Hollywood actor John Travolta has found himself at the centre of a sensational and bitter legal dispute involving the family of music icon Elvis Presley. Newly amended court documents, filed as part of a $50 million breach-of-contract lawsuit, make extraordinary claims about the biological parentage of Travolta's teenage son, Benjamin.
The Core Allegations: A Presley Bloodline Claim
The revised lawsuit, submitted this week and obtained by the Daily Mail, alleges that Elvis Presley's granddaughter, actor Riley Keough, donated her eggs to John Travolta and his late wife, Kelly Preston. This alleged donation is said to have enabled the couple to welcome their son Benjamin in 2010. If proven, this would mean the teenager is a direct descendant of Elvis Presley.
The court filing goes further, claiming that Lisa Marie Presley, Riley's mother who died in 2023, had also previously donated eggs to Kelly Preston. However, the documents provide no medical evidence or documentation to support these claims, nor do they confirm if any such donation led to a pregnancy.
The source for many of these allegations is cited as Lisa Marie Presley's former husband, musician Michael Lockwood. He is the father of her twin daughters, Harper and Finley. According to the lawsuit, Lockwood allegedly told the plaintiffs that Preston could not conceive without assistance and that reproductive material from the Presley family was used.
Dramatic Details and Fierce Denials
The amended complaint paints a dramatic picture, alleging that Travolta and Preston approached the Presley family in 2010. This was following the tragic death of their eldest son, Jett, in 2009, during a period of reported professional and personal strain for Travolta. The filing even references past, denied sexual misconduct allegations against the actor.
One particularly contentious claim states that Travolta ultimately refused to use Lisa Marie Presley's eggs due to concerns about her documented struggles with opioid addiction. The lawsuit alleges Riley Keough then stepped in, allowing Preston to carry the pregnancy at age 48.
Beyond parentage, the suit makes other startling assertions. It claims Keough received compensation—an old Jaguar car and between $10,000 and $20,000—for the alleged egg donation. It references a handwritten note mentioning 'CA fertility partners' and 'Ben Travolta,' and a text describing Benjamin as Priscilla Presley's 'beautiful great-grandson.' The filing also suggests the alleged arrangement required approval from the Church of Scientology, with Priscilla Presley in an oversight role.
Legal Battle Lines Drawn
The response from the Presley camp has been swift and forceful. An attorney representing both Priscilla Presley and her son, musician Navarone Garibaldi Garcia, issued a strong statement condemning the new claims as "irrelevant, unethical, and designed to exert improper pressure."
The attorney accused the plaintiffs, former business associates of Priscilla named Brigitte Kruse and Kevin Fialko, of having "no bar too low" after losing previous motions in the case. Priscilla Presley has denied all wrongdoing and says the plaintiffs are attempting to cause her family distress.
Kruse and Fialko, through their attorney, defended the amended filing, stating they were 'heartbroken' to have to submit it. Their lawyer said the lawsuit aims to 'reveal the truth' and counter accusations against his clients.
It is crucial to note that the disputed claims about biological parentage form just one part of a wider legal conflict. The core lawsuit also accuses Navarone Garcia of breaching contracts and interfering with business ventures related to Priscilla Presley's name. These allegations are separate from another ongoing case against Priscilla Presley herself regarding her conduct after her daughter's death.
Representatives for John Travolta and Riley Keough have been contacted for comment. As the case proceeds, it will be for the court—not public speculation—to determine the validity of any of these claims.
