Twitter lit up yesterday with people agonizing over the new Top Gun 2 trailer showing Tom Cruise playing his old character Pete “Maverick” Mitchell, some 34 years after the first film was released.
Of course the thing looks gorgeous, and the fighter jet porn is choice, but forgive us if we found Cruise’s two lines a bit hackneyed. However, the reaction we saw online was less about the clip’s cinematic qualities and more about Tom’s connection to Scientology, now that the organization’s controversies are a lot better known by the public than the last time Maverick took to the skies.
We collected a few reactions to give you some sense of the variety we saw. We figure Top Gun 2 will crush the box office regardless of how much Cruise has been connected to Scientology’s abuses, but it appears that a lot of fans will be going to the theater feeling awfully conflicted about it.
As always, we’re interested in your reaction. Looking forward to the movie? Staying away on principle? Going to the theater and hating yourself for it? Let us know.
I'm sorry I just can't get behind Tom Cruise and his Scientology. He's so complicit in some of the terrible terrible things that they do I just can't ever watch him in a movie or anywhere else.
— Elizabeth Burke 🌊 (@BurkesLawNYC) July 19, 2019
I wont be watching this. Cruise is culpable in the abuses happening in Scientology. He gets no money from me.
— TeeJay (@Siouxwin) July 19, 2019
I have seen Top Gun many times, but since learning of Tom Cruises involvement in scientology, I will not pay to watch this sequel. #scientologyhurtspeople #ScientologyTheAftermath
— Robin K (@rbnkay1) July 19, 2019
AdvertisementI hate hate hate Scientology with the rage of 1000 suns, but damn I like his movies. MI:FALLOUT man!
— Will (@Sideshow_Bill) July 19, 2019
TC is on my Shit List, and I won't watch his movies. I try every which way not to give money to Scientology.
— AJ Fitzwater (@AJFitzwater) July 18, 2019
In the mid 90's Tom could do no wrong & now a couple Scientology documentaries later everyone's shutting on his trailer lol. If he's going fullbore on the stunts like he did for Mission impossible I think it will be good.
— Hektic_One (@Hektic1One) July 18, 2019
This annoys me. After years of personal protest against this scientology wacko, a Tom Cruise movie that can’t be avoided. In fact I can not bloody wait. Top Gun: Maverick – Official Trailer (2020) – Paramount Pictures https://t.co/xxURaswpPA
— Virginia Proud (@VirginiaProud) July 18, 2019
I wonder if his scientology bodyguards are in the movie
— IntangiblesNFLpod (@IntangiblesNFL) July 18, 2019
Who wants to see this Scientology freak.
Like so many in his age group, they only have remakes of things they did.— SandraLynnCollie (@SandraLynnColl3) July 18, 2019
Tom Cruise would be great to raid Area 51. His Scientology ass could go full mission impossible on the guards
— Nightime Knights fan (@CagefaceKells) July 19, 2019
AdvertisementI love this movie growing up. But now that I know that Tom Cruise is one of the top leaders of an abusive and dangerous cult, Scientology, I just don’t see how we can support him in his financial endeavors.
— Holly Pierson (@holly_pierson) July 19, 2019
If Tom is up to any freaky stuff at Scientology I hope it comes out after I die. I love all his movies because in every movie Tom Cruise plays Tom Cruise.
— Michael Sheridan (@MSH3RIDAN) July 19, 2019
He looks pretty good but holy cow the whole Scientology thing has weirded me out.
— Shelly Cline (@JudithMarie3) July 19, 2019
BONUS QUESTION: As Cruise gears up for the TP2 publicity train, what would you like to see a reporter ask him?
Why, for example, has no reporter ever asked him about this…
Or this?
Oh heck, even this?
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The Cult Awareness Podcast, episode 2!
TV actor Jerry Minor leads us again in discussion of Scientology, Jehovah’s Witnesses, and other subjects along with his co-hosts Jim Underdown and your proprietor in the second episode of the Cult Awareness Podcast!
You’ll notice that with this second episode, we’re slipping into a regular format of about 40 minutes in length. Have a listen and then let us know what you think. We would also love to get your questions about the subjects we cover.
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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] Judge to Garcias: Scientology can lie and cheat and there’s nothing I can do about it
[TWO years ago] VIDEO: ‘Scientology Kills’ protest at Dublin concert enrages Jive Aces musician
[THREE years ago] ‘Call Me’ says their billboard — and their daughter in Scientology did just that
[FOUR years ago] Mile High and climbing: Chris Shelton helps us tell the tale of Scientology and ‘Miss Lovely’
[FIVE years ago] VIDEO: L. Ron Hubbard solves the Cold War and your bad marriage
[SIX years ago] STACY DAWN MURPHY: One Year After Her Death, Still No Answers
[SEVEN years ago] Case Closed: Paul Thomas Anderson’s Script for The Master is Nothing But Scientology
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Bernie Headley has not seen his daughter Stephanie in 5,512 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 1,641 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 2,145 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 1,665 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 685 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 576 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 3,883 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 1,751 days.
Carol Nyburg has not seen her daughter Nancy in 2,525 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 3,299 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 2,645 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 11,211 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 7,130 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 3,298 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 2,879 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 3,140 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 2,179 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 1,891 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 1,417 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 5,506 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 2,646 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 2,966 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 7,822 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 2,941 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 1,296 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 5,599 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 1,705 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 2,107 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 1,979 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 1,562 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 2,057 days.
Mary Jane Sterne has not seen her daughter Samantha in 2,311 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 13,420 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on July 19, 2019 at 07:00
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Our new book with Paulette Cooper, Battlefield Scientology: Exposing L. Ron Hubbard’s dangerous ‘religion’ is now on sale at Amazon in paperback and Kindle formats. Our book about Paulette, The Unbreakable Miss Lovely: How the Church of Scientology tried to destroy Paulette Cooper, is on sale at Amazon in paperback, Kindle, and audiobook versions. We’ve posted photographs of Paulette and scenes from her life at a separate location. Reader Sookie put together a complete index. More information can also be found at the book’s dedicated page.
The Best of the Underground Bunker, 1995-2018 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2018), The Village Voice (2008-2012), New Times Los Angeles (1999-2002) and the Phoenix New Times (1995-1999)
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
Watch our short videos that explain Scientology’s controversies in three minutes or less…
Check your whale level at our dedicated page for status updates, or join us at the Underground Bunker’s Facebook discussion group for more frivolity.
Our non-Scientology stories: Robert Burnham Jr., the man who inscribed the universe | Notorious alt-right inspiration Kevin MacDonald and his theories about Jewish DNA | The selling of the “Phoenix Lights” | Astronomer Harlow Shapley‘s FBI file | Sex, spies, and local TV news | Battling Babe-Hounds: Ross Jeffries v. R. Don Steele
