Scientologists Got Me Fired: Fox Columnist

Friedman says he was targeted for his criticism of cult
By Matt Cantor,  Newser Staff
Posted Jun 14, 2009 7:36 AM CDT
Scientologists Got Me Fired: Fox Columnist
Tom Cruise greets his fans at the Tokyo premiere of "Valkyrie" earlier this year. A source said Scientologist Cruise made Roger Friedman's firing a condition of his appearance in an upcoming Fox film.   (AP Photo/Toho Towa Co., HO)

A Fox News columnist sacked after he reviewed a pirated copy of Wolverine insists he was actually fired because he was targeted by Scientologists, reports the New York Daily News. Kelly Preston and a Scientology spokesman pressured Fox News boss Roger Ailes to ax Roger Friedman because of his pieces criticizing the cult, according to a source. Tom Cruise also may have made Friedman's firing a condition of his appearance in an upcoming Fox movie, said the source.

“I’ve seen how Scientology intimidates even the most powerful media. That seems to be what happened here,” said Friedman’s lawyer, who is expected to file a lawsuit this week over the firing. A lawyer for Preston called the charges “absurd and ridiculous.”
(More Fox News stories.)

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