Scientology

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Son of Linkin Park Frontman Slams Replacement Pick

Jaime Bennington, son of Chester, isn't a fan of co-vocalist Emily Armstrong

(Newser) - Count Jaime Bennington among the people who aren't happy with Linkin Park's new co-vocalist Emily Armstrong. In an Instagram story, the 28-year-old son of late frontman Chester Bennington accused band founder Mike Shinoda of "quietly [erasing] my father's life and legacy in real time," per...

Leah Remini Sues Church of Scientology

She accuses organization of 'psychological torture'

(Newser) - Former Church of Scientology member Leah Remini has filed a lawsuit against the organization and leader David Miscavige, accusing them of organizing "coordinated and malicious assaults" after her departure. "For 17 years, Scientology and David Miscavige have subjected me to what I believe to be psychological torture, defamation,...

Lawyers Can't Track Down Scientology's David Miscavige

They've been trying to serve him papers for months in 2 states

(Newser) - As head of Scientology, David Miscavige keeps an extremely low public profile. But opposing lawyers have been surprised to find out how low—they have unsuccessfully attempted to serve him papers in a federal trafficking case at least 27 times over the last four months, reports TMZ . It's possible...

Rape Trial for That '70s Show Star Begins
Jury Deadlocks in
Actor's Rape Trial
updated

Jury Deadlocks in Actor's Rape Trial

Danny Masterson's new trial is scheduled for March

(Newser) - Seven times over the past two days, the jury in actor Danny Masterson's rape trial took votes on the three charges. The counts were 10-2, 8-4, and 7-5 for acquittal, per the Hollywood Reporter . The jury then said it's clear that its members "are adamant about maintaining...

Ex-Scientology Official Details Breaking Free of 'Mind Prison'

Mike Rinder hopes to reach his adult children with his book

(Newser) - Mike Rinder says he'd probably have never left Scientology if its founder, L. Ron Hubbard, were still alive. For Rinder, who grew up in the church and became one of its top executives, life in Scientology changed when David Miscavige took over in 1987 after Hubbard's death. The...

As Top Gun Soars, Leah Remini Has a Warning About Tom Cruise
As Top Gun
Soars, Leah
Remini Has a
Warning About
Tom Cruise
in case you missed it

As Top Gun Soars, Leah Remini Has a Warning About Tom Cruise

'Don’t let the movie star charm fool you'

(Newser) - Top Gun: Maverick may be sitting atop the box office (or, at least, near the top since Jurassic World: Dominion premiered), but as far as Leah Remini is concerned, that doesn't mean the world should give Tom Cruise and his religion a pass. "Tom Cruise knows exactly what...

Laura Prepon: I'm Done With Scientology

Actress reveals she stopped practicing 5 years ago

(Newser) - Laura Prepon, who once said Scientology was "magic," is no longer practicing the controversial religion. The That '70s Show and Orange Is the New Black star tells People that she stopped years ago, but didn't go public with the decision until now. "I'm no...

Scientology Foe Dies, Estranged
Scientology
Foe Dies,
Estranged

Scientology Foe Dies, Estranged

Ron Miscavige was a vocal opponent of the organization run by his son David

(Newser) - Ron Miscavige, who defected from the Church of Scientology and became a leading opponent from outside the organization run by his son, has died. Miscavige, 85, died Monday after suffering from health problems including cancer for years, the Tampa Bay Times reports. He introduced his son David to Scientology when...

Scientology Takes Center Stage in Danny Masterson Rape Case

Judge says church doctrine forbid alleged victims from going to police

(Newser) - A four-day preliminary hearing at the Los Angeles County Superior Court last week focused as much on rape charges against actor Danny Masterson as on the practices of the Church of Scientology. Judge Charlaine Olmedo, who allowed the case to proceed to trial, concluded Masterson's three alleged victims didn'...

Leah Remini Blasts Cruise's COVID Rant

'He is an abusive person. ... This is the real Tom,' says ex-Scientologist of church's famous member

(Newser) - It was the rant heard round the world, and it's one that now has an ex-Scientologist pitted against the most famous one. Last week, Tom Cruise was heard in leaked audio from the Mission: Impossible 7 movie set berating crew members who weren't following COVID protocols to his...

After Danny Masterson's Arrest, Remini Calls Out Scientology

'Your days of getting away with it is coming to an end!'

(Newser) - Leah Remini had a strong response to news of actor and Scientologist Danny Masterson's arrest on rape charges : "Praise the lord!" Remini has loudly criticized the Church of Scientology since her exit in 2013, and last August she sat down with two women who accused Masterson of...

Scientology Opens New Church in a Controversial Way

Officials are apologizing after hundreds of balloons were released

(Newser) - The Church of Scientology apparently wasn't thinking about the environment when it opened a new church in southern California Saturday. Images shared by the church show hundreds of helium balloons being released during the Ventura center's grand opening, KTLA reports. The pictures quickly sparked anger, with groups including...

Claim: Scientology Poisoned Singer's Dog Amid Rape Accusations

Cedric Bixler-Zavala claims the Church is protecting actor Danny Masterson

(Newser) - A progressive rock singer claims Scientologists have poisoned his family dog—again. Cedric Bixler-Zavala, lead singer of Mars Volta and At the Drive-In, says he put down his dog this week after it ate poisoned meat tossed into the yard by Church of Scientology members, per the Hollywood Reporter . "...

Beck Is in a Weird Squabble With Leah Remini

Over his past, or lack thereof, with Scientology

(Newser) - Beck has long been reported to be a Scientologist—the singer's father is one, and Beck was married for 14 years to Marissa Ribisi, twin of actor Giovanni Ribisi and member of a well-known Scientology family—and he's discussed his association with the religion in multiple interviews. But...

Leah Remini: 'Scientology Took My Dad'

She says she wasn't told about his death for a month

(Newser) - Former Scientologist Leah Remini says it took her a month to find out that her estranged father had died—and she blames the organization for destroying her relationship with him. In an Instagram post , the outspoken Scientology critic says she and her sister Nicole didn't know about George Remini'...

Ex-Scientologist Who Fled in Trunk of Car Sues Church

She accuses it of human trafficking, false imprisonment, child abuse

(Newser) - A "Jane Doe" who was in the Church of Scientology for nearly 40 years is suing the organization, accusing it of human trafficking, false imprisonment, child abuse, and many other misdeeds. The woman says she was in the organization from her birth in 1979 and eventually fled in 2016...

Officials: Scientology Ship Quarantined Over Measles

Nearly 300 people are stuck on the Freewinds docked in St. Lucia

(Newser) - On the Freewinds cruise ship, there's one person currently being kept in isolation with the measles—while nearly 300 others are being kept on board at a port in St. Lucia. The 440-foot-long ship has been quarantined since Monday due to a female crew member's measles diagnosis, meaning...

Isabella Cruise: Scientology Training 'Exactly What I Needed'

Tom Cruise's adopted daughter wants others to follow her lead, per a mailer

(Newser) - Like her father, Isabella Cruise is apparently gung-ho for Scientology. "If you are going to make it as a being for the long run you NEED this. That's the truth," the 26-year-old adopted daughter of Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman writes of her training to become a...

Scarlett Johansson: No, I Did Not Audition to Be Tom Cruise's Girlfriend

Actress hits back at former Scientologist's claim

(Newser) - During an appearance on Megyn Kelly Today Wednesday, former Scientologist Brendan Tighe said that Scarlett Johansson once auditioned to be Tom Cruise's girlfriend. Johansson was having none of it, quickly hitting back with a statement to E! News . "The very idea of any person auditioning to be in...

Church of Scientology Launches TV Channel

'We're not here to preach to you, to convince you or to convert you'

(Newser) - The Church of Scientology launched its own TV channel with a vow that it will be candid about every aspect of the church and its operations but isn't seeking to preach or convert. "There's a lot of talk about us. And we get it," church leader...

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