You’ve heard from Mike Rinder and from Leah Remini about Tom Cruise’s Covid rant that is the talk of social media.
And now we’ve also heard from Tom DeVocht, a former top Scientology official who worked as closely with church leader David Miscavige as anyone else, and who also closely observed the friendship between Miscavige and Cruise. DeVocht talked about his relationship with Miscavige in HBO’s 2015 documentary Going Clear.
Here’s the message he sent us today:
I’m not sure if I ever shared this story with any of you but all the noise surrounding Tom Cruise’s on-set outburst regarding Covid precautions (mind you I’m all for taking precautions) reminded me of this and I thought I’d tell you.
This occurred not long before I left Scientology and I was still “in good standing” with Miscavige. I believe this was around the time we were in the UK and Tom did his now infamous IAS speech.
Tom is referring to October 2004, when Miscavige gave a “Freedom Medal of Valor” to Cruise. As we’ve recounted many times, when Cruise was with his second wife Nicole Kidman he had drifted away from Scientology for several years. But after they had broken up at the end of 2000, Miscavige made it job one to get Cruise back in the fold. He relied on Marty Rathbun to make that happen, and by 2004 they had amped up Cruise as a major Scientology zealot. Miscavige wanted to reward Cruise for it, and so they gave him a medal and put together a video interview of Tom that was leaked to the Internet in 2008.
Miscavige had been on the hunt for, or at least talking about, finding a new “Inspector General” for the RTC at the time. Of course he was conflicted in finding anyone because damned if anyone could do it better than himself and he needed to maintain full control.
The Religious Technology Center (RTC) is the nominally controlling entity in Scientology (actually the real power is in the Sea Organization, which has no legal status), and Miscavige runs the RTC as its Chairman of the Board. That’s why Scientologists refer to him as “C.O.B.”
After Dave, the Inspector General would be the second most powerful figure at the RTC. DeVocht says that the position had been vacant for some time.
Excitedly one evening Dave told me, “I think I am going to make Tom [Cruise] my Inspector General. He’s more on-purpose than anyone.” I must have looked somewhat surprised because he then added, “Of course I don’t think he can actually do it, that’s not my point, he’s nowhere near smart enough to actually do it!” He continued: “But Tom is an excellent actor! He could be my Inspector General because he could play the part exactly like I would: exactly like I tell him to and people would believe him! I mean it!”
Miscavige had a certain disdain for Cruise (of course he did for everyone particularly anyone who was more popular or threatening to him). So when I heard the soundbite of Tom going off on the set — yes it sounded just like Dave — I realized that Miscavige might have done it and made Cruise IG. He might have molded Tom into his Mini-me. It makes me wonder how much Cruise is actually involved with the day to day “operations” (spelled “abuse”) of Scientology’s Sea Org Members and parishioners alike.
Tom in his own mind apparently is saving Hollywood just as Dave is saving the Universe and no one is going to get in their way – not even Leah Remini!
We told Tom we were stunned by this anecdote. He assured us that Miscavige had considered the idea of making Cruise a top official in the church and not just a celebrity ornament.
“I could see Tom running around there and doing what Dave does and telling people what assholes they were,” DeVocht says. “Miscavige just wants someone who will suck up to him. And Cruise does that. In my opinion, Cruise is weak. He needs someone like Dave.”
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“By the way, professional football is nowhere near as successful as college football; that is to say, people go to see college games. Well, actually I won’t go see a college game because I know most of those players are on the payroll. I was, by the way, the first boy in America to bust that story to the print, to the newspapers: professional paid football players on college teams. I didn’t get expelled for it, my fellow editor got expelled. But he didn’t really get expelled, he just simply got disgusted. And he is now one of the top sports editors of America. But the two of us found that college, the college — our own college — was paying considerable salary under the name of scholarships and bonuses and things like that, to good football players in order to make a good football team. And they were getting in more money at the stadium for every game than they were getting in through the tuition window. And this was an interesting story, we thought. So we broke it in the college paper and broke it over the Scripps-Howard newschain, which I was associate editor of the paper and my pal was also a sports reporter, as well as a student, on the paper.” — L. Ron Hubbard, December 17, 1954
“B. BEREZ: Goodbye Mr. Berez. You who used ethics most wrongly were found with a huge tin of marijuana to be the most out-ethics person aboard. B. Berez, you were the longest aboard in all the out ethics days of the old RSM. We can blow some charge on that. So goodbye Mr. Berez. I trust you will soon go up in smoke.” — The Commodore, December 17, 1968
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“A thought occurred to me a long time ago while in session after reading the Factors and the Axioms of Scientology. And ever since that moment I have never felt at all ‘insignificant’ while contemplating the vastness of the physical universe. And that thought is: We are not actually ‘in’ the physical universe (unless we pretend to be so). We created it, the whole thing, from scratch. If anything, the physical universe is within US! A corollary to this idea was that one needn’t change location in the physical universe in order to visit or be in comm with another thetan. Just open a theta window and say ‘Hi’.”
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2001: The St. Petersburg Times reported that Scientology has purchased an empty apartment building in Clearwater. “The Church of Scientology has purchased a vacant 13-story high-rise downtown that will house more than 600 new staff members in another step in Scientology’s unprecedented expansion in the city. The church last week closed the deal to buy the nearly 2-acre property for $5-million from a nonprofit corporation, BEF Inc., which does business as the Oaks of Clearwater.”
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“After Waco the political will to do anything about cults vanished. The main reason they finally did something about Warren Jeffs and the FLDS was because it was a pedo factory. America is a very religious country and it’s also a celebrity-obsessed country. When you have names like Cruise and Travolta running interference for you, you can run a long way.”
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Full Court Press: What we’re watching at the Underground Bunker
Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Masterson’s demurrer denied Oct 19, arraignment delayed to Jan 6.
— Jay and Jeff Spina, Medicare fraud: Jay’s sentencing delayed for ‘Fatico’ hearing on Jan 19.
— Hanan and Rizza Islam and other family members, Medi-Cal fraud: Next pretrial conference set for Jan 12 in Los Angeles
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 writ of mandate denied Oct 22 by Cal 2nd Appellate District. Petition for review by state supreme court denied Dec 11.
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson: Dec 18, re-hearing on motions to compel arbitration; Jan 29, Masterson’s request to stay discovery pending the criminal case
— Matt and Kathy Feschbach tax debt: Eleventh Circuit ruled on Sept 9 that Feshbachs can’t discharge IRS debt in bankruptcy. Nov 18: Feshbachs indicated they will enter into consent judgment to pay the debt.
— Brian Statler Sr v. City of Inglewood: Second amended complaint filed, trial set for Nov 9, 2021.
Concluded litigation:
— Author Steve Cannane defamation trial: Trial concluded, Cannane victorious, awarded court costs.
— Dennis Nobbe, Medicare fraud, PPP loan fraud: Charged July 29. Bond revoked Sep 14. Nobbe dead, Sep 14.
— 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.
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SCIENTOLOGY BLACK OPS: Tom Cruise and dirty tricks
The Australian Seven News network cancelled a 10-part investigation of Scientology and its history of dirty tricks. Read the transcripts of the episodes and judge for yourself why Tom Cruise and Tommy Davis might not have wanted viewers to see this hard-hitting series by journalist Bryan Seymour.
After the success of their double-Emmy-winning, three-season A&E series ‘Scientology and the Aftermath,’ Leah Remini and Mike Rinder continue the conversation on their podcast, ‘Scientology: Fair Game.’ We’ve created a landing page where you can hear all of the episodes so far.
LEAH REMINI: SCIENTOLOGY AND THE AFTERMATH
An episode-by-episode guide to Leah Remini’s three-season, double-Emmy winning series that changed everything for Scientology watching. Originally aired from 2016 to 2019 on the A&E network, and now on Netflix.
SCIENTOLOGY’S CELEBRITIES, from A to Z
Find your favorite Hubbardite celeb at this index page — or suggest someone to add to the list!
Other links: Scientology’s Ideal Orgs, from one end of the planet to the other. 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 a weekly series. How many have you read?
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THE WHOLE TRACK
[ONE year ago] The Scientology spy who wants desperately to come in from the cold
[TWO years ago] Finally, Scientology spells out its crazy ideas in a video you weren’t supposed to see
[THREE years ago] Mexico officially recognizes Scientology as a religion, Miscavige claims at New Year’s event
[FOUR years ago] Scientology is totally reading your comments here — and you’re scaring them senseless
[FIVE years ago] FELONY RAPS FOR SCIENTOLOGISTS RUNNING L.A. REHAB SCAM WITH CORRUPT EDUCATORS
[SIX years ago] Scientology’s Clark Carr: Those letters after my name were no good and I didn’t know it
[SEVEN years ago] At OT 3, you learn you have space cooties — how do you get rid of them? Scientology exorcism!
[EIGHT years ago] Did Scientology Kill Joel Sappell’s Dog?
[NINE years ago] Scientology Infusion: Commenters of the Week!
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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 2,153 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 2,657 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 2,177 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 1,197 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 1,088 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 4,395 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 2,263 days.
Carol Nyburg has not seen her daughter Nancy in 3,037 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 3,841 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 3,157 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 11,723 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 7,642 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 3,810 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 3,391 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 3,652 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 2,690 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 2,403 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 1,928 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 283 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 1,458 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 6,009 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 3,158 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 3,478 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 8,333 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 3,452 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 1,808 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 6,111 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 2,217 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 2,619 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 2,491 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 2,074 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 2,569 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 2,823 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 13,932 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on December 17, 2020 at 19:10
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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, 15 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
