Social media is such a wonderful thing. People post the most interesting stuff, and reveal quite a bit about themselves in the process.
A few years ago, for example, it became very popular for families or groups of friends to record themselves holding motionless as if time had stopped. This “mannequin challenge” was lots of fun and it’s no wonder that it caught on.
One family in particular took on the challenge, and we’re so glad they did. Because now we have an unprecedented look inside the family of one of the most secretive people on earth.
Scientology leader David Miscavige.
In a short video that lasts less than a minute, various members of Miscavige’s family hold perfectly still as a camera winds its way through a Destin, Florida house.
It’s taken us a little while to piece together who each person is and what their relationship is to Miscavige, but we think you’ll be as intrigued with it as we are.
Here are the “mannequins” you will see in order.
1. Terry Platt. Terry is a longtime Scientologist whose stepson, Chris Baker, is married to David Miscavige’s niece, Tara Baker.
2. Sam and Svetlana Licciardi, mugging about a cigar. Sam Licciardi is an ex-husband of Denise Miscavige, David’s twin sister, and is still good friends with her.
3. Whitney Humphreys. We’ve written about Whitney before. She’s David Miscavige’s niece and Denise’s daughter, and she’s had a rough time in the past with scrapes with the law. But she seems to be thriving now.
4. Gerald “Jerry” Gentile. Jerry is married to Denise Miscavige.
5. Denise Miscavige. This is David Miscavige’s twin sister. Denise has had her own troubles with the law.
6. Chad Platt, left, and Chris Baker. These half-brothers are in the Sea Org, so it’s nice to see they got a day off from working their billion-year contracts. Chris is married to Tara Baker, Denise’s daughter and David Miscavige’s niece.
7. Becky Baker getting her hair done by her daughter Michelle Platt. Michelle is Chris Baker’s mother.
8. Tara Baker. Tara is also a Sea Org member with a rare day off. She is David Miscavige’s niece.
9. Megan Platt (right) and Cole Platt, two more siblings to Chris and Chad.
So what do you think? Did they do a good job pulling off the challenge?
Uncle Dave has every right to be proud, doesn’t he?
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“I do not know if it can be established for sure what I say about the deteriorating size of a thetan is a curve, but I believe it to be, and that the composite track of 74 trillion years might be the banks of cells which you now have, which once ran bodies. And you might have a rather brief tenure on the track really. Because it would be almost impossible to separate these things. And that’s why you couldn’t give a damn whether you have a past life or not. It just doesn’t matter. The point is you’ve got a future one.” — L. Ron Hubbard, January 12, 1953
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“A new CLASS VI (plus HDG) recruitment campaign is being telexed out to CLSs. We are offering a Petty Officer (Tech) rating to field VIs, VIIs, VIIIs, so they become fully contracted SO Members. They will be shipped direct to Flag where we will jump them through AB, Mission School, SS I, SS II, Class VIII, IX and X. These will be purely tech ratings…Target is to make every Scn org as big as SH was in 1967. So that’s where we’re going. The blocker is Tech Personnel and we’re hammering hard on that.” — The Commodore, January 12, 1971
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“We audit beings, the thetan. Even if it has two different bodies in different planets, the being is the same. So we are facing here the tech necessary to audit the being when it has two or 10 bodies running simultaneously. Do you know the steps necessary to do that? Does the Church of Scientology have that tech? Does Freezone or Ron’s Org? Does the other LRH in the other planet?”
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1997: Jeff Jacobsen received a mailing from the New CAN, also known as Scientology. “I got ‘Information Series #2 from the Cult Apologist… er, Awareness Network, titled ‘Fact vs. Fiction – Scientology: the inside story at last’. What bogus junk. ‘All denominations are welcome in Scientology.’ Ha. It’s just a short summary of the basic public mumbo jumbo the church puts out. So, it appears that CAN is now promoting religions! Strange, you wouldn’t think another organization would be needed to promote some religion, but there it is.”
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“Burroughs thought that psychedelics could help him break his junk addiction, but he also thought the same thing about Scientology.”
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Full Court Press: What we’re watching at the Underground Bunker
Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Next hearing set for February 8. Trial scheduled for August 29, 2022.
— ‘Lafayette Ronald Hubbard’ (a/k/a Justin Craig), false imprisonment, aggravated assault, plus drug charges: Next hearing scheduled for January 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: Pretrial conference January 22 in Los Angeles
— David Gentile, GPB Capital, fraud: Next pretrial conference set for February 11.
— Joseph ‘Ben’ Barton, Medicare fraud: Pleaded guilty, awaiting sentencing.
— Yanti Mike Greene, Scientology private eye accused of contempt of court: Next hearing February 15.
Civil litigation:
— Luis and Rocio Garcia v. Scientology: Eleventh Circuit affirmed ruling granting Scientology’s motion for arbitration. Garcias considering next move.
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’ US Supreme Court denied Valerie’s petition Oct 4.
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson: California Supreme Court granted review on May 26 and asked the Second Appellate Division to direct Judge Steven Kleifield to show cause why he granted Scientology’s motion for arbitration. Oral arguments held November 2, awaiting a ruling.
— Brian Statler Sr v. City of Inglewood: Third amended complaint filed, trial set for June 28, 2022.
— Author Steve Cannane defamation trial: Trial concluded, Cannane victorious, awarded court costs. Case appealed on Dec 23. Appeal hearing held Aug 23-27. Awaiting a ruling.
— Chiropractors Steve Peyroux and Brent Detelich, stem cell fraud: Lawsuit filed by the FTC and state of Georgia in August, now in discovery phase.
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THE PROSECUTION OF DANNY MASTERSON
We first broke the news of the LAPD’s investigation of Scientology celebrity Danny Masterson on rape allegations in 2017, and we’ve been covering the story every step of the way since then. At this page we’ve collected our most important links, including our four days in Los Angeles covering the preliminary hearing and its ruling, which has Danny facing trial and the potential sentence of 45 years to life in prison.
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 BLACK OPS: Tom Cruise and dirty tricks. 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’s anti-mask star Leigh Dundas may have overdone it at Capitol riot
[TWO years ago] Scientology honors its bodysnatchers with stars on its Xenu-rrific walk of fame
[THREE years ago] David Miscavige in South Africa: The new ‘Advanced Org’ gets its castle
[FOUR years ago] When Scientology tried to convince the FBI that a college prof ran a cabal of critics
[FIVE years ago] LAPD to Leah Remini on her records request about missing Scientology leader’s wife: ‘Go fish’
[SIX years ago] A great peek into how Scientology uses fronts to love-bomb a public official
[SEVEN years ago] Monday Funnies: More evidence that Scientology is gearing up for a really tough 2015
[EIGHT years ago] Another former Scientology official talks about women forced to have abortions
[TEN years ago] Scientology, Winning! We Hear from the Church’s #1 Student
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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 2,543 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 3,048 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 2,568 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 1,588 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 1,479 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 4,786 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 2,654 days.
Carol Nyburg has not seen her daughter Nancy in 3,428 days.
Doug Kramer has not seen his parents Linda and Norm in 1,759 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 4,232 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 3,548 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 12,114 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 8,033 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 4,201 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 3,782 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 4,043 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 3,079 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 2,794 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 2,319 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 674 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 1,849 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 6,400 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 3,549 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 3,869 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 8,724 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 3,843 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 2,199 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 6,502 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 2,608 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 3,006 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 2,882 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 2,465 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 2,960 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 3,214 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 14,323 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on January 12, 2022 at 07:00
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
Tony Ortega at The Daily Beast
