Actor Joseph Gatt is under investigation for alleged inappropriate communication with a minor, the Los Angeles Police Department announced on Tuesday.
Gatt, known for his role as Thenn Warg in HBO’s Game of Thrones, was taken into custody around 5 a.m. on April 6 after Los Angeles Police Department officers from the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force executed a warrant at his home, LAPD said in a news release Tuesday.
Police served the warrant after receiving a tip that Gatt “had been engaged in online sexually explicit communication with a minor across state lines,” the release added. He was arrested on a felony warrant for contact with a minor for sexual offense.
The actor was released on the same day of his arrest after posting a $5,000 bail, per the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Inmate Information Center.
Gatt denied the allegations against him in a statement shared on Instagram Wednesday.
“I obviously want to address the absolutely horrifying and completely untrue allegations recently leveled against me,” he began. “They are 100% categorically wrong and reckless. I have confirmed errors and misleading information in today’s press release.”
Gatt went on to say that he is “fully cooperating with police and LAPD to get to the bottom of this. I look forward to clearing my good name,” he continued.
Gatt concluded, “Thank you to all of my friends and supporters who know that this is untrue and understand for legal reasons I cannot comment further on social media.”
In its release, the LAPD asked the public to report “any suspected inappropriate contact with a minor or knowledge of child sexual abuse material on the Internet.”
Joseph Gatt is an English actor and model. He is best known for his roles in the films Thor, Star Trek Into Darkness, and Dumbo.
Joseph Gatt was born in the Notting Hill area of London on 3 December 1971, the son of Maltese immigrant parents; his father is from Paola and his mother is from Lija. While growing up, he spent summers with his family in Malta.