TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: Austrian journalist Peter Reichelt has a real treat for us today, a rare David Miscavige interview which first appeared during Scientology’s 1990s crisis in Germany. We believe it was the first print interview Dave ever gave, and he’s only given four interviews all together! [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
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Technology Cocktail
“Man is an added-to being and everything that has been added to him has decreased his ability to cope. When you add something to the Being he gets worse. We are in the business of deleting wrongnesses from the individual.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1964
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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 as Danny faces a potential sentence of 45 years to life in prison. NOW WITH TRIAL INDEX.
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THE PODCAST: How many have you heard?
[1] Marc Headley [2] Claire Headley [3] Jeffrey Augustine [4] Bruce Hines [5] Sunny Pereira [6] Pete Griffiths [7] Geoff Levin [8] Patty Moher [9] Marc Headley [10] Jefferson Hawkins [11] Michelle ‘Emma’ Ryan [12] Paulette Cooper [13] Jesse Prince [14] Mark Bunker [15] Jon Atack [16] Mirriam Francis [17] Bruce Hines on MSH
— SPECIAL: The best TV show on Scientology you never got to see
[1] Phil Jones [2] Derek Bloch [3] Carol Nyburg [4] Katrina Reyes [5] Jamie DeWolf
— The first Danny Masterson trial and beyond
[18] Trial special with Chris Shelton [19] Trial week one [20] Marc Headley on the spy in the hallway [21] Trial week two [22] Trial week three [23] Trial week four [24] Leah Remini on LAPD Corruption [25] Mike Rinder 2022 Thanksgiving Special [26] Jane Doe 4 (Tricia Vessey), Part One [27] Jane Doe 4 (Tricia Vessey), Part Two [28] Claire Headley on the trial [29] Tory Christman [30] Bruce Hines on spying [31] Karen de la Carriere [32] Ron Miscavige on Shelly Miscavige [33] Karen de la Carriere on the L’s [34] Mark Bunker on Miscavige hiding [35] Mark Plummer [36] Mark Ebner [37] Karen Pressley [38] Steve Cannane [39] Fredrick Brennan [40] Clarissa Adams [41] Louise Shekter [42] John Sweeney [43] Tory Christman [44] Kate Bornstein [45] Christian Stolte [46] Mark Bunker [47] Jon Atack [48] Luke Y. Thompson [49] Mark Ebner [50] Bruce Hines [51] Spanky Taylor and Karen Pressley [51] Geoff and Robbie Levin [52] Sands Hall [53] Jonny Jacobsen [54] Sandy Holeman [55] Mark Bunker [56] Trish and Liz Conley [57] Trish Conley [58] Alex Barnes-Ross [59] Alex Barnes-Ross [60] Alex Barnes-Ross [61] Alex Barnes-Ross [62] Alex Barnes-Ross [63] Alex Barnes-Ross [64] Tory Christman [65] Tammy Synovec [66] Dennis Erlich [67] Alex Barnes-Ross [68] Valerie Ross [69] Kat in Austin [70] Mark Bunker [71] Phil Jones
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“As far as publicity is concerned the general public has been slammed around about Dianetics and they don’t know whether Dianetics is a cough drop or a new cult down in Arizona. Nobody really knows very much about it. Out in the general public they ask you if it is a cult, or if it is this or if it is that. I suddenly woke up to the fact that I was under-evaluating it. I was trying to tell people ‘Well, this is sort of a psychotherapy and it does this and that,’ rather apologetically. And I said to somebody bluntly the other day, ‘Why, Dianetics is the science of handling life; you know, handling life forces!’ They looked at me and blinked and I said, ‘Yes, you know, a fellow starts downhill and starts down toward death. Well, Dianetics picks him back up again.’ They went away in a trance! Actually, isn’t that what we are doing? The new theta-MEST theory makes that so apparent, and the results you get follow in so closely that, actually, we are doing just that.” — L. Ron Hubbard, May 15, 1951
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“US STATS HAVE JUST GONE OVER THE MILLION MARK!!! AOSHUK IS OVER $47,000!” — The Commodore, May 15, 1971
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“Fifth day on OT IX. There is like a ‘learning experience’ of life in the MEST. Before when I made a postulate, I don’t know how it happened, if it happened at all. I realize now that I was much less conscious. Now I make a postulate and I feel the static energy blossom, as if I am aligning the MEST to get my postulate. It is a conscious feeling. It might be right in my Universe, but no, the thing is happening in the MEST.”
1997: Documents from L. Ron Hubbard’s file with the Coroner in San Luis Obispo were made available this week, showing the condition of Hubbard when he died. “The body of a tall white male said to have been in his 70’s. The body shows abundant reddish-white facial hair and eyebrows of reddish-white color. Scalp hair is long, thinning, receding at the forehead and of greyish-white color. Reddish-white body hair is present on the surface. Fingernails are long, unkempt. Nail beds are of bluish-red discoloration. Toenails are long, unkempt and there is bluish-red cyanosis present. The back is covered by livores. There is a bandaide affixed to the right gluteal area where 10 recent needle marks are recognized of 5-8 cm. There are no abnormalities upon inspection of the back. The body is without bruises or injuries or palpable masses.”
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“Eva Gabor was awesome in Green Acres, which was one of the most underrated, surrealist shows of all time. It’s worthy of Lynch or Buñuel.”
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Full Court Press: What we’re watching at the Underground Bunker
Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Found guilty on two counts on May 31, remanded to custody. Sentenced to 30 years to life on Sep 7.
— ‘Lafayette Ronald Hubbard’ (a/k/a Justin Craig), aggravated assault, plus drug charges: Grand jury indictments include charges from an assault while in custody. Next pretrial hearing May 31, 2024.
— David Gentile, GPB Capital, fraud.
Civil litigation:
— Leah Remini v. Scientology, alleging ‘Fair Game’ harassment and defamation: Some defamation claims were removed by Judge Hammock. Leah seeking to amend her complaint.
— Baxter, Baxter, and Paris v. Scientology, alleging labor trafficking: Forced to arbitration.
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson: motion to file new complaint, hearing on May 29.
— Jane Doe 1 v. Scientology, David Miscavige, and Gavin Potter: Case unsealed and second amended complaint filed. Scientology moves for religious arbitration, on hold until appeal over new judge heard.
— Chiropractors Steve Peyroux and Brent Detelich, stem cell fraud: Ordered to mediation.
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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 celebrates Nancy Cartwright for upping her donations to $21 million
[TWO years ago] Letters from Scientology’s celebrities that charmed the pants off LA’s city council
[THREE years ago] Scientology chiropractor Eric Berg called out by son in viral TikTok video
[FOUR years ago] Scientology’s center specializing in auditing your infant is back open in Florida!
[FIVE years ago] John Travolta’s daughter makes her own Scientology splash at awards ceremony
[SIX years ago] Scientology files notice of appeal in time-wasting federal court attack on forced-abortion case
[SEVEN years ago] DRONE FLYOVER: An even closer look at where Scientology is keeping Shelly Miscavige
[EIGHT years ago] Scientology takes on the evil psychs at the APA, and more in our weekly social media review!
[NINE years ago] Las Vegas attorney Ryan Hamilton makes it 29 lawsuits against Scientology’s drug rehab
[TEN years ago] TIZIANO LUGLI: A new short film about Scientology and ‘slavery’
[ELEVEN years ago] CALIFORNIA SUPREME COURT DENIES SCIENTOLOGY PETITION IN FORCED-ABORTION CASE
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Bernie Headley (1952-2019) did not see his daughter Stephanie in his final 5,667 days.
Tammy Synovec has not seen her daughter Julia in 2,901 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 3,396 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 3,911 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 3,461 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 2,451 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 2,332 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 5,636 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 3,507 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,059 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 4,400 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 12,967 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 8,886 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,054 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 4,635 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 4,896 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 3,932 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 3,648 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 3,212 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 1,527 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 2,702 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 7,253 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 4,384 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 4,722 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 9,575 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 4,696 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,052 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 7,355 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 3,461 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 3,859 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 3,735 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 3,300 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 3,813 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,067 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,175 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on May 15, 2024 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, 1995-2022 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2022), 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
