This was a cute little story in the National Enquirer this week which was supported by some comments that Travolta made about his love of shopping at the ubiquitous discount chain Walmart. Travolta enjoys getting bargains and he even recently enthused about how he enjoys buying people presents, particularly clothes, from Walmart. Travolta says that his family (presumably his wife and their 10 year-old daughter) love the dresses he bought for them. So this means Travolta is buying dresses for his women at Walmart. This seems strange to me for a few reasons, but it also cracks me up.
“John has no problem dropping millions on private jets and fabulous vacations for his wife and kids, but that doesn’t mean he won’t try to save a buck when he can,” an insider told The Enquirer.
“He’s a regular at the local Walmart near his Ocala, FL mansion. Not only does he buy his clothes there, but he even buys gifts for his family.
“John’s extended family cracks up on holidays because they know their presents will come from Walmart or Target. And they actually think it’s adorable because he tries so hard to find the perfect gift.”
Travolta explained to a reporter: “As far as Walmart’s concerned, you can get Christmas presents that are just unbelievable. I bought some of my family dresses from Walmart, and it was their favorite clothing.”
[From The National Enquirer, print edition, May 16, 2011]
That’s so funny! This strikes me as one of those occasions where the giver, particularly a guy, is way more enthusiastic about the present than the receiver, but it’s still a nice gesture. It doesn’t matter how much the stuff costs, it’s the thought that counts. This kind of humanizes Travolta for me. You can tell he gets a thrill out of buying dresses.
A lot of you have told me that you avoid Walmart because it’s this huge chain that pushes out local businesses that can’t compete and forces suppliers to lower prices to survive. I get that, and I do feel some guilt when I shop there. When it’s the only place in town you can get an item you’re kind of stuck. Also, the bargains can be really good there and it’s hard to resist. I haven’t had great luck with everyday clothes at Walmart although I have found some decent workout gear, t-shirts and sleepwear there. Target has nicer clothes but the cut and quality has been off for some of the stuff I’ve found there and I would rather shop at a discount supplier like TJ Maxx or Marshalls.
John Travolta and his daughter Ella are shown at the airport in Mumbai in September, 2010. John and Kelly are shown in March, 2010. Credit: Fame.
Yes, they have a huge ‘queen size’ department, wink wink, nudge nudge
Is it the cynic in me that wonders if this story was drummed up because John Travolta got busted buying himself some pretty frocks at Walmart?! They do carry a large selection of “plus sized” items….Hard to imagine Kelly Preston finding a Walmart outfit even remotely humorous.
File that headline under “Duh”. 😀
I’m sure his movie star wife loves her movie star husband buying her clothes at Walmart (sarcasm).
I hate Walmart for several reasons, avoid it as much as possible, maybe only go in once a year or so. They built a Target in my town a few years ago and while not perfect, is a big improvement over Walmart, IMO.
There’s not much going on in Ocala, folks.
I like John Travolta & have a soft spot for him. I feel he got sucked into a cult and was forced to repress things about himself. It’s sad but he’d rock no matter what; gay or straight or bi, “normal” or “weird”. He seems to be a good hearted person who genuinely loves his family.
@ sorrento
LOL
*giggle* 🙂
It’s his money after all.If he wants to save more he can always ask his wife to sew her clothes herself I suppose
“Is it the cynic in me that wonders if this story was drummed up because John Travolta got busted buying himself some pretty frocks at Walmart?!”
no, it’s the REALIST in you that wonders that. I think your take is EXACTLY what the deal is. seriously, as you and lucy2 pointed out, you REALLY think that Kelly Preston or a teenage daughter of two movie stars would wear ANYTHING from Walmart?
His daughter looks a lot like him but a better version, I hope the baby comes out like his wife. I love to shop in Walmart, I find everything there.
I think his daughter is very pretty. I used to think she looked so much like her dad that she was never going to pull out of it but she did. All of the chain stores are evil not just Walmart. It cracks me up when people get on their rant specifically about that place. All of those major corporations suck! It just comes down to splitting hairs or picking your poison with them. The fact that this made a story really shows how shallow our culture really is.
He must have a much better stocked Walmart in FL than we do in TN. The WM here hardly ever carries any ladies dresses…plus size or otherwise. I, too, feel the pain of HellMart being the only place to shop in town.
I do find it kinda hard to believe that he shops for his family’s gifts there. If I were Kelly, I might be a little pissed that he couldn’t at least go to the mall to get me something LOL
I live in Ocala. It’s all true. They are a regular family here. He’s a night owl and will hit the Walmart and the 24-hr gym because they are within the same area. Then, he goes to the 24-hr IHOP. Everybody loves him. Stop anyone in Ocala and ask them for a Travolta story. I have three because he likes the department store I worked at, and brought Nic Cage one time, and his dad another time.
I had never actually been to a Walmart before I got to college! The clothing there is awful but I loved it when I was in college because there is literally everything you need in there. There weren’t any where I was growing up (now there is one but it’s a little useless with the amount of malls and other stores near my hometown). Definitely prefer Target for clothes.
What is nice about stores like Walmart is that everything is there in one spot. I hate having to look through ten different departments and ten different designer sections for some kind of generic shirt or something. In a store like Target or Walmart, it’s like here are the t-shirts, all of them. And I’m not paying $60 for a plain white t-shirt. Puh-leez. I also like Walmart and Target for workout clothes. Dicks, too, but they’re pricier. (Dicks is an athletic store if you don’t know, lol.)
It is kinda cute that JT shops there….
I guess when you’re a multi-millionaire things get boring…
And that’s why he’ll be rich longer than most celebs.
Its probably hard to be the daughter of a beautiful movie star like Kelly Preston who always looks so thin when you’re chubby. Also, no way would his daughter and wife be thrilled he saved money on their presents and treats himself to millions of dollars in planes.
Off topic, did anyone notice the National Enquirer this week full-on ripping Angelina’s heroin problem and again insinuating (and I have always agreed) that the twins have Down’s or some other developmental problems? Won’t the NE get sued for sure?
Ella is cute as a button and NOT chubby (whoever said that). She’s really growing up nicely and looks like a good combination of her mom and dad.
My dad LOVES Walmart especially the pharmacy and as he doesn’t drive any more I take him there. I will say that they have been really really good to him — give him hugs and he brings them flowers every now and then.
But Walmart the behemoth is not benign. We can talk economics of box retail vs. mom and pop businesses, but this is a corporation that will push employees away from their medical plans (assuming they’ve worked there long enough to even be eligible)and onto state low income medical plans. Yep, forcing their costs to states. They’ve also mused that getting rid of long term employees (who are probably older and may be sicker) would save them money. Nice way to save a buck, Walmart.
My first thought upon seeing the headline – was I wonder if they have them in his size? I bet he has to buy a lot of bra extenders too! ha ha – I love John so my humor is kindly not malicious!
Haven’t set foot in a Wally World in 7 years. Seriously. And not going to go back.
Not only does it suck the life out of a town, but 20 years ago, the big marketing thing was that they carried “Made in the USA” items. When that became no longer true (check those labels, kids!), I quit shopping there. You want to provide jobs? Do more than open a store–get your stock from American manufacturers.
i don’t care if john wants to wear dresses, but nobody should shop at wal-mart.
I would be PISSED if my Dad was JT and he bought my clothes at Walmart! But as I am not, and I buy my own shit, I LOVE Walmart for summerry sun dresses and shorts and tank tops! And housewares, and small appliances, and pet supplies, and beauty products, and ……
I stay well away from walmart, I’d rather pay a little more and pay for a persons health insurance
Reminds me of Corky St Clair:
“I was shopping for my wife Bonnie. I buy most of her clothes and Mrs Pearl was in the same shop! And it just was an accident you know, we started talking… about panty hose, she was saying… whatever that’s not the point of the story but what the point is is that through this accidental meeting… it’s like a Hitchcock movie you know where you’re thrown into a rubber bag and put in the trunk of a car, you find people. You find them. Something, is is it karma? Maybe. But we found him, that’s the important thing. And I got Bonnie a wonderful pantsuit. “
I totally understand that for many people, Walmart is the only option, either because of location or price. But anyone who can afford not to shop there should not – as others have pointed out upthread, the reason things are so cheap is that they are not made in the USA, but overseas often in factories that have no labor or environmental regulations, no minimum wage, etc. Plus Walmart’s own employee policies are pretty dismal. And as was also pointed out, while Walmart is bigger and more egregious, all of the big box stores have similar issues. Check the label indeed!
He may buy his family’s clothes from WalMart, but i will bet my next paycheck he has NEVER bought himself or one of his boy toys an outfit from WalMart
All of the people who complain about Walmart need to realize there is a large segment of the population who wouldn’t be able to afford many of the things they need if it wasn’t for Walmart. Walmart is by no means perfect, and I agree it needs to take better care of it’s workers. But, Walmart provide low cost products to many consumers could not buy them otherwise.
I busted up laughing at the headline….too obvious
I hate Walmarts mostly because of the people that shop there. I usually get run over by shopping carts, pushed, nudged, etc. IF I do go there, it is super early in the morning.
bluhare is completely right. I used to work there (and unfortunately have to return this summer, there isn’t anywhere else to work in my hometown). They only keep workers on part-time, refuse to grant leaves(which is why I left–they granted me a leave in the fall for college, but then refused to this spring and told me I have to wait a year before I can apply for one), and keep the pay low. They don’t give raises at the rates of other stores. My boyfriend gets one every three months at his reviews, I didn’t get a single one the entire time I worked there (half a year at least). I rather despise Walmart, its one awful company.
I love them.I puffy heart them. With GLITTER. I hate that they’ve lost their son(I want to go into all these wonderful things he was, but I didn’t know him) and that their beautiful little girl has lost her brother. I have 2 kids and I can’t even imagine what it must be like to not only lose a son, but to be held accountable for it someheow by the public and have to explain it to to them. Anyway, yeah
I have always liked Kelly, until I saw her brushing off Sheen’s shooting to the paps. Her brain is not her own. I just can’t figure out Kirstie, that I like as well.
Excuse me, this story came from the National Enquirer. How can anyone take it serious. Even if it might be true?
I have fun with, lead to I found just what I used to be taking a look for. You have ended my four day long hunt! God Bless you man. Have a great day. Bye