Travolta Marches Forward Under Tight Security Despite Threats

Despite receiving undisclosed threats, John Travolta and his family have pushed forward under the protection of a beefed up security force.

UNITED KINGDOM  (October 21, 2004)  The security force for John Travolta and wife Kelly Preston has been dramatically increased in response to undisclosed threats, USA Today reports.

According to People Magazine, guards have been in place around the couple and their children for at least a month. Bomb-sniffing dogs were used to check guests at the Sunday premiere of Travolta’s new film, "A Love Song for Bobby Long."

By contrast, USA Today said, Travolta roamed freely in September at the Hollywood premiere of his fire-fighting drama "Ladder 49". Back then, he was accompanied by one, lone bodyguard.  On Monday, Travolta was led through the backstage arena surrounded by bodyguards when he accepted a lifetime achievement award at the Hollywood Film Festival.

Celebrity-security expert Walter Masterson of Florida-based Protection Investigation Services reported to E-Entertainment that the recent security measures taken to protect the Travolta family indicate a situation out of the ordinary.

"I think the best thing to say is 'no comment'," Travolta’s public relations representative Paul Bloch told USA Today when asked about the security measures.

In 1999 Travolta’s security force was put on alert from threats made by a director who felt slighted by one of the actor’s relatives.

Director David Masterson reportedly made numerous threats against Rikki Lee Travolta after the actor turned down an offer to appear opposite Danica McKellar (The Wonder Years) in a revisiting of the musical "Grease."

When the actions lead to Masterson’s dismissal from his position at Southern California’s legendary Theater at the Grove, run by the family of the late Sam Kinison, the disgruntled director’s obsession with the Travolta family spilled over into threats to confront John Travolta at the premier of Jim Carrey’s "Man on the Moon."

 After the 9/11 terrorist attacks, Travolta again upped his security measures. According to IMDB Celebrity News, Travolta has a dog inspect his plane before any flights, travels with an armed guard, and has all his mail redirected where it is handled with plastic gloves.

Karen Heubert 

freelance writer in the U.K.