolta a Witness in Extortion Case
January 27th, 2009
As the case against two people allegedly involved in an attempt to extort money from the Travolta family in the wake of 16-year-old Jett’s death continues, father John Travolta has been officially named as a witness in the proceedings, E! News reports.
Documents filed Monday at Magistrate’s Court in New Providence names a total of 14 witnesses, including John, as well as his Bahamian lawyer, Allyson Maynard and his U.S.-based lawyers, Michael Ossi and Michael McDermott.
Yesterday ambulance driver Tarino Lightbourne pleaded not guilty to attempted extortion and conspiracy to extort. His lawyer, and former lawmaker Pleasant Bridgewater was also charged with conspiracy to extort. It’s been said that the $25 million alleged extortion plot could revolve around a picture of Jett on his way to the hospital earlier this month after he collapsed in the bathroom of the family’s vacation home.
Although Obie Wilchombe, a friend of the Travoltas and a member of parliament, was brought in for questioning, he was released without being charged and isn’t on the list of witnesses.
The witnesses "are expected to give evidence against Lightbourne and Bridgewater in court. They would not actually have to do anything until the trial starts," E! News quotes an insider as saying. "The presence of their names on the dockets just means that the prosecution plans to call them as witnesses and, barring any extenuating circumstances, they will be."
Second Person Charged in Travolta Extortion Case
January 26th, 2009
Police in the Bahamas seem determined to get to the bottom of the extortion plot involving the grieving family of Jett Travolta: John Travolta, Kelly Preston and Ella Bleu, who lost their son and brother earlier this month.
Ambulance driver Tarino Lightbourne has been charged with attempted extortion and conspiracy, and plead not guilty this morning, according to E! News. Prosecutors say they are searching for a "certain document" involved in the case. There is speculation that the $20 million alleged plot revolves around a picture taken of Jett on the way to the hospital.
Former Bahamian lawmaker Pleasant Bridgewater, who resigned on Saturday, has also been charged with abetment and conspiracy to extort. She was released on $40,000 bail and is scheduled for arraignment on Wednesday.
"I assure the Bahamian people of my complete and total innocence," said Bridgewater. "I am satisfied that when the full story comes out that I shall be fully vindicated."
The third person named in the case, Travolta family friend and parliament member Obie Wilchcombe, was released without being charged and is said to be assisting the police.
Police Investigate Extortion Demands on Travoltas
January 20th, 2009
John Travolta and his Wife Kelly Preston are facing more heartache as reports of extortion threats against the family are revealed by police.
The actor’s Jacksonville-based lawyers said on Monday that they will fight the reported demands made against Travolta and Preston, following the death of their teenage son Jett.
The Tribune, a Bahamas-based newspaper, reported Monday, without attribution, that police are questioning two people, "one believed to be a politician," in the investigation.
No word on what the nature of the reported demands are. Attorneys Mike Ossi and Howard Butler, who represent Travolta, arrived in Jacksonville from the Bahamas on Monday and released a statement that read, in part:
"Regretably in a time of such terrible grief there are often a few individuals who attempt to make false claims in hopes of making millions of dollars. We will never let that happen."
The Travolta’s son Jett, 16, died Jan. 2, while the family was vacationing in Grand Bahama. His cause of death was listed as a "seizure."
Ossi and Butler’s statement said that they have "the utmost confidence in the Bahamian police and government" as it looks into the reported extortion attempt. They declined further comment.
