Book: Tom Cruise Talked To Bottles As Part Of Scientology Ritual
Posted on Nov 05, 2009 @ 01:40PM - 8 comments
Tom Cruise spent three weeks talking to books, bottles and door knobs while attempting to perform the (Scientology-related) task of auditing an underling, according to a 15-year veteran of the Church of Scientology, author Marc Headley, in his new book, Blown for Good.
Headley, a longtime employee at Scientology's formerly secret Southern California headquarters, said he witnessed Cruise's bizarre behavior 19 years ago, as the A-lister was coming off big box office hits such Born On The Fourth Of July, Rain Man and Days Of Thunder.
Tom And Katie Go Jogging--Hand In Hand
Posted on Nov 02, 2009 @ 11:48AM - 5 comments
They say that couple’s that do things together stay together.
Well, Hollywood super-couple Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes took that a step further after they were spotted jogging together holding hands!
The joined-at-the-hip par hit the streets of Boston, Massachusetts, where Cruise is currently filming his latest movie with Cameron Diaz.
PHOTOS: Tom And Cameron Film Together
REPORT: Tom Cruise Wedding Chef "Chased Down" By Scientology
Posted on Nov 01, 2009 @ 01:28PM - 13 comments
Working for Tom Cruise and other celebrity Scientologists can be treacherous if a member ever wants to leave the controversial church, according to a stunning new investigation.
Tom Cruise Is One Of Scientology's Most Devoted Members
What happened to Sinar Parman, the five star chef who prepared the 1990 wedding feast for Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman when he later made numerous attempts to leave Scientology, reads like a best-selling thriller. Except his story is true and told in great detail in Sunday's St. Petersburg Times.
Oscar-winning writer/director Paul Haggis shocked the Scientology world by abandoning the Church last week, and in an open letter, he addressed the subject of what happens to members who want to leave.
Paul Haggis Dumps Scientology
Scientology's U.S. base is in Clearwater, Florida and the local daily, the St. Pete Times, launched a three-part investigation into the church with its front page story on what happens to members who decide to leave.
Parman was a special case because of his involvement with celebs like Cruise.
"John Travolta gave him a carton of Camels for his birthday. Cruise brought him a jacket from the set of Days of Thunder and would hand him Cuban cigars," according to the Times. And Cruise personally selected him to prepare the food for his Christmas Eve wedding to Kidman in Telluride, CO.
Parman and his wife Shelly Wolff, who worked as a personal assistant to Scientology head David Miscavige (he was Cruise's Best Man), were estatic to be part of the Telluride adventure. For a variety of reasons though, only about a month later, they jointly made the decision to leave the Church, and fled in the middle of the night.
They were "free" for only a few weeks before they were tracked down at the home of a distant relative. After convincing the pair they only wanted to help them, a Scientology security team searched their luggage and clothes. They claimed to be looking for pictures Parman and Wolff might have taken at Cruise's wedding but found nothing.
Branded as "security particles," Parman and Wolff were taken to a local hotel where they were "audited" and "security checked" every day for a week. They finally agreed to return and "route out" properly under threat that this was the only way they would not suffer eternal damnation.
It was the beginning of a decade-long cat-and-mouse existence. Four more times the couple would leave, each time to be "chased down" by Scientology investigators and talked into returning. The couple's marriage fell apart under the pressure and they divorced in 1998.
Parman left Scientology for good in 2001; Wolff finally left in 2004 after signing a declaration blaming herself for everything that had happened.
"Had I the guts, I would have gotten up and gotten out of there," Wolff said of her last return to Scientology HQ. "But you're scared."
Oscar-Winner Paul Haggis' Stunning Departure From Scientology, Accuses Leader Tommy Davis Of "Lying" To The Public
Posted on Oct 26, 2009 @ 11:25AM - 26 comments
Tom Cruise, John Travolta and Jenna Elfman can count one less Hollywood A-Lister as a fellow Scientologist. In a shock heard-round-the-Scientology world, Paul Haggis has very publicly quit the organization. Among the acclaimed Haggis' many credits: he wrote Million Dollar Baby and Flags of Our Fathers for Clint Eastwood; and he produced/directed and wrote Crash for which he won an Oscar. He has an all-around stellar reputation in Hollywood as one of the good guys who made good.
Paul Haggis At The Premiere Of The Valley Of Elah
It was his conscience that made him quit the religion he's been part of for 35 years, Haggis said in a letter to Tommy Davis. Davis, the son of actress Anne Archer, is the face of Scientology, appearing on numerous TV interviews every year.
Roger Friedman, in his Hollywood Reporter column, Showbiz 411, broke the story Sunday, and published a copy of Haggis' letter to Davis.
Haggis first became disenchanted with Scientology last year when it backed Prop 8, the ban on gay marriage in California.
The director personally spoke to Davis about it. He claimed he was horrified at the news, Haggis wrote, and he'd get to the bottom of it. Nothing changed.
Then Haggis learned that in a CNN interview, Davis had laughed off the idea that Scientology has a policy of "disconnection." Haggis couldn't believe he was watching Davis "lying." His own family had suffered from disconnection when 18 months ago, his wife, actress-turned-producer Deborah Rennard was ordered to "disconnet" from her parents because of something Scientology officials claimed occured when they resigned from the church 25 year ago.
Perhaps coincidental to Haggis releasing his letter, Davis literally walked off the air during an ABC Nightline interview wth Martin Bashir Saturday night.
Here's Haggis' letter to Davis:
Tommy,
As you know, for ten months now I have been writing to ask you to make
a public statement denouncing the actions of the Church of Scientology
of San Diego. Their public sponsorship of Proposition 8, a hate-filled
legislation that succeeded in taking away the civil rights of gay and
lesbian citizens of California – rights that were granted them by the
Supreme Court of our state – shames us.
I called and wrote and implored you, as the official spokesman of
the church, to condemn their actions. I told you I could not, in good
conscience, be a member of an organization where gay-bashing was
tolerated.
In that first conversation, back at the end of October of last year,
you told me you were horrified, that you would get to the bottom of it
and “heads would roll.” You promised action. Ten months passed. No action
was forthcoming. The best you offered was a weak and carefully worded
press release, which praised the church’s human rights record and took
no responsibility. Even that, you decided not to publish.
The church’s refusal to denounce the actions of these bigots,
hypocrites and homophobes is cowardly. I can think of no other word.
Silence is consent, Tommy. I refuse to consent.
I joined the Church of Scientology thirty-five years ago. During my
twenties and early thirties I studied and received a great deal of
counseling. While I have not been an active member for many years,
I found much of what I learned to be very helpful, and I still apply
it in my daily life. I have never pretended to be the best Scientologist,
but I openly and vigorously defended the church whenever it was criticized,
as I railed against the kind of intolerance that I believed was directed
against it. I had my disagreements, but I dealt with them internally.
I saw the organization – with all its warts, growing pains and
problems – as an underdog. And I have always had a thing for underdogs.
But I reached a point several weeks ago where I no longer knew what to
think. You had allowed our name to be allied with the worst elements of
the Christian Right. In order to contain a potential “PR flap” you
allowed our sponsorship of Proposition 8 to stand. Despite all the
church’s words about promoting freedom and human rights, its name is
now in the public record alongside those who promote bigotry and
intolerance, homophobia and fear.
The fact that the Mormon Church drew all the fire, that no one noticed,
doesn’t matter. I noticed. And I felt sick. I wondered how the church
could, in good conscience, through the action of a few and then the
inaction of its leadership, support a bill that strips a group of its
civil rights.
This was my state of mind when I was online doing research and chanced
upon an interview clip with you on CNN. The interview lasted maybe ten
minutes – it was just you and the newscaster. And in it I saw you deny
the church’s policy of disconnection. You said straight-out there was no
such policy, that it did not exist.
I was shocked. We all know this policy exists. I didn’t have to search
for verification – I didn’t have to look any further than my own home.
You might recall that my wife was ordered to disconnect from her parents
because of something absolutely trivial they supposedly did twenty-five
years ago when they resigned from the church. This is a lovely retired
couple, never said a negative word about Scientology to me or anyone
else I know – hardly raving maniacs or enemies of the church. In fact
it was they who introduced my wife to Scientology.
Although it caused her terrible personal pain, my wife broke off all
contact with them. I refused to do so. I’ve never been good at following
orders, especially when I find them morally reprehensible.
For a year and a half, despite her protestations, my wife did not speak
to her parents and they had limited access to their grandchild. It was a
terrible time.
That’s not ancient history, Tommy. It was a year ago.
And you could laugh at the question as if it was a joke? You could
publicly state that it doesn’t exist?
To see you lie so easily, I am afraid I had to ask myself: what else
are you lying about?
The great majority of Scientologists I know are good people who are
genuinely interested in improving conditions on this planet and helping
others. I have to believe that if they knew what I now know, they too
would be horrified. But I know how easy it was for me to defend our
organization and dismiss our critics, without ever truly looking at what
was being said; I did it for thirty-five years. And so, after writing
this letter, I am fully aware that some of my friends may choose to no
longer associate with me, or in some cases work with me. I will always
take their calls, as I always took yours. However, I have finally come
to the conclusion that I can no longer be a part of this group. Frankly,
I had to look no further than your refusal to denounce the church’s
anti-gay stance, and the indefensible actions, and inactions, of those
who condone this behavior within the organization. I am only ashamed
that I waited this many months to act. I hereby resign my membership in
the Church of Scientology.
Sincerely,
Paul Haggis
Suri Cruise - A Little Lady
Posted on Oct 12, 2009 @ 10:02AM - 29 comments
Adorable Suri Cruise continued to play “grown-up” in Boston on Sunday after she went for a walk with her famous parents in high-heels while clutching a Starbucks coffee cup.
PHOTOS: Suri Cruise Out & About In Boston
Suri - who has been spotted wearing make-up in recent weeks – went for a walk with proud parents Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes as her dad took a weekend off from filming his new movie Wichita with Cameron Diaz.
EXCLUSIVE: Will & Jada New School Head’s Scientology Connection
Posted on Aug 07, 2009 @ 07:25PM - 17 comments
The new head of superstar Will Smith’s New Village Leadership Academy once studied Scientology, RadarOnline.com can reveal. On Wednesday we broke the story that Jada had fired the original hire after her position became “untenable” due to her disagreement with the Study Tech curriculum devised by Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard.
Click here for all the details behind the firing
Jada called Jacqueline Olivier to inform her of their decision and the couple filled the position at the private school in Calabasas, Calif., with Piano Foster who confirmed to RadarOnline.com that she began her duties on July 1. The school resumes in August.
“I’ve been working in education for the past 20 years at various public and charter schools so I feel I’m ready for the job.”
It seems one of Foster’s other possible qualifications stems from her knowledge of and participation in Scientology. Foster completed a Scientology Basic Study Manual course in 2005 and her name appears on an official Scientology list.
RadarOnline.com contacted The California Department of Education with regard to the school’s current status. From the beginning, the school has denied any affiliation to any religion, calling the institution nondenominational.
“I can confirm that the New Village Academy is registered with us.” Information Officer with the (CDE) Tina Jung said. “They signed an affidavit in line with our regulations which name’s Jaqueline Olivier as the Site Administrator. It is listed as a private business and as being ‘non-religious’ within the affidavit. New Village Leadership Academy is listed as a private business with the Secretary of State's Office.
EXCLUSIVE: Will and Jada Fire Head of Their School
Posted on Aug 05, 2009 @ 03:19PM - 5 comments
Will Smith and his wife Jada Pinkett Smith have fired the head of their controversial private school The New Village Leadership Academy, RadarOnline.com has learned exclusively.
Jacqueline Olivier - the woman the famous husband and wife enlisted to set up their Calabasas campus - was axed from her $200,000 a year position via a telephone call from the Matrix actress.
David Beckham & Tom Cruise: Inside Their “Bromance”
Posted on Jul 10, 2009 @ 10:33AM - 1 comment
Soccer star David Beckham was so impressed with superstar Tom Cruise that he named his youngest son’s after the Mission Impossible action hero.
Although it is spelled with a ‘z’, Beckham’s youngest son Cruz was given his moniker after his parents met Mr Cruise for the first time.
The revelation comes in a new book The Beckham Experiment by Grant Wahl that lift’s the lid on the relationship between two of the most famous men in the world.
Tom Cruise Agrees To Co-Produce Fourth Mission Impossible Movie
Posted on Jun 18, 2009 @ 07:01AM - Add a comment
A fourth installment in the Mission Impossible movie franchise will be released in 2011. Tom Cruise and director J.J. Abrams agreed to co-produce the next movie Wednesday.
Abrams, currently reaping the rewards of Star Trek success (which has grossed $335 million to date), will not be directing the fourth mission.
The films are adapted from the Paramount TV series of the same name, which ran from 1966 until 1973.
EXCLUSIVE VIDEO INTERVIEW: Ex-Wife Says David Carradine Rejected By Scientology
Posted on Jun 17, 2009 @ 03:47PM - Add a comment
On Saturday, hundreds of people, including friends, family and co-stars, said goodbye to actor David Carradine during a private funeral service held at Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills.
But in a new exclusive interview only with RadarOnline.com, Carradine’s third ex-wife, Gail Jensen, reveals the actor’s connection to the controversial church of Scientology, and how his “unique” lifestyle may have been too much for the teetotalling organization.
Jensen told RadarOnline.com that the church couldn’t handle David’s “rebellion.” “He loved to smoke, drink and was always late. They told him ‘you just don’t fit with our traditions.’”
Carradine’s desire to be accepted by Scientology may have been for sentimental reasons. The actor was baptized as an Episcopalian, but his mother was a strict Christian Scientist. According to Jensen, Carradine had several scientologist friends and attributed his role in Kill Bill to meeting director Quentin Tarantino at the Scientology Celebrity Center in Hollywood.
RUMOR PATROL: Suri NOT Starting Scientology Training
Posted on Apr 13, 2009 @ 06:58AM - Add a comment
With her third birthday five days away on April 18, what is famous tiny tot Suri Cruise set to get? Scientology classes! Or at least that's the rumor going around town. According to a British report, her parents Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes will send her to New Village Academy -- the school launched by Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith. RadarOnline.com reached out to the school who nixes the chatter.
