NFL Hall of Fame running back Marshall Faulk handed Scientology its most visible public boost in a long time yesterday by appearing on the Fox News morning program “Fox & Friends” to plug the Church of Scientology’s front group Foundation for a Drug-Free World ahead of this weekend’s Super Bowl game.
For seven years, Scientology has targeted the Super Bowl for its biggest publicity push each year, airing an ad for the church itself in some markets. At its New Year’s Event held in Los Angeles last month, David Miscavige previewed this year’s new ad for his audience, and we will be looking for it during Sunday’s game.
But this year the publicity push has started early with Faulk’s appearance.
Drug-Free World is one of several “social betterment” groups that Scientology operates, usually counting on the public (or clueless TV hosts) not to realize that they are propaganda arms of the church itself.
As our Rod Keller has pointed out numerous times, Drug-Free World targets school districts and police departments while pushing L. Ron Hubbard’s quack theories about drugs that are ignorant or even dangerous. Drug-Free World booklets, for example, include nonsense like this, which comes from Hubbard’s book Dianetics…
Drugs essentially are poisons. The degree to which they are taken determines the effect. A small amount gives a stimulant. A greater amount acts as a sedative. A larger amount acts as a poison and can kill one. This is true of any drug. Each has a different amount. Caffeine is a drug. So coffee is an example. 100 cups of coffee would probably kill a person. Ten cups would probably put him to sleep. Two or three cups stimulate.
Faulk’s appearance was brief, and typically rushed in the morning-show style. After chatting about Tom Brady and Sunday’s game, Faulk had just a few moments to promote Drug-Free World when show host Brian Kilmeade brought it up in what was clearly a planned plug at about the 2:30 mark…
Brian Kilmeade: Let’s talk about your partnership. You’re partnering with the Foundation for a Drug-Free World.
Marshall Faulk: Yes.
Kilmeade: That’s a pretty broad thing, what’s your goal?
Faulk: Well, just educating people. Just think about all the information that there is in the world when you want to learn about something. Why not, when you’re young, learn about what’s going to happen. If you’re an adult and want to indulge, understand what it is that you are doing when you’re indulging in something.
Kilmeade: Especially in the age of legalized pot.
Faulk: Yes. Let’s educate our…
Kilmeade: Where do you stand on that?
Faulk: Um, I, it’s, to each their own. I say no, but to each their own. But educate yourself if you choose to indulge.
Faulk also appeared on a YouTube program yesterday and pushed Drug-Free World’s program.
“This is information on how drugs affect the human body…you need to understand what you’re putting in your body,” Faulk said.
Prior to yesterday’s two appearances, however, we didn’t find any involvement of Faulk in either Drug-Free World or in Scientology itself. But Scientology leader David Miscavige has to be thrilled that he has an NFL Hall of Famer pushing one of his most active front groups. We’ll be looking to see how much more publicity Faulk can get for the group over the big football weekend.
Meanwhile, Miscavige also got some help from John Travolta and Kelly Preston, who managed to get a glowing puff piece on a recent cover of Us Weekly magazine extolling Scientology’s help with the loss of their son Jett in 2009. Us Weekly had been hammering Scientology over the last couple of years.
Miscavige usually tries to find a way to distract attention away when he’s getting a lot of negative press, and Leah Remini’s focus on his missing wife, highlighted in an episode of Scientology and the Aftermath that aired on December 18, and an upcoming episode about Danny Masterson, scheduled for February 18, has been especially damaging for the church leader.
So keep your eyes peeled for Scientology celebrities speaking up about L. Ron Hubbard in the coming days. And let us know if you spot Faulk over the weekend keeping up his flogging of Scientology’s quack drugs front.
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Start making your plans!
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Scientology’s celebrities, ‘Ideal Orgs,’ and more!
We’ve been building landing pages about David Miscavige’s favorite playthings, including celebrities and ‘Ideal Orgs,’ and we’re hoping you’ll join in and help us gather as much information as we can about them. Head on over and help us with links and photos and comments.
Scientology’s celebrities, from A to Z! Find your favorite Hubbardite celeb at this index page — or suggest someone to add to the list!
Scientology’s ‘Ideal Orgs,’ from one end of the planet to the other! Help us build up pages about each these worldwide locations!
Scientology’s sneaky front groups, spreading the good news about L. Ron Hubbard while pretending to benefit society!
Scientology Lit: Books reviewed or excerpted in our weekly series. How many have you read?
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THE WHOLE TRACK
[ONE year ago] Viewers react to Tampa NBC affiliate saying Scientology is sponsoring Winter Olympics
[TWO years ago] The odd and slightly troubling thing Elon Musk and L. Ron Hubbard have in common
[THREE years ago] MONIQUE RATHBUN FIRES HER ENTIRE LEGAL TEAM, REPORTEDLY SEEKS SETTLEMENT
[FOUR years ago] About that Scientology ad you saw on TV before and during the Super Bowl
[FIVE years ago] Jon Atack takes apart the Scientology E-meter
[SIX years ago] Blogging Dianetics, Part 5: Your Mind is a 1950s Computer
[SEVEN years ago] The 5 Worst Things Judges Have Said About Scientology
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Bernie Headley has not seen his daughter Stephanie in 5,347 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 1,478 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 1,980 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 1,460 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 523 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 411 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 3,718 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 1,586 days.
Carol Nyburg has not seen her daughter Nancy in 2,360 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 3,134 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 2,480 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 11,046 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 6,966 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 3,133 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 2,714 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 2,974 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 2,014 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 1,726 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 1,252 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 5,341 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 2,481 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 2,801 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 7,657 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 2,776 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 1,132 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 5,434 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 1,540 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 1,943 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 1,814 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 1,397 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 1,892 days.
Mary Jane Sterne has not seen her daughter Samantha in 2,146 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 13,255 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on February 1, 2019 at 07:00
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Other links: BLOGGING DIANETICS: Reading Scientology’s founding text cover to cover | UP THE BRIDGE: Claire Headley and Bruce Hines train us as Scientologists | GETTING OUR ETHICS IN: Jefferson Hawkins explains Scientology’s system of justice | SCIENTOLOGY MYTHBUSTING: Historian Jon Atack discusses key Scientology concepts | Shelly Miscavige, ten years gone | The Lisa McPherson story told in real time | The Cathriona White stories | The Leah Remini ‘Knowledge Reports’ | Hear audio of a Scientology excommunication | Scientology’s little day care of horrors | Whatever happened to Steve Fishman? | Felony charges for Scientology’s drug rehab scam | Why Scientology digs bomb-proof vaults in the desert | PZ Myers reads L. Ron Hubbard’s “A History of Man” | Scientology’s Master Spies | The mystery of the richest Scientologist and his wayward sons | Scientology’s shocking mistreatment of the mentally ill | The Underground Bunker’s Official Theme Song | The Underground Bunker FAQ
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