The recent New Yorker article piece by Michael Shulman has resulted in a ton of media pickups, mostly focused on her responses to questions about scientology. There have been a number of takes on this of interest: Martha Ross wrote an excellent piece in the SJ Mercury News Martha quotes journalist Yashar Ali who tweeted: And Tony Ortega added some thoughts from Geoff Levin who was extensively interviewed for the story, but little of it made it into print: Now, let me add some of my thoughts, as it was my job back in the day to … [Read more...]
Scientology Celebrities — Where Are You?
The recent article about Laura Prepon where she announced she had not been in scientology for 5 years made me wonder how many of the other scientology celebrities may be "out." It's pretty common in the scientology world for people to simply stop participating, without making any big announcement. There is even a term for it these days: "under the radar." It spares the person the harassment that comes from declaring you are done, and in many instances the loss of friends and family or jobs. Laura Prepon hadn't made public statements about scientology for many years. But … [Read more...]
Joy Villa: Scientology Bridezilla
Aaron Smith-Levin found this FB post from Joy Villa and released it to the world. Jeffrey Augustine then put it on his blog. Both made the point that until the end of the Trump Presidency, Joy was seeking to curry favor with the MAGA crowd by proclaiming herself a Christian, and downplaying any involvement in scientology. Now that wave has passed, and she is apparently refocusing her energies to climbing the scientology social ladder again as a "born-again" true believer in the power of Source rather than Jesus. Her marriage to wealthy scientologist Thorsten von Overgaard ended … [Read more...]
Scientology Responds for Tom Cruise
How odd is this. Scientology is speaking as the PR representative of Tom Cruise. While he and his PR people remain silent. The man who laughs in the face of suppression and can confront and shatter any SP is apparently unable to confront some bad media. It would seem David Miscavige was upset that "nobody was coming to the defense of Tom" and so ordered his minions to put out a statement. To me, this is further indication that the whole thing was a publicity stunt that blew up in their faces. Or at the very least, Miscavige had praised Cruise for his "tough guy" image and told him he was … [Read more...]
Scientology Deaths and Suicides
People are asking for our thoughts regarding recent tragic events. We can only offer facts about scientology teachings and our opinions on them -- we don’t have firsthand information concerning the details of Kelly Preston or Benjamin Keough’s deaths, though, when it comes to scientology and scientologists, there are other factors that come into play - factors that are contained in the “scripture” of scientology that give a particularly dark tint to these terribly sad events. The heartbreakingly unfortunate truth is people commit suicide every single day, and people die of breast cancer … [Read more...]
Jenna Elfman — A Good Scientologist
A recent article in US Weekly quotes Jenna Elfman about "the controversy" around scientology. She is a shining example of how a good scientologist acts and speaks. Foolishly. While scientologists proclaim they have "the tech" to protect them from suppressive influences and they learn to "confront and shatter" this sort of thing, in fact, they avoid "suppression" at any cost. And by "suppression" they mean anything that is negative or even questioning about scientology. When they are confronted by such things, they run from it. Close their eyes. Hold their hands of their ears … [Read more...]
Tom Cruise, Nicole Kidman and Scientology
Marlow Stern has written an excellent piece in the Daily Beast concerning the relationship between David Miscavige, Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman: How Nicole Kidman Almost Got Tom Cruise to Leave Scientology. It is the 20 year anniversary of Eyes Wide Shut, the Stanley Kubrick film that was the catalyst for them nearly breaking away from scientology. There is little to add to Marlow's excellent reporting other than to reiterate that this piece highlights the inhumane practice of disconnection in scientology. Scientology claims disconnection is a "personal choice" -- but in reality the … [Read more...]
Scientology TV — What’s Missing?
Scientology is making a really big deal about their new episode featuring Chick Corea. Chick is an interesting story that has been mentioned before. He got into financial troubles when his wife was hammering his credit cards. David Miscavige had known Chick for a long time because his father, Ron, was good friends with Ron Moss, Chick's manager. (Ron Moss is father of Elisabeth Moss of Handmaid's Tale fame). Miscavige was alerted to the problem and not wanting a "flap" with one of scientology's longest term celebrities, brought in Lyman Spurlock as a CPA to look through his finances. … [Read more...]
Stand Double Standards
Not that this is big news... scientology is operating on a blatant double standard. I saw this on the STAAD twitter feed. Now of course, we could do an even better headline -- SCIENTOLOGY SUPPORTS ALLEGED RAPIST DANNY MASTERSON. The difference in the two cases is rather striking. The accuser of Haggis NEVER FILED a police complaint. In fact, the main accuser tried to get money from Paul Haggis to remain silent. HE went to law enforcement to report this. Masteron's victims all went to law enforcement -- and there are 4 of them of have filed police complaints and now after … [Read more...]
Doing The LAPD Hollywood Shuffle
Here is a recent Tweet from the Captain of the Hollywood Division of the LA PD. If the background of the shot of those two LAPD rockers looks familiar, it is because it is the Pavilion at scientology's Celebrity Centre. Corey Palka is promoting an event held at scientology Celebrity Centre. This while there is a pending investigation of rape charges against Danny Masterson, a big-timer at the Celebrity Centre, which is also home of the Chaplain, MAA, C/S, auditors and President's Office staff that dealt with the fallout of the reported incidents. This is the same Hollywood … [Read more...]