A video of John Travolta talking about his use of a private plane is circulating, and it comes on the heels of a photo from Travolta’s Florida mansion that some called “disgusting” showing two of his jets casually parked in the back.
In a YouTube short from 10x Studios (@10xstudios), Grant Cardone asked him in an interview: “Why do you have three planes? … I have one plane. I can barely manage it.”
“It’s a practical reason. I’m a pilot myself. … If I have a plane that’s inoperable, I have one to back it up,” Travolta responded. His lavish home setup, which includes a runway leading almost directly to his door as part of the Jumbolair Aviation Estates community he lives in, sparked backlash online just a few months ago.
The property is in an aviation-themed community in Ocala, Florida, designed for residents who prefer to catch their plane right at home. Travolta said he holds 12 jet ratings, including the Boeing 747, 707, Gulfstream and Learjet, and prefers to fly himself rather than charter.
For Travolta, it’s simply part of the lifestyle he’s built, and it was perhaps more understandable at a time when airplane pollution and the effects of rising global temperatures weren’t as well understood — in the mentality that if you’re lucky enough to get rich, you go ahead and spend the money however you want. This view is not inherently bad, but most would agree that there are responsible and less responsible ways to spend. Either way, the clip shows how different “practical” can be depending on who you are.
Aside from the lavish lifestyle, a conversation can be had about what private jet travel represents in a time of major pollution problems. Private jets produced up to 19.5 million tonnes of planet-warming gas in 2023, equivalent to the production of 177 passenger cars or nine heavy-duty trucks, according to the ICCT. This use of private planes has a direct impact on climate change.
The ripple effect of rising global temperatures is resulting in extreme weather events such as destructive storms, longer droughts and severe wildfires. These events threaten human safety, wildlife safety, the integrity of our local ecosystems and even the food supply.
Travolta isn’t the only celebrity to be criticized for his out-of-control drinking. Other public figures, such as Jeff Bezos and Steven Spielberg, have faced similar backlash. Bezos purchased his fourth private jet for $80 million, directly contradicting Amazon’s public stance on its green goals. Similarly, Spielberg has publicly said he is “terrified of global warming,” but he is among the celebrities who use their private jets the most.
When the planet faces extreme weather events due to rising global temperatures caused by human activity, such indulgence may prove less practical and more harmful.
“How much money could he have spent just to get graded on 12 rolls?” » a commenter asked in frustration under the YouTube short.
“It’s no different than anyone else having a hobby. …So I guess it depends on how much money you have to spend on what you love,” added another in defense of Travolta.
“I’m richer than you. That’s all he has to say,” wrote a third.
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