Tom Cruise at 58: Scientology’s biggest asset continues to avoid the tough questions

 
We have yet to see a reporter with access to Tom Cruise ask him about this: Sixteen years ago, in September 2004, Cruise dazzled the Scientologists assembled at an “Ideal Org” grand opening in Madrid by delivering a short speech in Spanish. When he was finished, he came off stage and shook hands with his great friend, Scientology leader David Miscavige.

Also in the front row of that Madrid audience was Shelly Miscavige, Dave’s wife. And what very few people present that day knew was that at the time Shelly was working on a months-long project to find Cruise a new mate.

After Cruise’s second marriage to Nicole Kidman ended in 2001 he dated Penelope Cruz, but that had also ended, and now the Miscaviges wanted to find Cruise a more suitable new partner, and preferably one from the ranks of fellow Scientologists. So that summer Shelly set up a series of “auditions” for actresses who didn’t realize that the production they were trying out for was Tom’s new romantic interest.

Maureen Orth, at Vanity Fair, in 2012 revealed that Shelly’s 2004 project resulted in Cruise being paired with an actress named Nazanin Boniadi, who has since left Scientology. She dated Cruise from November 2004 to January 2005, and the relationship ended in part because Nazanin had a hard time understanding David Miscavige’s south Philly accent.

By April 2005, Cruise and Katie Holmes revealed that they were dating, and their daughter Suri was born a year later. The couple was married in Italy in November 2006. And it was at that wedding that Leah Remini, another major Scientology celebrity at the time, noticed that David Miscavige, Cruise’s best man, was there without his wife.

What had happened between Shelly sitting in the front row at the Madrid event in September 2004, where she was not only in attendance but was actively trying to find Tom a new girlfriend, and 2006, when Shelly was nowhere to be seen at the Scientology wedding of the century?

We now know that in late August or early September 2005, Shelly was vanished by her husband, and she hasn’t been seen at a Scientology event since, except for when she was allowed to attend the funeral of her father in the summer of 2007. For the last 15 years, she’s been kept out of sight, and we’ve written many times why we think we know where Miscavige banished her, to a small secretive Scientology mountain compound northeast of Los Angeles.

Why is Tom Cruise never asked the obvious question, what he thinks about the woman who at one time he trusted enough to find him a date with Nazanin Boniadi, and had been married to his best friend, has been kept out of sight for 15 years?

Tom Cruise cannot possibly believe the Church of Scientology’s flimsy cover story that Shelly is working diligently at a special project and is too busy to make public appearances. As Dave’s bosom buddy, Tom must know that his best man has simply banished his troublesome wife and will keep her in isolation until she dies.

How is Cruise never asked about this?

Probably for the same reason reporters never ask him how he could simply walk away from his daughter Suri a couple of years after he and Holmes split up in 2012. We guarantee you that there is not a reporter who meets him who doesn’t know that Cruise chose Scientology over his own daughter. But Cruise knows that reporters won’t ask about that because Tom is a Great Guy, a movie star who does all his own stunts, and if your publication ever wants access to him again you won’t bring up such things.

So Tom today reaches a new milestone at 58, and he’s still looking ageless. And he starts another orbit around the sun as Scientology’s most useful ornament. Isn’t life grand?

 
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Scientology complains about a news article and it backfires

In Canada, there’s an official “ombudsman” where you can complain about a story carried on the government-supported CBC. And Scientology did just that recently about a story written by Gaétan Pouliot, a journalist we’ve had some interaction with over the years. He’d written a story about Scientology’s response to the coronavirus and its attempt to cash in on health crisis with a public relations campaign.

Scientology slimed Pouliot and griped about the things he said in his article, and the fun thing is that the ombudsman took it seriously and methodically showed that Pouliot’s article was in fact correct and Scientology was full of shit.

Pouliot sent us a link to the English translation of the report, thinking it might interest us. It certainly did that.

 
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Bonus items from our tipsters

Get out your wallets!

 
Good news from Hawaii!

Source Code

“We had a gentleman who was suffering from Buerger’s disease, which has to do with one’s legs rotting off. The case was merely opened, not diagnosed. Had the case been diagnosed, it would have been discovered rather rapidly that nobody could help him. That was one of the computations, and it would have become apparent the moment work was started on the case because the person would have run in auto. This preclear had a self-control mechanism of ‘I can handle this myself,’ or ‘I have to handle this myself.’ So he would not have worked well. But you could have discovered this right at the outset by asking him questions in present time about his parents, about what they used to do, what they used to say, what kind of people they were and so on. It must have been a very difficult case to get up and down the track because a case which runs in auto always will be difficult. The next step that should have been discovered about this case was the reason why his legs had to come off. One would have discovered then the fact that Papa died in a railroad accident where both his legs had been cut off!” — L. Ron Hubbard, July 3, 1950

 
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Overheard in the FreeZone

“The tech works and it was meant to be applied. And books are a very secure route onto the Bridge. Another point worth mentioning is that there is a whole generation of young people, say between the ages of 18 and 35 who are severely unemployed, more questioning of authority, and not so sure those running the show know what the heck is going on. Some similarities to the cultural scene back in ’69 — a generation much more open to Scientology than in the recent past. The org at the time was a vibrant and happy place with lots of new people finding out about the subject and using it. Don’t underestimate books and book auditing!”

 
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Random Howdy

“Can any Scientologist point specifically as to how Scientology or Dianetics has improved world conditions in its 60 years?”

 
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Full Court Press: What we’re watching at the Underground Bunker

Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Arraignment scheduled for September 18.
— Jay Spina, Medicare fraud: Sentencing is set for July 6 in White Plains, NY
— Hanan and Rizza Islam and other family members, Medi-Cal fraud: Trial set for October 7 in Los Angeles

Civil litigation:
— Luis and Rocio Garcia v. Scientology: Oral arguments set for July 30 at the Eleventh Circuit
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’ Hearing on motion for reconsideration set for August 11
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson: July 8 (plaintiff attorneys pro hac vice), August 31-Sept 1 (CSI/RTC demurrer against Riales, Masterson demurrer), Oct 7-19 (motions to compel arbitration)
— 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.
— Matt and Kathy Feschbach bankruptcy appeal: Oral arguments were heard on March 11 in Jacksonville
— Brian Statler Sr v. City of Inglewood: Amended complaint filed.

 
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Scientology’s celebrities, ‘Ideal Orgs,’ and more!

We’ve been building landing pages about David Miscavige’s favorite playthings, including celebrities and ‘Ideal Orgs,’ and we’re hoping you’ll join in and help us gather as much information as we can about them. Head on over and help us with links and photos and comments.

Scientology’s celebrities, from A to Z! Find your favorite Hubbardite celeb at this index page — or suggest someone to add to the list!

Scientology’s ‘Ideal Orgs,’ from one end of the planet to the other! Help us build up pages about each these worldwide locations!

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 our weekly series. How many have you read?

 
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THE WHOLE TRACK

[ONE year ago] Scientology’s answer to Garcias’ appeal sets a new record in cynicism and legal depravity
[TWO years ago] When Scientology’s toxic policy of disconnection is forever: Saying goodbye to Angela Paris
[THREE years ago] Five years ago: Scientology’s ‘disconnection’ and the death of Alexander Jentzsch
[FOUR years ago] Scientology has a plan to rescue the U.S. military, and it involves ‘Battlefield Earth’
[FIVE years ago] Scientology’s billion-dollar slush fund, its slick operators, and how it gets around regulation
[SIX years ago] German media: Scientology is essentially dead in Berlin
[SEVEN years ago] Will Smith-Backed School That Used Scientology Materials Closes Its Doors
[EIGHT years ago] Tom Cruise is 50: It’s Time To Grow Up
[NINE years ago] Scientology’s Cover Story for Harassment: “We’re Making a Documentary!”

 
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Posted by Tony Ortega on July 3, 2020 at 07:00

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The Best of the Underground Bunker, 1995-2019 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2019), 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, 14 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

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