Despite the stereotype that mob family members never talk out of turn, Victoria Gotti is speaking up about growing up in one of America's most infamous crime families. Not only that, she says that her late father "The Dapper Don" was fine with her writing about their family secrets.Gotti's new book, "This Family of Mine: What It Was Like Growing Up Gotti," chronicles her life as a Mafia princess, and she's talking to CBS's "48 Hours" on Saturday about her family.
She describes growing up in a life of luxury, though she had mixed feelings about the source of that luxury. She admits that she had a pretty good idea of what her dad -- late Gambino crime family boss John Gotti -- did for a living, including ordering the deaths of rivals.
Like Father, Like Son
The family is back in the news because Victoria's brother, John Gotti Jr., is on trial for the fourth time for crimes associated with his role as head of the Gambino family between 1993 and 2008. Gotti Jr. insists that he retired in 1999, and that the statute of limitations on his crimes has run out. Seven jurors on the case are said to have asked to be dismissed from the trial this past week, possibly out of fear of retribution.
Victoria, who's had some money trouble, will reportedly discuss her heartbreak over the crime legacy on "48 Hours." "My brother is not in that courtroom," she told CBS's Troy Roberts. "It is my father, always, all over again, day in, day out. It's not about what John [Jr.] did, is doing or will do. It's about John Gotti." She and two siblings talked to "48 Hours" in the hopes of helping clear their brother's name by showing the world they grew up in.
Victoria says the trial is part of what inspired her to finally write her life story, and that her father gave her his blessing to do so before his death in 2002. A Brother Lost
One of the more notable revelations in the book is Victoria's discussion of the disappearance of Gotti neighbor John Favara, who was involved in a car accident that killed Victoria's 12-year-old brother Frank in 1980. Four months after the incident, Favara was abducted in a van and never seen again.
Victoria admits that she initially demanded that her father seek vengeance, but that he insisted she accept that it was an accident. She vehemently denies that her father was involved in Favara's death, though she admits it's likely that someone in the Gambino crime family was responsible.
Scandal Overload?!
While we appreciate the candor, we've got to ask: How is any of this shocking, exactly? That John Gotti ran afoul of the law is not exactly news. (Back in the day, he was also known as the "Teflon Don" because it took four trials to convict him, despite mountains of evidence.) Any remaining doubts about his non-involvement were more or less put to bed when he was convicted on 13 counts including murder, loansharking, racketeering and tax evasion in 1992.
We feel a little sorry for her, though. If you're pushing a book about your life with an infamous father, this was a bad week to do it. Mackenzie Phillips' revelation about the 10-year affair she had with her dad sort of stole all the father-daughter thunder this week.
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Comments:
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Saturday 26 September
By Barb
I always loved to read about John Gotti. I enjoyed Victoria's tv sitcom and her boys and miss the show. It is interesting how the family survived and wish she could bring the show back to tv. It was an obsession to watch it everyweek.
Miss you Victoria!!
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Saturday 26 September
By scott
i liked the show too and wish it would come back on I thought she was a very nice and interesting person and i really miss luigi
Saturday 26 September
By LLM
survived?? are u kidding me,,millions were and are hidden from the crimes of that family,,I think it is an shame, down and out that tv would even produce such crap!
Sunday 27 September
By kc440_
I agree about missing her show. I wonder how she battled breast cancer and did she get a new pacemaker. I'm glad she still has her home. Have any of the boys moved out?
Tuesday 29 September
By ang
you got some real issues i see
Saturday 26 September
By Acajudi
Your father was no different from some of our major corporations and politicians. They make money off the sweat and blood of other people, and murder and torture means nothing to them. What goes around comes around, keeps me sane.l
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Saturday 26 September
By feller
The past is the past and should stay there. I feel sorry for the troubled life that they lived, however John paid his price. What his son has done or is doing is all him. He is a grown man. Let him rest in peace and maybe one day be proud of his children!
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Sunday 27 September
By Marie Gee
I always try not to judge a person at first glance. I will observe a person's behavior and hear thier comments before I voice my judgement. What I have noticed about Victoria is her lack of common sense. She always allowed her sons to behave in a questionable manner during thier show. She allowed the public to see and hear things that should have remained private. Her sons were spoiled and arrogant, and she encouraged it. One episode involved her buying chinchila coats for them. On another episode she allowed one of sons to buy a brand new Hummer truck. After a few episodes, I stopped watching all together. What a travesty of justice was committed. Her father died in prison of cancer. As far as I am concerned, he did not pay his debt to society for all the "hits" he ordered or committed himself. He simply died before it was paid. Now this woman is saying she is having financial difficulties and her house is in foreclosure. Well, what did she expect? Do I feel sorry for her? No I do not. She have reaped the ill gains from her fathers crimes and was happy to do it. Victoria, Please do not insult the publics intelligence simply because NOW you need the money. I hope I am not the only one who will not buy her book. As for the death of her young brother, Sam The Bull admitted that he was the one who killed the neighbor who ran him down. I remember when John Gotti was sentenced they cornered her in the courthouse and what she yelled at the reporters and lawyers was shameful. Now she is going on national T.V. to say she was ashamed of her father and she loathed the life she led. No Victoria....You enjoyed every minute of it !
Saturday 26 September
By Matt T.
I believe it will be a grea selling book she is putting out there. But in a way, she's not only telling stories about herself, but about her sons, their father and their grandfather. It could be trouble for her to write about the Gambino family members, and im sure she knows the risks, but she should find another topic to write about that won't put her family ask risk.
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Saturday 26 September
By ED GARBOWSKI
I THINK THAT JIMMI HOFFA IS BURIED UNDER MY FLOOR I WANT THE FEDS TO KNOCK DOWN BUILDING AND PUT UP NEW ONE LIKE THEY DID WITH THAT BARN IN UPSTATE NY
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Saturday 26 September
By jenny hutchionson
thats funny! you could get a hole new building! that was hysterical
Sunday 27 September
By Cynthia
No it's my understanding from his cousin a friend of mine who passed on Friday the 11th of this month that Hoffa is buried under a highway back east and they aren't gonna dig it up anytime soon.
Friday 02 October
By miriam
Yo that shit was funny, I live in the ghetto, that is a good excuse for this building too.
Saturday 26 September
By Dagoth Jeff
I can't believe that John Jr is THAT FRIGGIN RETARDED that he thinks the feds aren't watching his every move. The son of one of the most notorious crime bosses in US history thinks he can just pick up the family business? What, after throwing the entire justice system at his dad, he thinks no one's looking anymore? Genius he ain't. And beautiful she ain't.
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Saturday 26 September
By Joe
Having grown up in RI where the Mob has always had a significant presence, one or two were close neighbors (including sawing a body up in three pieces in the cellar of a house across from me), and having heard many close to it all say that often they had a stronger code of ethics than the cops, I would be surprised if a neighbor was killed by Gotti for what was by all accounts a terrible accident. Some misguided soul in the organization may have, and at least in the old days that person would have been dealt with very swiftly by the Mob. There was a certain snse of honor about those not involved.
Victoria and her brothers were an accident of birth, they didn't choose their parents and after knowing a few daughters and sons of those inside I'd say they all used it a little. Let's face it Vicoria, you and your sons used it on that TV show. But that's human nature, I would have also.
Some kids went straight to normal lives, some were and are involved but it's sort of like being born the son of a Pope back in the day when that happened, and it did quite often. Some became Cardinals, others didn't. Also, some whose parents were straight arrows went in to the Mob. I played football with a kid who became a hit man, no family connection at all.
Everyone should read the Joseph Columbo Autobiography, very revealing.
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Sunday 27 September
By Gianna I
I grew up in Newark...very strong "family" presence in my neighborhood and with my family and friends' families. We were safe and no one would ever think about coming into my neighborhood and hurting one of us...back then we played outside from dawn until dusk and my mother never ever had to worry about us...EVER. We rode our bikes played in the park and LOVED BEING KIDS! Now I cant even send my kids out to play because someone will steal them, rape them, sell them, kill them or drug them. Sorry...I miss the days of my old neighborhood where we were allowed to be members of society as kids and were safe doing it and the "family" protected everyone not just their own...if your lived there you were taken care of. And FYI idiots...Italians are white, I know I am one....
Saturday 26 September
By ADMR
VICTORIA( ous ) - Wink!
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Saturday 26 September
By Mike
Had a pretty good idea what he father did for a living? What a rocket scientist. Anybody who grew up Italian knew what was what back in the old days. It was no secret.
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Saturday 26 September
By BELINDA
I HAVE ALWAYS WONDERED WHAT HAPPENED TO VICTORIA MOM.I LOVR WHO SHE IS AND NO ONE HAS A RIGHT TO JUDGE SOMEONE UNTIL THEY ARE IN THEIR SHEOS.YOU GO VICTORIA LIVE YOUR LIFE,AND I LOVE THE MOTHERHOOD IN YOU.GOD BLESS.
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Saturday 26 September
By BELINDA
YOU KNOW I JUST WROTE ABOUT VICTORIA AND THEN WENT BACK WITH READING WHAT EVERYONE ELSE WROTE.WOW WHAT A BUNCH OF CRAP,AND JUDGING SOMEONE.WHO KNOWS WHAT IS HIDDEN IN YOUR CLOSET,AT LEAST SHE IS REAL AND DOESN'T TRY TO BE WHAT SHE IS NOT.AND SO WHAT THAT IS HER BROTHER,WHY NOT STICK UP FOR HIM,WHAT WOULD YOU DO IN HER SHOES,LET HIM ROT.SHE HAS LOST ENOUGH IN HER LIFE AND LIVES FOR HER KIDS DON'T ANY OF YOU SEE THE MOTHER PART OR ARE YOU COMPARING HER.HOW WOULD YOU KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE IN HER SHOES,YOU WEREN'T THERE.I LIKE EVERYONE AND ONLY GOD HAS THE RIGHT TO JUDGE HER,ALL I SEE IN HER IS HOW MUCH SHE LOVES HER KIDS,AS I DO THE SHOW, AND YES BRING YOUR SHOW BACK ON,IT WAS FUNNY AND TO WATCH YOU WITH YOUR SONS,WOW.YES I HAVE A SON & DAUGHTER AND WHEN I COULD GAVE THEM WHAT I COULD.PEOPLE ARE JEALOUS AND TO ME THEY THE ONES WRITING ALL THE BAD MUST WISH THEY COULD BE IN YOUR SHOES,I DO AND TO BE ABLE TO GIVE MY KIDS THE LIFE YOU DO,THAT IS SO GREAT.I PUT MY HAND UP TO YOU AS A GREAT MOM AND A PERSON ALL YOUR OWN.