Current lifetime: Born December 11, 1980 in San Diego
Most famous for: Her successful handbag line
Joined Scientology: Raised in it, daughter of Dr. David Minkoff, who was disciplined after his role in the death of Lisa McPherson
Rebecca shattering suppression: “As a mom, seeing the use of drugs in our society gives me so much fear in what the youth of America have ahead of them, and so you know each time I’m exposed to what Drug-Free World can do with the education, with giving these kids their own self determinism on what drugs to allow them to decide, I think it’s something I’m very passionate about.”
From our story about Rebecca’s involvement in Scientology’s front group, Drug-Free World:
As for Minkoff’s involvement, we spoke with Quailynn McDaniel, who we profiled earlier this year. McDaniel was a celebrity handler for the church, and Uri Minkoff, Rebecca’s brother, was one of Quailynn’s closest friends in Scientology.
“Rebecca’s involvement has increased over the years,” Quailynn tells us. “She wasn’t active until she got famous. Now the church has her deep in their pocket, but she didn’t start that way. Her brother Uri Minkoff came on as her CEO. He’s been a long time spy for OSA, trying to make up the damage his dad caused the church,” she says, referring to the Office of Special Affairs, the intelligence wing of the church. Quailynn had earlier produced OSA documents about her and her family submitted by Uri Minkoff, backing up her claim that he was submitting information about her. (Which, actually, all Scientologists are under pressure to do. Scientology is a snitching culture and it’s deeply embedded.)
Rebecca and Uri’s father is Dr. David Minkoff, a physician and Church of Scientology member, who was partly implicated in Lisa McPherson’s 1995 death. Minkoff had his medical license suspended for a year after it emerged that he had prescribed a sedative for McPherson at the request of the Scientologists caring for her at the Fort Harrison Hotel, even though he never actually examined her. If he had, perhaps he might have seen how bad her condition became. When Scientologists finally rushed McPherson from the hotel when it became clear that her condition was grave, they headed to the facility where Minkoff worked, bypassing closer hospitals, when she died along the way.
In November, our Rod Keller reminded us that David Minkoff is still in business and offering a wide variety of quack medical treatments. Uri Minkoff, meanwhile, has his own fashion line connected to his sister’s website, and Rebecca Minkoff continues to move up Scientology’s “Bridge to Total Freedom.”
Scientology’s Source magazine issue 231, from April 2014, indicated that Rebecca had finally gone “Clear.”
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The Best of the Underground Bunker, 1995-2017 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2017), The Village Voice (2008-2012), New Times Los Angeles (1999-2002) and the Phoenix New Times (1995-1999)
Learn about Scientology with our numerous series with experts…
BLOGGING DIANETICS: We read Scientology’s founding text cover to cover with the help of L.A. attorney and former church member Vance Woodward
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
Other links: Shelly Miscavige, ten 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