The Tom Cruise revelations keep coming. On Twitter, journalist Yashar Ali posted a couple of pages taken from Seth Rogen’s new book which contain a wild anecdote about a conversation Rogen claims he had with the Top Gun actor.
Apparently referring to Cruise’s embarrassing experiences in 2005 when he briefly acted as a sort of ambassador for the Church of Scientology, which included a nutty interview with Matt Lauer on the Today Show and the infamous couch-jumping incident on Oprah’s show, Cruise explained to Rogen that the pharmaceutical company was conspiring with media to make him look insane.
Rogen said that Cruise also said that his “friend” the Minister Louis Farrakhan was also being targeted. (Scientology and Farrakhan’s Nation of Islam have a longstanding and bizarre partnership.)
Here are the two pages that Yashar posted to his Twitter account. If Rogen’s memory is accurate, this suggests that Cruise is even more loopy than we realized.
Just this morning we had written about Cruise’s trajectory in Scientology that led up to his disastrous experiences in 2005. This conversation, also with director Judd Apatow, happened about a year later, apparently.
Scientology demonizes the pharmaceutical industry and claims that the church has always been a target of the big drug companies. We’ll soon have a piece from Chris Owen that digs into that history which we think will be very eye-opening.
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Leah Remini podcast: Steve Hassan
Says Mike: “A former Moonie, Steve is today an internationally recognized expert in the field of cults and undue influence. We cover a lot of territory, including undue influence, hypnosis and the methods used to control people. He is Founding Director of the Freedom of Mind Resource Center, which provides training, consulting and support to individuals who are struggling to leave a cult, and to families and organizations that are concerned about cult behaviors.” Listen to the episode here!
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“The situation internationally, also, has improved enormously; I might make a little bulletin on that effect. The attack on Scientology in the United States has disintegrated into a rout for the government. They are now being attacked — not mildly put — by the United States Senate, and very shortly the House is going to open the ball on the FDA. Australia, their report from the inquiry has been delayed so long, the usual course of those reports and inquiries they have down there. They seem to do this quite routinely. In Victoria, they have inquiries, and then they forget about them. And the last three inquiries, as desperate as they were in progress and so forth, all wound up in no legislation. And so that one will undoubtedly dead-end too. Because its report isn’t even due in Parliament for months. And Parliament is recessing. And all of that kind of thing is happening. And if we can find Victoria, why we will set it to rights, one way or the other If we can find it. You know, you’re only dealing with a tiny little postage stamp on the face of the earth and what seems to be bowling everybody over, down in-in Australia is this fantastic news which keeps coming in to them from the United States, you see. Government runs up white flag, you see.” — L. Ron Hubbard, May 11, 1965
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“Dir I&R and MAA are to conduct a full investigation of insecurity of materials of confidential materials on board. They are to steal any they can and lock them up. List to the D/CO. Beginning at 1200 hrs today. Offenders are to be listed and handled appropriately.” — A. Jessup, C/O FAO, May 11, 1971
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“Capt. Bill Robertson describes the New Civilization Game and its goals. He describes the basic data behind its creation, what goals will be carried out by the general population, why some goals are ethics points to be carried out by Operating Thetans. In the tape, Capt. Robertson explains why some people keep voting for fascist and suppressive regimes and governments, and what the solution to this is. Want to know why your Democratic Scieno and ex-Scieno friends voted for the fascist Biden regime? They have assumed the suppressive valence of their SPs and that is why they keep voting for them! What to do with the Dem Scienos and ex-Scienos in your Facebook friend’s list that voted for Biden, voted for Obama or are going to vote for Michelle? Assign them a PTS condition and make them stop voting for the SPs. OTs can use remote command.”
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1995: Grady Ward reported this week a call to his publisher, Austin Code Works, by a man identifying himself as Eugene Ingram, a well-known Scientology PI. “He spoke for ten minutes, did not identify his employer (duh!), and made statements like: ‘Grady is the president of ACW, isn’t he?’ [No] ‘Did you know the FBI investigated Grady for his involvement with the NuPrometheus League [a group claiming responsibility for stealing and distributing Apple Computer Macintosh ROM code in June, 1989].’ ‘The FBI knew he did it because Grady was the only one fired [a provable lie!] from Apple in 1989.’ Ingram then begin to pump for financial information, such as ‘Does he make more than $10,000 in royalties [per annum, presumably] from MobyCrypto? Moby Lexicons? No? How about $5,000?'”
“The sixties counterculture turned a lot of people into Baba Dumbasses and Shirley MacLaines. People use to be a lot tougher and more levelheaded back in the day.”
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Full Court Press: What we’re watching at the Underground Bunker
Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Preliminary hearing set for May 18.
— Jay and Jeff Spina, Medicare fraud: Jay sentenced to 9 years in prison. Jeff’s sentencing to be scheduled.
— Hanan and Rizza Islam and other family members, Medi-Cal fraud: Trial scheduled for May 20 in Los Angeles
— David Gentile, GPB Capital, fraud: Next pretrial conference set for June 18.
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 30, Judge Kleifield granted Scientology’s motions to compel arbitration. June 7: Status conference.
— Matt and Kathy Feschbach tax debt: Eleventh Circuit ruled on Sept 9 that Feshbachs can’t discharge IRS debt in bankruptcy. Dec 17: Feshbachs sign court judgment obliging them to pay entire $3.674 million tax debt, plus interest from Nov 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, Cannane victorious, awarded court costs. Case appealed on Dec 24.
Concluded litigation:
— 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] Scientology ekes out small victories as the world goes to coronavirus hell
[TWO years ago] Scientology’s mental whammy is like taking one too many pucks to the head
[THREE years ago] Scientology’s bizarre international base and its near-prison life: A Marc Headley classic
[FOUR years ago] On probation and his house of horrors shut down, Tennessee Scientologist talks up Mexico
[FIVE years ago] ‘Freedom’ magazine is back after a six-month absence, and it arrived with a surprise!
[SIX years ago] As seen in the Daily Beast: ‘The Unbreakable Miss Lovely’ is on sale and ready to startle you
[SEVEN years ago] Sunday Funnies: What part of ‘rebel’ doesn’t Scientology understand?
[EIGHT years ago] PORTLAND LIVE: Mark Bunker at Scientology’s “Ideal Org” Event
[NINE years ago] The Best Reasons Why You Should Doubt the Allegations in the John Travolta Sex-Assault Lawsuit
[TEN years ago] Scientology Operation Against Washington Post Reporter Richard Leiby Exposed
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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 2,298 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 2,802 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 2,322 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 1,342 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 1,233 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 4,540 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 2,408 days.
Carol Nyburg has not seen her daughter Nancy in 3,182 days.
Doug Kramer has not seen his parents Linda and Norm in 1,512 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 3,986 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 3,302 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 11,868 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 7,787 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 3,955 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 3,536 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 3,797 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 2,835 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 2,548 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 2,073 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 428 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 1,603 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 6,154 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 3,303 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 3,623 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 8,478 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 3,597 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 1,953 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 6,256 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 2,362 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 2,764 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 2,636 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 2,219 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 2,714 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 2,968 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 14,077 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on May 11, 2021 at 16:00
E-mail tips to tonyo94 AT gmail DOT com or follow us on Twitter. We also post updates at our Facebook author page. After every new story we send out an alert to our e-mail list and our FB page.
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, 1995-2020 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2020), 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
