  Published photometry of fading events in the PTFO 8-8695 system is modelled
using improved treatments of stellar geometry, surface intensities, and,
particularly, gravity darkening, with a view to testing the planetary-transit
hypothesis. Variability in the morphology of fading events can be reproduced by
adopting convective-envelope gravity darkening, but near-critical stellar
rotation is required. This leads to inconsistencies with spectroscopic
observations; the model also predicts substantial photometric variability
associated with stellar precession, contrary to observations. Furthermore, the
empirical ratio of orbital to rotational angular momenta is at odds with
physically plausible values. An exoplanet transiting a precessing,
gravity-darkened star may not be the correct explanation of periodic fading
events in this system.

Solar and Stellar Astrophysics;Earth and Planetary Astrophysics