How Scientology can make a tragedy worse, and then even worse again

[Ginger before the shooting, left, with her friend Penny Thomas]

Ginger Sugerman is preparing for her sixth surgery to repair damage to her face and needs much more dental work. One of her vocal cords has been paralyzed. But despite that, we had a phone conversation with her a few days ago.

Continue reading How Scientology can make a tragedy worse, and then even worse again

Holy Xenu, even we didn’t expect Scientology to be this big in Danny Masterson’s hearing

[Masterson after the ruling, from video by Bunker reader Melissa J. Bratten]

Well, that was some week and we want to thank all of our loyal readers for going through it with us. The comments section has really been a rollicking good time while we were reporting from Los Angeles for the Danny Masterson preliminary hearing.

Continue reading Holy Xenu, even we didn’t expect Scientology to be this big in Danny Masterson’s hearing

Day four of the Danny Masterson prelim: The arguments and a ruling!

[Mueller vs. Mesereau]

Well, it all comes down to this. We’re beginning a little later today, 10:30 am, but the testimony and cross-examining is finished, and now we’ll get to see Deputy DA Reinhold Mueller and defense attorney Tom Mesereau give their closing arguments.

Continue reading Day four of the Danny Masterson prelim: The arguments and a ruling!

Day three of the Danny Masterson prelim: Jane Doe 3’s cross-examination continues

[Yesterday’s strange moment: Mesereau brings Hubbard in!]

We were struck by a comment made after yesterday’s session by our friend TX Lawyer. He pointed out that it is the job of Danny Masterson’s defense attorney Tom Mesereau not only to push the witnesses but also the judge.

Continue reading Day three of the Danny Masterson prelim: Jane Doe 3’s cross-examination continues

Day two of the Danny Masterson prelim: Jane Doe 1’s cross-examination continues

[Judge Olmedo, and Danny Masterson at his Sept 18 appearance]

News organizations normally have a policy of not naming sexual assault victims in their stories. For some reason, however, some of the media outlets covering yesterday’s preliminary hearing in the Danny Masterson rape case chose to ignore this policy, and they used the abbreviated version of Jane Doe 1’s actual name which the judge and attorneys called her by in court.

Continue reading Day two of the Danny Masterson prelim: Jane Doe 1’s cross-examination continues

Jane Doe 1’s brutal testimony about alleged rape by Danny Masterson on Day 1 of prelim

[UPDATE: See our reports from the courtroom below, after the victim descriptions.]

We’re on the scene this morning in Los Angeles, bringing you coverage at Los Angeles Superior Court as Danny Masterson faces a preliminary hearing on charges that he raped three different women.

Continue reading Jane Doe 1’s brutal testimony about alleged rape by Danny Masterson on Day 1 of prelim

Scientology hits on the perfect theme for its Chicago fundraising: Blues Brothers!

Scientology is always hunting around for new themes to use in its fundraising, from Star Wars to The Last Samurai. And we didn’t think it could get more on-the-nose than Caribbean pirates and 30’s gangsters asking for your dough.

Hand over yer booty, me lovelies!

Continue reading Scientology hits on the perfect theme for its Chicago fundraising: Blues Brothers!

Inside a PR mutiny: How Scientology’s war on Prozac backfired in spectacular fashion

(A note from Chris: Many thanks to the benefactors whose generosity has been essential in covering the cost of the research subscriptions that enabled me to write this article (and much more besides). If readers would like to help contribute towards further research, please see my Patreon page. Thank you for your continued support!)

Scientology’s public image has taken a beating in recent years with revelations of abuse at every level of the organization. It’s not the first time, however, that it’s had to deal with a shattered image. Thirty years ago this month in May 1991, its efforts to rebuild its reputation were derailed by the publication of Richard Behar’s classic exposé of Scientology, “The Thriving Cult of Greed and Power”.

Continue reading Inside a PR mutiny: How Scientology’s war on Prozac backfired in spectacular fashion

Scientology chiropractor Eric Berg called out by son in viral TikTok video

Last night, a man named Ian Rafalko posted a TikTok video which has quickly blown up, with more than 90,000 likes by this morning.

Continue reading Scientology chiropractor Eric Berg called out by son in viral TikTok video

Why is Scientology desperate for a tiny plot in Clearwater? Let us draw you a picture.

[Dave has a hole burning in his pocket.]

This week five secret proposals for Clearwater downtown development were made public by the city, and Tracey McManus gave a summary of them at the Tampa Bay Times.

Continue reading Why is Scientology desperate for a tiny plot in Clearwater? Let us draw you a picture.

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