SCIENTOLOGY BLACK OPS: Aussies bow to Tommy Davis, but he can’t kill ‘dirt file’ story

Well, it was fun while it lasted.

Yesterday we received a letter from attorneys for Seven News, asking us to take down the ‘Scientology Black Ops’ series.

Seven News had spent months putting together Bryan Seymour’s ten-part investigation of Scientology only to cancel it at the last minute before its scheduled July 14 premiere.

Two of the people who were filmed for the series, Leah Remini and her A&E costar Mike Rinder, told us they believed that the series was killed through the influence of actor Tom Cruise and former Scientology spokesman Tommy Davis, who both take a beating in the program. Remini and Rinder told us they believed that Davis and Cruise persuaded their friend James Packer (an Australian billionaire who was in Scientology from 2001 to 2006 and is still friendly with Davis) to lean on his close friend Seven News chairman Kerry Stokes to get the series axed.

However, beginning on August 31, we revealed that episodes of Scientology Black Ops were being leaked to the Internet. Eventually all ten episodes were leaked online, and we embedded those videos here at the Bunker.

Then, a week ago, we received a letter from Australian attorneys at Pikes & Verekers representing Tommy Davis, who wanted us to turn over information about the series and to pull down episodes two and four, which Tommy claimed were defamatory. We published the letter and did nothing.

But now we’ve received a letter from Addisons, representing Seven News…

Dear Sirs

Seven Network

We act for the Seven Network Australia (Seven), which you are presumably aware is one of Australia’s leading free to air television networks. Seven is also a leading content owner and producer.

Our client is aware that you have been ‘leaked’ a copy of its series titled “Scientology: Black Ops” (the Series) which is currently being published by you on your eponymous website, www.tonyortega.org.

Our client has not provided any authority for you (or anyone, in fact) to publish the Series which comprises its valuable intellectual property, including copyright.

Seven’s enquiries are continuing as to how and by whom this series was provided to you but confirms that without our client’s specific authority, publication of the Series continues to be a serious infringement of its intellectual property rights. Moreover, you should be aware that Seven has received complaints by persons featured in the Series threatening to sue for defamation. As publisher of the Series on your website you would be liable for claims from such parties.

Accordingly, we require you to cease publication of the Series immediately.

Please confirm that you will do so. In the meantime, our client reserves its rights.

Your faithfully

Justine Munsie

Advertisement

Partner

 
As a result of receiving this letter, we wanted to tell our readers about the two things we’ve decided to do about it.

First, we are removing our embed links to the videos. We don’t think they are defamatory of Tommy Davis, we think they’re the truth, and they’re backed up by sworn court testimony. However, we’re one dude with a laptop in New York, and we don’t have the resources to take on a court fight in Australia over videos we did not produce.

Second, we are reminding our readers that after Seven News killed the series on July 14, but before the episodes began leaking, it looked like the public might never get to see this excellent series.

Leah Remini was very unhappy about that. She had been filmed for the series (as had we) so she knew what Bryan Seymour was going to reveal: Tommy Davis’s “dirt file” on legendary publicist Pat Kingsley, and his attempt to get Paul Haggis’s SAG/AFTRA confidential file by pressuring a former guild employee who was a Scientologist.

Leah revealed to us that she had written about these things for a chapter of her book Troublemaker that was never published. So, prompted by Seven News trying to suppress the material, she turned over to us that unpublished chapter and, after talking to her and editing the material, we posted it here on July 27.

Tommy Davis may not like episodes two and four of Scientology Black Ops, which tell that story of his underhanded work for the church in order to blackmail Pat Kingsley and dig up dirt on Paul Haggis, but the same story was already posted here on July 27 thanks to Leah Remini, and there’s nothing Tommy can do about it.

So, while we’re sure you’re disappointed that the video segments of Seymour’s excellent series will no longer be available at the Underground Bunker, we hope you keep in mind that the material that made Tommy angry, real angry, is still told in full at this web page. We hope you help us spread it far and wide.

 
——————–

Mark Bunker: Should Clearwater partner with Scientology?

Says Mark: “The Clearwater City Council held two sessions so far to discuss priorities going forward. We started with a free-flowing conversation about Scientology’s impact our downtown and how we should move forward.”

 
——————–

In July the Australian Seven News network cancelled at the last minute a ten-part nightly news in-depth investigation of the Church of Scientology and its history of dirty tricks operations. All ten episodes were leaked to the Internet, and we (temporarily) posted embeds of the video segments and then collected all ten links in one place. Judge for yourself why Tom Cruise and Tommy Davis might not have wanted viewers to see this hard-hitting series by journalist Bryan Seymour.

 
——————–

SCIENTOLOGY: FAIR GAME

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.

 
——————–

Source Code

“Before we developed a good port PRO [Public Relations Officer] actions and good local area PRO actions, were very often in trouble. We were in trouble in the most remarkable ways. But it wasn’t really Scientologists that got us into trouble. The biggest amount of trouble that happened in Spain was a commercial licensed engineer who turned homo and was that way with hired Spanish hands who then went to the police and complained about this English engineer. And he was dismissed and the whole thing was handled. But it still sits in the office of information in Spain. See? Not as a handled situation but that there’s something, you know? And they’re having a lot of trouble lately with hippies. They aren’t counting the communists that they’ve got in their midst — Minister of Defense, Minister of Shipping, Franco’s first adjutant, second aide, Chamberlain — they aren’t counting these guys, they’ve gotta get these hippies. You see it has no political sense at all. If you knocked off every hippie in Spain you would not have strengthened its political position a minute.” — L. Ron Hubbard, October 21, 1969

 
——————–

Overheard in the FreeZone

“LRH said that ‘democracy’ in this prison planet is bullshit! Democrats are ‘Demonocrats’ = Tyranny by granting democracy to entities! Lets as-is that. Hopefully some Democrats vanish to source.”

 
——————–

Past is Prologue

2002: Signonsandiego.com reported that Narconon has received permission from the planning commission to operate a facility in Warner Springs, California. “The Narconon center would be housed in a former motel and two houses off state Route 79. It would serve up to 30 people ages 18 to 25, and they would be treated by a staff of 15, three who would live at the center. Patients would pay $22,000 to participate in a voluntary six-month program. The project – which had many supporters at yesterday’s commission hearing – was approved in a 4-0 vote, with Michael York absent. But opponents vow to appeal the project to the Board of Supervisors.”

 
——————–

Random Howdy

“Do you really think a guy who texts ‘YSCOHB’ to people has the self awareness to realize that Kirstie is making his business look bad?”

 
——————–

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

Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Demurrer filed by Masterson, arraignment delayed to November 2.
— Jay and Jeff Spina, Medicare fraud: Jay’s sentencing is set for October 29 in White Plains, NY. Jeffrey’s is set for October 24.
— Hanan and Rizza Islam and other family members, Medi-Cal fraud: Next pretrial conference set for Jan 12 in Los Angeles

Civil litigation:
— Luis and Rocio Garcia v. Scientology: Oral arguments were heard on July 30 at the Eleventh Circuit
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’ Petition for a writ of mandate filed with Cal 2nd Appellate District, Sept 10.
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson: Oct 26 (motions to compel arbitration)
— Matt and Kathy Feschbach tax debt: Eleventh Circuit ruled on Sept 9 that Feshbachs can’t discharge IRS debt in bankruptcy. Oct 19: Feshbachs still considering further appellate relief.
— Brian Statler Sr v. City of Inglewood: Second amended complaint filed, trial set for Nov 9, 2021.
— Author Steve Cannane defamation trial: Trial concluded, awaiting verdict.

Concluded litigation:
— Dennis Nobbe, Medicare fraud, PPP loan fraud: Charged July 29. Bond revoked Sep 14. Nobbe dead, Sep 14.
— 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.

 
——————–

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?

 
——————–

THE WHOLE TRACK

[ONE year ago] David Miscavige at Scientology’s IAS event: What he claims, and what’s really going on
[TWO years ago] Scientology and hurricanes: Providing storms of comic relief in one disaster after another
[THREE years ago] KID CORPS: Scientology’s internal documents lay out its disturbing ideas about children
[FOUR years ago] TOM CRUISE PENTHOUSE IN SCIENTOLOGY’S SPIRITUAL MECCA? WE HAVE THE PLANS
[FIVE years ago] Laura DeCrescenzo answers Scientology ‘religion’ gambit on eve of key hearing
[SIX years ago] Vance Woodward files motion to reconsider his dismissed lawsuit against Scientology
[SEVEN years ago] The Flaw In Scientology’s Religious Outrage Theory: A Man Named Steven Gregory Sloat
[EIGHT years ago] Sunday Funnies: Let’s Put Scientology Kids to Work!
[NINE years ago] Scientology and Forced Abortions: Testimony of an Enforcer

 
——————–

——————–

Posted by Tony Ortega on October 21, 2020 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, 1995-2019 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

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