Barry Diller Claims John Travolta Dropped American Gigolo Over Gay Subtext

In his new memoir Who Knew, Hollywood and tech mogul Barry Diller reveals that John Travolta backed out of starring in the 1980 film American Gigolo due to concerns about the film's "somewhat gay subtext." Travolta had initially been cast as the lead but reportedly told Paramount Pictures president Michael Eisner that he couldn't do the film because he was grieving the deaths of his mother and girlfriend. Diller, who was CEO of Paramount at the time, believes Travolta was faking his grief to avoid the role, influenced by fears about the character's sexuality and advice from his manager. Despite Diller's efforts to persuade Travolta to proceed with the film, Travolta ultimately withdrew, leading to Richard Gere taking over the role. This account aligns with previous comments from American Gigolo's director Paul Schrader and highlights the pressures faced by actors regarding LGBTQ+ themes in Hollywood during that era. Diller's memoir also touches on his own personal revelations, including his sexuality and relationships.