Remembering Dan Sherman, Scientology’s bad biographer and worse speechwriter

One thing that’s changed over our years of covering Scientology is that we used to get more videos from big events that featured David Miscavige giving speeches.

Continue reading Remembering Dan Sherman, Scientology’s bad biographer and worse speechwriter

PODCAST: Steve Cannane checks in after reporting from the war in Ukraine

One of our favorite people in the whole world is Australian journalist Steve Cannane. We first became aware of Steve’s work because he was tearing it up at the ABC with story after story about Scientology in the land Down Under.

Continue reading PODCAST: Steve Cannane checks in after reporting from the war in Ukraine

Report from the breakaway republic that’s still causing Scientology headaches

[Tami and Dani Lemberger at the Dror Center]

Back in 2012, one of the most remarkable stories we got to report was the stunning breakaway of an entire Scientology mission.

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Chris Shelton breaks down wild interview with current Scientologist Katie Lohmann

[Andrew Gold and Katie Lohmann]

YouTuber Andrew Gold, who has done a lot of Scientology-related content mostly focused around Tom Cruise, was reached out to by a Scientology celebrity named Katie Lohmann. She is a model, actress and most notably, a former Playboy Playmate from April 2001 (it appears the Playmate work was well before she got involved with Scientology).

Continue reading Chris Shelton breaks down wild interview with current Scientologist Katie Lohmann

David Miscavige objects to being served, claims he does no business in Florida

[Dave, doing business in Florida]

As expected, David Miscavige, through his attorney Florida Bar past president William Schifino, filed an objection yesterday to the recent court ruling that named the Scientology leader a defendant in a labor trafficking lawsuit.

It’s a doozy.

Continue reading David Miscavige objects to being served, claims he does no business in Florida

Scientology: SCOTUS ruling says judge can’t rule on duress in trafficking lawsuit

[Justice Antonin Scalia (1936-2016) and Judge Thomas Barber]

Tampa federal Judge Thomas Barber asked both sides in a labor trafficking lawsuit to file 10-page answers to his question about contracts signed under duress, and they came in yesterday on deadline.

Continue reading Scientology: SCOTUS ruling says judge can’t rule on duress in trafficking lawsuit

David Miscavige insists he was still not served, asks court for time to object to ruling

[UPDATE: Judge Barber has granted Miscavige’s request, and the Scientology leader can put off answering the lawsuit itself until his objections to the ruling naming him a defendant can be heard. Isn’t American justice grand?]

We’re looking forward to the two sides in the Baxter v. Scientology labor trafficking case to turn in their 10-page answers to Judge Thomas Barber’s question about “duress” today.

Continue reading David Miscavige insists he was still not served, asks court for time to object to ruling

Celebrity Sunday: Erika Christensen, Michael Peña and a tribute to… Prince?

We’re continuing to look back at recent issues of Scientology’s Celebrity magazine, which appears to be a victim of the pandemic. Today, we thought we’d go through issue 437, which came out in June 2017 and featured actress Erika Christensen on the cover.

Continue reading Celebrity Sunday: Erika Christensen, Michael Peña and a tribute to… Prince?

PODCAST: Karen Pressley on Scientology’s radicalizing of Tom Cruise

[Karen Pressley on ‘Aftermath’]

Karen Pressley spent almost 20 years in Scientology, and then turned her experience into a terrific book, Escaping Scientology: My Journey with the Cult of Celebrity Spirituality, Greed & Power.

Continue reading PODCAST: Karen Pressley on Scientology’s radicalizing of Tom Cruise

TESTAMENT: When a celeb faced a nasty divorce, and Scientology kept it all under wraps

[Woman in fur coat, the Night Court version]

In February 1987, I was an auditor in the Flag Service Organization in Clearwater, Florida. This org was known as the highest and best place to partake in Scientology services within the sprawling network of that “Church.” There was no better place, supposedly, to get auditing anywhere in the world.

Continue reading TESTAMENT: When a celeb faced a nasty divorce, and Scientology kept it all under wraps

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