Why did Joe Gatto leave Impractical Jokers?

IMPRACTICAL Jokers star, Joe Gatto, is well known for his pranks on the hit comedy show starring three other members.

Despite Gatto’s successful career in the franchise, he announced at the beginning of the year that he was stepping away, and now fans want to know why.

Joe Gatto, American comedian on truTV’s Impractical Jokers

Why did Joe Gatto leave Impractical Jokers?

Joe Gatto, 45, announced on New Years’ Eve 2021 that he would be leaving truTV’s prank show after nearly a decade-long run amid his divorce from 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,” Gatto wrote at the time.

“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 went on to thank his co-stars, Sal Vulcano, James Murray, and Brian Quinn, and the show’s crew members for their hard work and talent.

“I am very thankful to have worked with each and every one of them,” he continued.

The show was renewed for a tenth season, however, it remains unclear if that deal will be affected following Gatto’s departure.

What have Joe’s co-stars said about his departure?

Despite Gatto’s departure, Impractical Jokers is moving forward with a ninth season.

Ahead of the season premiere, the gang opened up to People about what it’s been like without Gatto, revealing that filming was “tough.”

“We’re doing the show together [for] almost 10 years, we’re friends [for] 30 years so it was tough to lose him,” Vulcano told the media outlet.

“We didn’t want to see him go, but we had to give him his space … We miss him and we love him, we still talk to him all the time.”

“He’s our boy,” Quinn added. “We love him. He’s our guy. It’s just, he wanted to leave so what are you going to do?”

Season 9 of Impractical Jokers is scheduled to premiere on April 2, 2022.

What did fans say about Joe’s departure from the show?

Following Gato’s announcement, fans flooded the comment section of his post in support of his shocking decision.

“Thank you Joe for making me laugh on the days where it seemed impossible to find anything to laugh about,” one fans wrote. “You’re such a stand up guy and I hope this next journey of life brings you peace and happiness .”

Others went on to add that they will miss him and what he brought to the show.

Quinn then posted a statement on his Instagram on behalf of himself, Murray, and Vulcano writing: “After all these years together, we never imagined making ‘Impractical Jokers’ without Joe.

“While we are saddened to see him go, we want to keep making people laugh, keep our relationship working with the members of our team that we consider family. With the support of our fans, we’ll get back to making a new chapter of ‘Impractical Jokers’ in January.”

Brian “Q” Quinn, James “Murr” Murray, Joe Gatto, Sal Vulcano of Impractical JokersTurner Entertainment Networks

Who is Joe Gatto and the Impractical Jokers?

Joseph Anthony Gatto Jr. was born in Staten Island, New York, and is of Italian descent.

Gatto previously attended Monsignor Farrell High School with Vulcano, Murray, and Quinn, then later reunited with them after graduating college to start an improv and sketch comedy troupe, The Tenderloins, in 1998.

The group began producing comedies and posting them online, and in 2007, the four won NBC’s It’s Your Show competition.

Impractical Jokers then premiered in 2011 on TruTV and hit over 32 million views in its first season.