TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: Every Scientology TV ad has one thing in common: It never actually tells viewers anything about what Scientology is. And that’s why we are pleased to bring to you today a dynamite new offering from Mark Bunker: If Scientology ads actually told the truth! [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
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Technology Cocktail
“Some people on medical lines are just there not because of actual illness but because they are just Qing and Aing with their body. People also Q and A with themselves. They want to stop drinking and can’t. They want to stop or change something about themselves or their body and then disperse off onto something else. Freud read all sorts of dire and awful things into simple Q and A. He invented intentions the person must have that made him “sublimate”. All Freud succeeded in doing was making the person introspective looking for wrong whys.” — 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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“You can, by the way — it’s quite curious — if you were sailing down the street exteriorized and you take a look at somebody, you look over his anchor points, you’ll find those big wing anchor points. They’re way out there, great big gold balls way out in front. You can take one of these, one of this guy’s anchor points, you know, in front and pull it sideways and he’ll start to walk in a circle without knowing why he’s walking in a circle. And you push it out of position and he’ll start to lean. Oh, it’s a very obvious sort of structure.” — L. Ron Hubbard, January 5, 1955
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“VISITORS: Only 250 Greek visitors came to the ship today. I am sure they were well handled. But it shows, (a) a lapse of advertising in Div VI and (b) insufficiently interesting ship tour. We should do better next time.” — The Commodore, January 5, 1969
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“The leftist mayor of Washington D.C. is making it difficult for people to arrive in the city for the Trump rally to overthrow the electoral fraud of Communist China and its puppets Joe Biden, Bernie Sanders and Democrat commies. (Including commie Scienos in our friends lists). The battle of the 6th of December in Washington D.C. will affect every country on the planet, its underground bases and probably the Moon and Mars.”
2001: Jeff Jacobsen reported a death announcement from The Auditor. “Andy Simson, who was a veteran Sea Org member. ‘He has been granted a 21 year leave from the Sea Org and we look forward to his return.’
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“Well, Hubbard did say that the thetans created the MEST universe so that they would have a place to play, but that eventually they forgot they had done so. The idea that Hubbard saw this whole thing as a game has always seemed pretty obvious to me.”
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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, 2023. Appeal brief due by December 23.
— ‘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 January 13, 2025.
— David Gentile, GPB Capital, convicted of fraud, awaiting sentencing.
Civil litigation:
— Leah Remini v. Scientology, alleging ‘Fair Game’ harassment and defamation: Some defamation claims were removed by Judge Hammock. Judge Hammock’s ruling is on appeal.
— 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. Judge Upindra Kalra’s ruling denying Scientology’s motion to strike is on appeal.
— Jane Doe 1 v. Scientology, David Miscavige, and Gavin Potter: Case unsealed and second amended complaint filed. Scientology moves for religious arbitration, gets ruling to depose Jane Doe 1.
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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] Check out the Scientology propaganda handed out at Saint Hill on New Year’s Eve!
[TWO years ago] While dodging process servers, Scientology leader asserts that all is well
[THREE years ago] Here’s proof that David Miscavige’s real estate approach to Scientology leadership pays
[FOUR years ago] The wealthy people getting Scientology through the lockdown with their donations
[FIVE years ago] Does Mexico really need a Scientology ‘Advanced Org’? We’ll soon find out.
[SIX years ago] A Scientologist murdered: Our experts try to make sense of Australia’s ‘Advanced Org’
[SEVEN years ago] Court magician? Scientology attorney can now affect matter with thought, levitate, read minds
[EIGHT years ago] Scientology cash-in! Top church attorney puts her beach bungalow on market for $2.4 million
[NINE years ago] Scientology posts the new ad that will likely be its Super Bowl entry this year
[TEN years ago] Former spokesman Mike Rinder describes Scientology’s dismal options in 2015
[ELEVEN years ago] Sunday Funnies: Scientology charges into the new year!
[TWELVE years ago] Scientology Drug Rehab Program’s Newest Victim: A New York 15-Year-Old
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Bernie Headley (1952-2019) did not see his daughter Stephanie in his final 5,667 days.
Joe Reaiche (1958-2024) did not see his daughter Alanna Masterson in his final 6,999 days.
Tammy Synovec has not seen her daughter Julia in 3,135 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 3,630 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,145 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 3,695 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 2,685 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,071 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 2,566 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 5,870 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 3,741 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,293 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 4,634 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,201 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,120 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,288 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 4,870 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,130 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 4,166 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 3,882 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 3,446 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 1,761 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 2,936 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 4,618 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 4,955 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 9,809 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 4,924 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,286 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 7,589 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 3,695 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,093 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 3,969 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 3,534 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,045 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,301 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,409 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on January 5, 2025 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
