On September 18, Scientology celeb Danny Masterson, 44, made his first appearance in court in a criminal case that has him facing 45 years to life for allegedly raping three different women. And he not only came to court that day in Los Angeles, he brought so many people with him that it caused several hours of disruption in the courthouse.
Sheriff’s deputies eventually allowed Masterson to bring a few people from his entourage into the courtroom with him. Among them was his brother-in-law, actor Billy Baldwin.
Baldwin, 57, is married to Chynna Phillips, 52, who is the half-sister of Masterson’s wife Bijou Phillips, 40.
Bijou wasn’t in court that day, but it’s understandable. She had a life-saving kidney transplant three years ago, and that puts her in the riskier population for Covid exposure.
She not only wasn’t in court, after her husband was charged with rape, she erased her social media presence entirely, and she’s made no public statements about it.
While we wait for the court case to develop, in our quest to learn more about Danny and the people he brought with him to court that day, we have begun watching the videos put out by his sister-in-law, Chynna Phillips Baldwin.
Chynna’s a YouTuber who shares with her audience her day to day challenges as a born-again Christian, which includes playfully sparring with her more skeptical husband, Billy Baldwin, who does his best to get along with her devotional drive.
On Memorial Day weekend, Chynna recorded one of her episodes with Baldwin while they were at the Masterson house in Santa Ynez, in Santa Barbara County. And we thought it was remarkable because Chynna and Billy speak directly with Bijou about how she perceives her husband, as a controlling “Strong Island” type who fits a kind of 1950s stereotype.
This conversation took place on May 24, almost a year after Masterson had been sued by the women who accuse him of raping them, and only 23 days before Masterson was charged criminally for raping three of the women.
For that reason, we thought the video was an interesting look inside this family that is going through so much at this time. Here’s Chynna’s video, and our transcript of it.
Chynna: Hey guys, I’m in Santa Ynez. Happy Sunday. My sister has a beautiful, outrageous ranch.
Bijou: I do.
Chynna: Isn’t it gorgeous?
Bijou: It’s amazing.
Chynna: And she is the one who introduced me to goat love a couple of weeks ago.
Chynna: Yeah, I showed them goat love. Say hi.
Bijou: Hi.
Chynna: Now she has her daughter in Christian school.
Bijou: I do.
Chynna: I do not have my children in Christian school.
Bijou: It’s a real issue. But I also send her a Christian homeschool because she does homeschool. So hopefully she does that. But we’ll see.
Chynna: I don’t…
Bijou: It’s a really great…
Chynna: I don’t know why…
Bijou: I’ve been emailing with them all day for the past couple days, working at homeschool.
Chynna: And we have a friend moving here from New York and she’s working on getting her daughter in Christian school.
Bijou: Yep.
Chynna: Because you really just believe in it now, huh?
Chynna: It is an amazing foundation.
Bijou: Yeah.
Chynna: What like broke your heart up into it. What made you feel like, ‘I’m putting my daughter in Christian school’?
Bijou: Well, I’m obsessed with you.
Chynna: Good answer.
Billy Baldwin: Aren’t we all?
Bijou: And so I just do whatever I can to make you happy.
Billy: Wait a second, I thought that was what I — you want to take over the reins? I mean I’ve been at this for 30 years.
Bijou: I feel like I’ve been at this for 40 years, so.
Chynna: Tell them a little bit about your husband and the parallels of my husband and your husband.
Bijou: So our husbands are both from Long Island and they’re both in families with brothers who act, and their moms are both named Carol.
Billy: Both mooks.
Bijou: We got married on their anniversary of dating.
Bijou: They both have three brothers and they’re both very ‘Strong Island’ guys.
Chynna: And a little controlling.
Billy: That’s what she means when she says very ‘Strong Island.’
Chynna: Yeah.
Billy: Yeah.
Chynna: How would you like us to rephrase ‘controlling’?
Bijou: Strong Island.
Jimmy DeBello: 1950s.
Billy: How would I’d like to, for you to rephrase that?
Chynna: Yeah.
Billy: I have to, well, I just wish that it’s just that, it could go on and on and on right now. I mean this is there’s thousands of different examples of, you know, like when you say, why are you always yelling, and I’m like who’s yelling? It’s like miscommunication. It’s a cultural thing, it’s an East Coast-West Coast thing. Bijou knows because she lived on both coasts. She was raised on the West Coast and on the East Coast, so she knows, like…
Chynna: So when I walk into a room and you say ‘get back in the kitchen’ — what is that…
Billy: It’s so funny, for the first time I was playing this character and Steve and Vance was in the other room and I was playing like, like, I was showing videos to Tyler of Joe Pesci’s performances that’s, you know the scene in ‘Raging Bull’ when Kathy Moriarty overcooks the steak…
Chynna: You don’t know that scene.
Billy: Yes you do. You don’t know the scene where…
Bijou: Which one?
Billy: In ‘Raging Bull’…
Bijou: Yes.
Billy: …when DeNiro’s wife burns the, overcooks the steak in it?
Bijou: Yeah.
Billy: And he’s like, what are you doing, you burning this thing…I gotta watch this scene again so I know the words, but yeah.
Chynna: That was very funny.
Billy: And I was, I was acting it out and then Chynna was saying, you’re being very aggressive, and I was saying stuff like, who asked you? Get back in the kitchen. Hey, you heard me? Get back in the kitchen. Do as you’re told.
Chynna: Do as you’re told.
Billy: The men are talking right now, right? Let the men talk, let the men talk. I’ll let you know. Just get back in the kitchen and Vance was like in the other room on his phone and he heard this and he was like, Hey!
Chynna: He was like, Dad, shut up!
Bijou: Right, to Chynna? And Vance got upset.
Chynna: Does Danny get that way with you?
Bijou: See, this is the deal — I’m also from Long Island, so…
Chynna: Oh right, so you give it right back.
Bijou: Yeah.
Chynna: You’re not afraid to get in his face.
Billy: Where I’m from, where I’m from the Irish girls and the Italian girls…
Bijou: That’s how you start making out.
Chynna: That’s how you start making out?
Bijou: It’s called foreplay, Chynna.
Billy: OK, you just took the words out of my, the girls that I…
Bijou: High five, Bill.
Billy: The Irish and Italian girls that I grew up with, if you do that to them it’s like a mating call…
Chynna: OK, OK.
Bijou: It is.
Billy: It is.
Bijou: It is.
Billy: They’re like, you say some, can I say stuff like this on your show?
Chynna: Of course.
Billy: You’re like, when you’re talking you’re having a conversation you’re calling somebody on bullshit, you’re like…
Chynna: Oh! You can’t say bad words that’s one thing you can’t do.
Bijou: Well there you go.
Billy: Then I can’t tell the story.
Chynna: Beep!
Bijou: Go on.
Billy: Yeah, well when I said that to the girls that I was growing up with, the Irish and Italian girls in Massapequa, Long Island, they were like you know, get the f—
Billy: You’re full of this and you’re full of that and get over your… I’ll show you, I’ll fix you, you know.
Chynna: Right.
Billy: And the beep-beep-beep-beep-beep when we were all 15 and 20 years old.
Chynna: Right.
Billy: But that’s like a cultural thing. If you’re from California and you’re laid back and you’re ‘Ohm.’ And then you throw a born-again Christian on top of that, it’s like I can’t say, I can’t say bad words anymore.
Chynna: No, you can’t. But the Holy Spirit, like if you’re sensitive to the Holy Spirit you really can’t say bad words anymore, it —
Billy: Holy Spirit, activate.
Chynna: California preachin’…
Billy: You’re supposed to turn the camera on you. Let’s go, take two.
Chynna: OK.
Billy: OK. And…
Chynna: Action.
Billy: Rolling, camera. Rolling, and…
Bijou: Action.
Billy: Holy Spirit, activate.
Chynna: Wait, you didn’t do the right rhythm. You didn’t do the right rhythm. You gotta slow it down, you’re doing it too fast, go.
Billy: You missed your cue.
Chynna: Go.
Billy: See, this is what she calls miscommunication, this is what, this is what we’re talking about. OK, cut, cut, cut.
Chynna: Go.
Billy: OK, roll camera…
Chynna: It’s Cal…
Billy: We’re speeding…
Chynna: OK, go.
Billy: I need an action cue. I can’t act without…
Chynna: Action!
Chynna: Preachin’…
Billy: The camera’s not on you.
Chynna: Oh sorry I forgot to turn it.
Billy: People, this is what I’m talking about, this is what I’m talking about. It’s called a pan.
Chynna: OK.
Billy: It’s called a reverse pan.
Chynna: OK, sorry. Do it again. OK, try again.
Billy: OK, sound rolling, and turn over
Chynna: I can’t find my cue.
Billy: And action.
Chynna: Go.
Billy: Give you the cue.
Chynna: California Holy — that’s how it has to go, OK, so it’s California…
Chynna: California preachin’ — I can’t do it. I can’t do it…
Billy: And what’s your quote, you’re the what, you’re the most talented what in the family?
Chynna: Person?
Billy: Actor. You’re the Oscar winner without the Oscar?
Chynna: Yeah, I am. I’m an Academy Award-winning actress that’s never won her Academy Award. That’s the truth, isn’t it?
Bijou: It’s true.
Billy: Just say action.
Chynna: It’s true.
Bijou: Action.
Chynna: You’re a really good actress too.
Billy: Holy!
Bijou: Thanks a lot.
Billy: Holy spirit…
Billy: Holy Spirit!
Chynna: Can you do it? Here we go. Ready, and, California…
Billy: Holy Spirit, activate!
Chynna: California…
Billy: We only need to do it once, we only need to do it once.
Chynna: We really blew that one big time.
Billy: We, who’s we, sucka?
Chynna: Look, that’s Molly. Everyone say hi to Molly.
Bijou: Molly’s also called Bernie Sanders.
Billy: Why? I love that.
Bijou: I love it too.
Chynna: Because she looks like Bernie Sanders.
Bijou: Because she looks like Bernie Sanders.
Bijou: Aw, Bernie Sanders, we’re sorry.
Chynna: All right, anybody have anything they want to say, because I’m wrapping it up.
Chynna: You want to pray for us, Beej?
Bijou: No, I’m good. I love you, I love you guys.
Billy: This is what, this is what I don’t like about when you get us on your show. You like throw these things at us…
Bijou: I’ve never been invited on the show.
Billy: We’ve got incredible improvisational chops, but putting us in your Christian show and say ‘lead the prayer,’ it’s like I don’t know if that’s in my repertoire, OK? Especially with the way people…You know the way I, I pray, too.
Chynna: You pray so beautifully, baby…
Billy: But I don’t pray like the way I hear, you know, evangelical Christians pray.
Chynna: Will you just try to lead us in prayer right now? Thank you.
Billy: OK. Well, we’re up here for the — what are you laughing at?
Chynna: Well? You’re going to start it with ‘well’? Can you…
Billy: Well, here we go. Meanwhile, the camera’s on my chin. Is that even…I’ve been going like this the whole time.
Billy: I’m very excited to be here this weekend with my wife’s…
Chynna: Can you start it with ‘Lord’ or like ‘Jesus’ or ‘Father’…
Billy: I’m learning.
Chynna: OK, here we go.
Billy: Lord God…
Chynna: Yes.
Billy: Here we go. I’m so excited to be here this weekend. We are with Bijou…
Bijou: Hi.
Billy: Come on, it’s…
Chynna: We’re praying Beej.
Bijou: Oh, sorry.
Chynna: OK.
Billy: It’s on me, I’m praying.
Billy: And I’m very excited to be here to spend time with her, her and her husband Danny and their lovely daughter Fiona and it’s Memorial Day weekend and we have so much to be grateful for and so much to be thankful for — show Bijou — we do have so much to be grateful for and so much to be thankful — this is not a mockery, I’m totally serious, but when I’m around these guys I giggle a lot. They make me laugh a lot…
Bijou: This isn’t actually going on your show…
Billy: Yes, it is. It is. Watch, it’s, they, we’re like Ricky and Lucy, the two of us, I’m telling you. And… You’re just laughing because I don’t know really know how to pray that well, do I? Do you want me to throw like a…
Chynna: You’re doing so good, keep going.
Bijou: Just pray, please. Please continue praying
Billy: I’m excited for Memorial Day weekend and let’s honor those…
Chynna: Amen.
Billy: …that we’re celebrating this weekend…
Chynna: Yes.
Bijou: Yes.
Billy: …who died in combat, that’s Memorial Day.
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In July the Australian Seven News network cancelled at the last minute a ten-part nightly news in-depth investigation of the Church of Scientology and its history of dirty tricks operations. All ten episodes have now been leaked to the Internet, and we’ve collected all ten links in one place. Judge for yourself why Tom Cruise and Tommy Davis might not have wanted viewers to see this hard-hitting series by journalist Bryan Seymour.
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“I went to a Picasso show one day with a fellow from Greenwich Village. He was wearing a turtleneck sweater and I was wearing a business suit, and everybody who was coming to the Picasso show was dressed in tails and ermine wraps and evening gowns. This was really swell, it was really upstage…I was interested in the neurosis from which Picasso was probably suffering, but more importantly, in why he was doing it. I was coming to the conclusion that it was just a big experiment, as far as he was concerned, whereby he was testing color and design lines. We were going hot and heavy. This artist would say, ‘Oh, but no! There is so much soul! There’s this! There’s that.’ And I would say, ‘No, it just merely looks to me like he’s got a libido complex or something.’ We got up to the second floor, and he and I had such a falling out about one of the paintings that we reached a static, and we were silent for a moment. We happened to look around and we had about fifty people following us along the line of pictures and listening to us. Some of them were trying hard to look very edified. So I got very interested in the people who were watching the Picasso show and took a series of notes. I wrote an article for the New Yorker on it.” — L. Ron Hubbard, October 12, 1951
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“When you identify someone you don’t know as a troll who is trained as a ninja, you might give thanks that you are still breathing without the assistance of paramedics.”
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2001: Rob Clark reported that Scientology is promoting a new website which blames the World Trade Centers attack on the psychiatrists. “A new website provides answers to the unnerving question gnawing at everyone’s mind since the recent violent terrorist attacks on America: ‘What sort of person is capable of such evil?’ Two figures who feature prominently in CCHR’s website are psychiatrist and surgeon, Dr. Ayman al-Zawhariri, chief advisor and doctor to Osama bin-Laden, and Ali A. Mohamed, a psychologist who has trained bin-Laden’s terrorist troops in combat and psychological warfare.”
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“I had really bad nightmares when I was young — one was a nightly reoccurring one that lasted almost a year and almost drove me insane. Something about HR Pufnstuf reminds me of those dreams. My dream would start soon as I laid down because in the dream I was still awake lying in my bed. All of the sudden reptilian hands would shoot up from underneath the end of the bed and grab my legs and pull me underneath the bed dragging me at breakneck speed down a hellish tunnel where creatures were living in the walls to meet my arch nemesis King Frog and his henchman Baby Huey. They would torture me for hours laughing and mocking me.”
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Full Court Press: What we’re watching at the Underground Bunker
Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Demurrer filed by Masterson, arraignment delayed to October 19.
— Jay and Jeff Spina, Medicare fraud: Jay’s sentencing is set for October 29 in White Plains, NY. Jeffrey’s is set for October 24.
— Hanan and Rizza Islam and other family members, Medi-Cal fraud: Next pretrial conference set for Jan 12 in Los Angeles
— Dennis Nobbe, Medicare fraud, PPP loan fraud: Charged July 29. Bond revoked Sep 14. Nobbe dead, Sep 14.
Civil litigation:
— Luis and Rocio Garcia v. Scientology: Oral arguments were heard on July 30 at the Eleventh Circuit
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’ Petition for a writ of mandate filed with Cal 2nd Appellate District, Sept 10.
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson: Oct 26 (motions to compel arbitration)
— Jane Doe v. Scientology (in Miami): Jane Doe dismissed the lawsuit on May 15 after the Clearwater Police dropped their criminal investigation of her allegations.
— Matt and Kathy Feschbach tax debt: Eleventh Circuit ruled on Sept 9 that Feshbachs can’t discharge IRS debt in bankruptcy. Update required in federal lawsuit on Oct 19.
— Brian Statler Sr v. City of Inglewood: Second amended complaint filed, trial set for Nov 9, 2021.
— Author Steve Cannane defamation trial: Trial concluded, awaiting verdict.
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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] Scientology wants your children: The 1957 lecture they think will convince you
[TWO years ago] Dave’s shrinkage: Help us determine turnout for Scientology’s IAS 2018 gala
[THREE years ago] ‘Miss Lovely’ as you’ve never seen her — new photos of Paulette Cooper, war survivor
[FOUR years ago] DRONE FLYOVER FINALE: Getting a close look at Scientology’s secret New Mexico compound
[FIVE years ago] That time Scientology’s Sea Org grunts donned cut-offs and bikinis to fake out L. Ron Hubbard
[SIX years ago] Scientology Sunday Funnies: In valleys near and far, it’s time to stand and deliver!
[SEVEN years ago] TOMKAT PROJECT IN LOS ANGELES: Here’s Your Chance to Help the Show Get to Tinseltown
[EIGHT years ago] Scientology Metaphysics: How Do Thetans Work?
[NINE years ago] Scientology Hates Clean Ice: The “Fair Game” Operation That Should Turn Your Stomach
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Bernie Headley (1952-2019) did not see his daughter Stephanie in his final 5,667 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 2,087 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 2,591 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 2,111 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 1,131 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 1,022 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 4,329 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 2,197 days.
Carol Nyburg has not seen her daughter Nancy in 2,971 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 3,775 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 3,091 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 11,657 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 7,576 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 3,744 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 3,325 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 3,586 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 2,624 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 2,337 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 1,862 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 1,392 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 5,952 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 3,092 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 3,412 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 8,267 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 3,386 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 1,742 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 6,045 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 2,151 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 2,553 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 2,425 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 2,008 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 2,503 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 2,757 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 13,866 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on October 12, 2020 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, 1995-2019 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2019), 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, 14 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
