TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: A new hype video from Scientology not only pumps you up to go “OT,” but takes you into the inner sanctum at Saint Hill Manor, including the famous Monkey Room. Strap in, space cadet! [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
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Technology Cocktail
“The hardest thing to get across about a PTS situation is that it IS the reason for continued illness and rollercoaster (loss of gains). The condition does exist. It is in fact common. We do have the auditing tech to handle now. The material has to be applied correctly just like any other material. The reason we do the rundown is not to do some sessions or sell some auditing or just explain why the person is like that. We do the rundown so the person will no longer be PTS.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1972
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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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“The faults I find with Scientologists is they very often will see somebody fall on his head, get run over by a truck, and do some kind of a light touch assist and say ‘That’s that.’ And then wonder why the guy is limping. And then they sort of say, ‘Scientology doesn’t work.’ Man, I’ve got a word for you. That auditor is afraid of work. Do you see?” — L. Ron Hubbard, September 28, 1968
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“ETHICS: The following are Fair Game for the current week for No Report of their stats. John Wiley, Kristina Brorson, Vicky Alpe, Janice Tidman, Geary Titus, Wayne Alkire, Robert Williamson, Ron Straus, Dekki Le.” — Lt. Jeff Walker, Ship Stats, September 28, 1970
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“I was always aghast at many Scientologists’ willingness to accept verbal tech and policy or the staff’s willingness to follow illegal orders. Most ‘Scientologists’ including many ‘OTs’ are untrained morons and thus are vacuums for verbal tech and policy and false data. Most staff these days haven’t even completed Staff Status II, never mind any actual hatting. Then of course there is what they call ‘Instant Hatting’ which was supposed to be a temporary solution but has become an excuse for verbal policy and tech. Worse there is false tech and policy included like GAT and such things as ‘Message to Garcia’ and so called ‘SRAs’ and what are called ‘Seances’ which are straight out of Communist China’s Cultural Revolution and what was called Brain Washing.”
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2000: Jeff Jacobsen reported on a Scientology sponsored jazz concert in Clearwater, Florida this week. “I called the phone number and what did the voice say? ‘Welcome to AMC.’ Yes, AMC Publishing, the Scientologist run company that Lisa McPherson worked for. Bennetta Slaughter, one of the owners, is very active in community activities here. So I found out there would be a Latin band playing last night right on Cleveland Street, which was closed from Ft. Harrison Ave. to the railroad tracks. I was shocked to see perhaps 50 people listening to a great 9-piece band. There were a few food vendors looking dazed at the low turnout. Rev. Al Buttnor was there lurking on the edges of the throng. Ben Shaw came by and gabbed with Al a bit. Bennetta Slaughter was walking around here and there. The Scientology photographer was around taking pictures of the band and the crowd. One woman in Scientology staff uniform was there the whole time talking to different people. I got the impression that the Scientologists I know were NOT there to listen to the music but to work the event somehow. There were probably 100 people max there.”
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“Human rights education brought to you by slave labor and the church of ironictology.”
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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:
— 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] Sworn testimony on Scientology harassment in Leah Remini’s lawsuit
[TWO years ago] Mike Rinder’s ‘A Billion Years’: A gripping takedown of Scientology and its leader
[THREE years ago] Scientology’s personality test is a hit on TikTok: Can David Miscavige capitalize on it?
[FOUR years ago] Hip, hip hooray! Scientology success stories you weren’t meant to see
[FIVE years ago] Answering Scientology’s smears with truth: Phil Jones takes a STAND
[SIX years ago] US Government ‘adopts’ Russian Scientologist in religious rights protest
[SEVEN years ago] ‘Aftermath’ fan gets into party at Scientology’s ‘Int Base,’ brings Karen Pressley’s book along
[EIGHT years ago] DRONE FLYOVER: First images of Scientology’s Gold Rush mine in California
[NINE years ago] If it’s Monday, it must be Seattle: Let’s talk Scientology!
[TEN years ago] Celebrating two years in the Bunker: Jonny Jacobsen on Russia, and Sunday Funnies!
[ELEVEN years ago] Blood Relation, Blood Ritual: A Hubbard Family Occult Mystery
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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 3,036 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 3,531 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,046 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 3,596 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 2,586 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 4,972 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 2,467 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 5,771 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 3,642 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,194 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 4,535 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,102 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,021 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,189 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 4,771 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,031 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 4,067 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 3,783 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 3,347 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 1,662 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 2,837 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 7,388 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 4,519 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 4,857 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 9,710 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 4,831 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,187 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 7,490 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 3,596 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 3,994 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 3,870 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 3,435 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 3,947 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,202 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,310 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on September 28, 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, 1995-2023 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2023), 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
