Founded in 1953 by L. Ron Hubbard and led with an iron fist by David Miscavige since the early 1980s, the highly controversial Church of Scientology can be described as a sectarian organization in France, in the United States it remains considered a religion in its own right that has many stars in its ranks.
whether Tom Cruise AND John Travolta are her most famous spokespeople, other actors such as Juliette Lewis, Kirstie Alley, Giovanni Ribisi (who played Phoebe’s crazy brother on Friends) and Laura Prepon have also been loyal followers for many years. In 2017, the latter also caused outrage when an excerpt from an interview of hers was broadcast in “Scientology and the Aftermath”, a mini-series denouncing the excesses of Scientology. He who is known to play a gay woman on Orange is the New Black had claimed that she had “never read” anything that suggested the Church of Scientology was anti-LGBT, which is further confirmed in the lines written by L .Ron Hubbard. “All Scientologists read the same books (which therefore target LGBT communities, editor’s note). When someone says they’ve “never read it,” they’re lying. This was my case when I was a Scientologist,” tweeted Leah Remini, a former member of the Church of Scientology who today speaks about the practices and excesses of this organization. “I don’t remember meeting Laura Prepon. I admire her a lot as an actress. I find it very sad to see her say things that she knows are wrong,” said director Paul Haggis, also a former member of the Church.
Every Scientologist reads the same books. Anyone who says “I’ve never read it” is a liar. Just like I was when I trained as a Scientologist
— Leah Remini (@LeahRemini) September 20, 2017
I don’t remember meeting @LauraPrepon I admire her a lot as an actress. I find it so sad to see her say things she knows aren’t true
— Paul Haggis (@Paul_Haggis) September 20, 2017
Rumors about the Smith couple
Will Smith and Jada Pinkett have long been at the center of rumors claiming that they were introduced to Scientology by their friend Tom Cruise. “I talked about it with Tom. [Il y a] many amazing and wonderful concepts, but my wife Jada and I don’t necessarily believe in organized religion. I grew up in a Baptist family, and my grandmother would turn over in her grave if I became a Scientologist,” Will Smith told the World Entertainment News Network site in 2006. In 2008, the couple of actors, however, had some donations groups associated with the Church of L. Ron Hubbard and was heavily involved in building a private school in Los Angeles, the New Village Leadership Academy, from which several courses were articulated around Scientology. The facility was closed in 2013. Two years later, Jada and Will Smith received a $1 million refund from the Church according to the press definitely distancing himself from Scientology.
In France, few celebrities openly display their membership in the Church of Scientology. In 2013, actor Xavier Deluc, known to the general public for his work in the “Research Section”, revealed to “Nice Matin” that he was a member. “I suppose. At a time when I was going bad, Scientology allowed me to understand myself and to know, with my real family, a harmony that I didn’t have,” he said.