Latest news with #ChurchofScientology
Extra.ie
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Extra.ie
Why is the Church of Scientology so controversial?
Tom Cruise, John Travolta and Elisabeth Moss are just some of the prominent Hollywood stars who have publicly associated themselves with the controversial religion of Scientology. The religion, which is often referred to as a cult, was founded by US author L. Ron Hubbard in 1953 after the author failed in his bid to mask his pseudoscientific ideas as a form of therapy. Some of the key beliefs of Scientologists include that humans are immortal spiritual beings and that they will be reincarnated. Tom Cruise, John Travolta and Elisabeth Moss are just some of the prominent Hollywood stars who have publicly associated themselves with the controversial religion of Scientology. Pic:for Paramount Pictures Here is just a touch of what the religious organisation is all about… L. Ron Hubbard was an American author and the eventual founder of Scientology. In 1950, the Nebraska native wrote Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health, which led to him establishing organisations to promote and practice Dianetic techniques. These were a set of ideas and practices regarding the mind which were initially framed as a form of therapy or psychological treatment. The organisation went bankrupt, which led Hubbard to reframe his ideas as a religion. Hubbard coined the term Scientology, which is made up of the Latin word scientia (knowledge/skill) and would claim that Scientology meant 'knowing about knowing' or 'science of knowledge.' This photograph shows the headquarters of the Church of Scientology in Saint-Denis, north of Paris, on May 21, 2025. Pic: Thomas SAMSON / AFP The core beliefs for Scientologists are the idea that humans are immortal spiritual beings called 'thetans' that reside in the physical body. Thetans have had numerous previous lives. Those within the religion also believe in reincarnation, where the thetans are reborn into various bodies. Scientology says: 'The thetan is immortal and has lived — and will continue to live — through countless lifetimes.' The core practice in Scientology is auditing, and this sees one Scientologist (the auditor) ask the other questions. This is said to improve the abilities of the subject, but it creates a dependency on the auditing subject. Auditing can be quite costly for Scientologists, with Hubbard writing in 1964 that the cost for a 25-hour block should be the equivalent of three months' pay. Scientology is widely criticized and seen to be a potentially harmful organisation as well as quite manipulative to its members. Pic:Scientology is widely criticised and seen to be a potentially harmful organisation as well as quite manipulative to its members. It is often argued that the movement is not a religion but a commercial enterprise masquerading as one, as a means of Hubbard avoiding prosecution following the collapse of Dianetics in the past. Many members have left the church and spoken out about the abuse within the organisation. In 2023, Saved By The Bell actress Leah Remini sued the Church of Scientology for what she said was years of 'psychological torture.' In a blistering statement, the actress said she had endured 17 years of 'psychological torture, defamation, surveillance, harassment, and intimidation' which had 'significantly' impacted her life and career. In 2018, the church faced backlash for its so-called 'safe, healthy and thorough method of purging drugs from the body' at drug rehabilitation centres. Those attending the facility were said to be cut off from their addiction cold turkey, and given high doses of vitamins and minerals instead. The issue was brought to the Seanad by then Senator Ray Butler, who said it was 'brainwashing of the most vulnerable people.'
Daily Mirror
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Ana de Armas recalls screaming and running for her life on set of new movie
Cuban-Spanish actress Ana de Armas has two major blockbusters coming out this summer - but she was scared for her life on the set of one of them that filmed in Australia Ana de Armas has revealed she was left screaming and running for her life on the set of her latest film. The 37-year-old Cuban-Spanish actress has the lead role in new action film Ballerina - itself a spin-off of the Keanu Reeves fronted John Wick film series. The new movie sees Ana playing a character named Eve Macarro, who was training as a ballerina before falling into a world of espionage and peril. While promoting the new film, Ana also shared anecdotes from the set of another action film she stars in. She is among the cast of Ron Howard's survival thriller Eden - which was initially released in 2024 but is set to be released in the UK in July. The action flick, which also stars Jude Law, Vanessa Kirby and Sydney Sweeney, was filmed in Australia - but the set was frequently invaded by scaly visitors. Ana has explained that a snake catcher was on hand at all times to remove such unwanted pests. Speaking to Stellar Magazine, Ana revealed that the cast and crew would run screaming at the warning of reptiles. She recalled: "I remember at random times on set, people just screaming, 'Snake!' "Stopping the take right away – whatever was happening, whoever was talking – we literally dropped everything and ran away, waiting for the guy to come with the stick and take the snake out." She added: "But I think we were fine... no accidents happened." While Ana has a busy summer ahead of film releases ahead of her, she has been attracting even more interest from fans in recent months as rumours swirl that she is dating Tom Cruise. The pair have been spotted out for dinner together and Tom has even flown the actress around in helicopters. Ana is no stranger to dating high profile men - having been married to Spanish model Marc Clotet from 2011 until 2013, dated Ben Affleck from early 2020 until late 2021, and more recently she was linked to the stepson of Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel. But she has reportedly been warned about getting close to 62-year-old Tom. After they were spied seemingly enjoying a Valentine's meal together earlier this year, a source insisted to People that the pair were merely "discussing potential collaborations down the line." They added that the pair "appeared to have no romantic connection, just friends." Fans have been left unconvinced, however, and many have taken to social media to comment about the apparent bond between the Hollywood stars - while also expressing concerns about Tom's dramatic, headline-grabbing past. He has not had the best luck on the romantic front - having been married three times, with each marriage resulting in divorce. He has also been linked to the controversial religion Scientology. He reportedly joined the Church of Scientology in 1986 after allegedly being introduced by his first wife, Mimi Rogers. The organisation has been slammed as a cult by many and it was invented by science fiction author L. Ron Hubbard in 1954. The secretive society reportedly sees members unlock different levels within the organisation by paying certain amounts of money to rise up through the ranks - while also allegedly handing over personal details. Many who have escaped the organisation have claimed they have been followed and intimidated by other members. It has been suggested that Tom's dedication to the organisation sparked the collapse of his marriage to his second wife, Nicole Kidman - however the Aussie star cited "irreconcilable differences" as the reason for her request for divorce when they split in 2001.
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Elvis Priscilla Presley's Family in Photos: Lisa Marie, Riley Keough
If there was ever a man who needed no introduction, it's Elvis Presley, the King of Rock and Roll. But while you may be an Elvis expert, far less is known about the ex-wife and daughter he left behind, and the family they've raised since. The Presleys have lived fascinating lives, from ex-wife Priscilla and granddaughter Riley's involvement with the Church of Scientology to Lisa Marie Presley's four marriages (two to major celebs!). We're looking inside the family of Priscilla, from her exes to her kids (and grandkids!) While Priscilla is known as a charitable figure and actor now, she was a normal teenage girl when she met Elvis. The pair met when she was only 14 and he was 24, forming a romantic bond. It's, erm, hard to hear about their relationship once you learn more details (like how he called her 'Little One.') Despite this, the former Scientologist has blossomed into a successful, powerful woman in the industry who adores her ever-growing family. She's made sure her talented family is more than a rock and roll legacy. They're a family like any other, and a beautiful, blended, unique one at that. In honor of Priscilla's birthday today on May 24, here's a look inside her family. A version of this article was originally published in July 2020. More from SheKnows Elvis Presley's Ex-Wife, Daughter, & Granddaughter Shared a Red Carpet Moment at Graceland's Elvis Premiere Best of SheKnows Elizabeth Hurley & Billy Ray Cyrus, & More of the Best Red Carpet Debuts From Celebrity Couples Over the Years Yoko Ono's Daughter Kyoko, & 22 Surprising Celebrities That Were In or Linked to a Cult 7 Ways Chrissy Teigen Has Altered Her Appearance Over the Years: Plastic Surgery & More Priscilla Presley was married to Elvis Presley from 1967-1973, first meeting when she was only a child. They had their daughter Lisa Marie Presley on Feb. 1, 1968, exactly nine months after their wedding. Priscilla has had a long career as both an actress and a businesswoman. She helped monetize Elvis' Graceland estate and starred in the Naked Gun trilogy, as well as a recurring role on Dallas. She's also been linked to many men since Elvis' death, including Robert Kardashian, male model Michael Edwards, and restaurateur Richie Palmer. However, she was linked to screenwriter Marco Garibaldi the longest, with them living together for over twenty years and sharing a son named Navarone Garibaldi, born on March 1, 1987. She was also a dedicated member of the Church of Scientology for decades, only leaving when her daughter Lisa Marie turned against them in 2016, saying she was 'done.' The Church of Scientology has since reportedly declared both Priscilla and Lisa Marie 'suppressive persons' in response, and Priscilla's granddaughter Riley is urged to minimize contact. After Priscilla Presley's divorce from Elvis Presley, she went on to be linked to many stars. However, things got serious when she met Marco Garibaldi back in 1984 through a mutual friend. They were together for 22 years, living together for 21 of those years and even welcomed a son named Navarone Garibaldi in 1987. He was a producer and screenwriter who switched career paths and turned into a computer programmer, per Daily Mail. However, he and Priscilla split up in 2006. Lisa Marie Presley was born in Tennessee to Elvis and Priscilla Presley in 1968. When she was only nine years old, her father died and she became the sole inheritor of Graceland, worth an estimated $298 million in today's money. Over her career as a singer-songwriter, she released three albums: To Whom It May Concern, Now What, and Storm & Grace. Lisa Marie was married to four men for varying lengths of time: Danny Keough for four years, Michael Jackson for two years, Nicolas Cage for three months, and Michael Lockwood for a decade. She is the mother of four children. She and her ex-husband Keough welcomed two children named Riley and Benjamin. Lisa Marie also has twin girls named Finley Aaron Love and Harper Vivienne Ann Lockwood. Her personal life was often troubled, and she struggled with substance abuse and opioid addiction off and on for years starting in 2008. Her financial life was also complicated, and the star has an estimated net worth of negative $16 million after issues with her estate. She has sued former financial manager Barry Siegel and alleges that he mismanaged her funds. In 2020, Lisa Marie's son Benjamin died by suicide at age 27. She penned a poignant essay on grief for PEOPLE, writing, 'I keep going for my girls. I keep going because my son made it very clear in his final moments that taking care of his little sisters and looking out for them were on the forefront of his concerns and his mind. He absolutely adored them and they him.' Sadly, Lisa Marie died on January 12 from cardiac arrest, per CNN. Loving tributes poured in, including one from John Travolta, which read: 'Lisa baby girl, I'm so sorry. I'll miss you but I know I'll see you again. My love and heart goes out to Riley, Priscilla, Harper and Finley.' Leah Remini wrote that she was 'heartbroken' over the untimely passing. 'Lisa did not have an easy life, as some might think,' the actress wrote. 'May she be at peace, resting with her son and father now.' Navarone Garibaldi is Priscilla Presley and Marco Garibaldi's only son, born March 1, 1987. Navarone's passion in life is music and he is the frontman of the band Them Guns, which he formed in 2013. Earlier in 2022, he married Elisa Achilli, whom he has a twelve-year age gap with, in a private ceremony in Switzerland, per Page Six. It's reported that the two have been together for around four years before tying the knot. Lisa Marie and Danny's daughter Danielle Riley Keough is a model and actress known for The Girlfriend Experience, Mad Max: Fury Road, Logan Lucky, and more. Born in California, the oldest grandchild of Elvis is married to stuntman Ben Smith-Petersen, who runs a production company. She started modeling at 15 years old and going by her middle name Riley. Along with acting and modeling, she made her directorial debut in 2020 at the Cannes Film Festival. Despite mom Lisa Marie's exit from Scientology in 2016, she is believed to still be affiliated with the Church, along with dad Danny Keough. The Daisy Jones & The Six star married Ben Smith-Petersen in 2015, and welcomed a daughter in 2022. Benjamin Storm Keough passed away at age 27 at his Calabasas home in an apparent suicide. Known for keeping a low profile, Benjamin had a few acting credits and 2009 record deal, and was known to be close to mom Lisa Marie. He was also known for bearing a striking resemblance to dad Elvis. If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255), text 'STRENGTH' to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 or go to Priscilla Presley's twin granddaughters Harper and Finley were born on Oct. 7, 2008, to their parents Lisa Marie Presley and Michael Lockwood. Their parents were locked in an ugly custody battle and drawn-out divorce. The twins were temporarily removed from their parents custody in 2020 after Presley alleged that Lockwood had child pornography on his computer, and Lockwood alleged that Presley's substance abuse issues put their children in harm's way. The twins were out of protective custody, and the divorce was finalized in 2021. After Lisa Marie passed away, they've been placed under their father's custody. Rare photos were published on May 2023 from their middle school graduation, and it showed that already, Finley looks like her mother's mini-me! Riley Keough, and her husband Ben Smith-Petersen have welcomed a daughter named Tupelo Storm Smith-Petersen in Aug 2022, which would be Elvis' great-granddaughter. In a rare interview with Vanity Fair, Keough explained her daughter's name, 'I was like, 'This is great because it's not really a well-known word or name in relation to my family — it's not like Memphis or something.' It's funny because we picked her name before the Elvis movie.'
Metro
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
It's the 20th anniversary of Tom Cruise jumping on Oprah Winfrey's sofa
It's been two decades since one of the most iconic (or perhaps notorious) moments in pop culture history: Tom Cruise jumping on Oprah Winfrey's sofa. The interview has become a shorthand for celebrity eccentricity for good reason. For those who don't remember, the interview aired on May 23, 2005, around the same time Cruise was first making negative headlines for his association with Scientology. He went on The Oprah Winfrey Show – then one of the biggest talk shows in the world – and discussed his new romance with Katie Holmes, whom he wed in 2006 and split from in 2012. Cruise entered the studio to thunderous applause and was visibly ecstatic as he made his way towards Oprah. He was unusually animated, full of energy, and smiling broadly – something that was very unlikely for the actor. As Oprah asked about his relationship with actress Holmes, Cruise responded with uncontained enthusiasm. At one point, he stood on the couch, knelt on it, punched the air, and later jumped up and down. Oprah laughed and said, 'You're gone!' obviously concerned but trying to play along with whatever was happening. Cruise then repeatedly professed his love for Holmes, calling her 'extraordinary' and saying he had never felt this way before. He grabbed Oprah's hands and pulled her from her chair, continuing his excited display. The audience responded with laughter, applause, and some visible confusion, but it was the virality of the clip afterwards that truly stoked fan reaction. YouTube had only recently come to exist in 2005, and the clip of Cruise was one of the platform's first-ever viral videos, a stark contrast to the likes of TikTok in 2025, where there's a new viral trend every other day. At the time, with so much less content on the web, viral moments lasted a lot longer (see: 2007's Charlie Bit My Finger), and Cruise's strange interview became the definitive celebrity moment of the year. News broadcasts, entertainment shows, and late-night comedians latched onto Cruise's bizarre, uncharacteristic energy levels, with the couch-jumping mocked on Saturday Night Live, South Park, and talk shows for weeks. His exaggerated declaration of love for his new girlfriend felt unrelatable or even suspicious to some viewers, sparking speculation about Cruise's authenticity, mental state, and ties to Scientology. Some even wondered if the Church of Scientology had arranged his match with Holmes. A recent Reddit thread unpacks the cultural impact of the interview, with one user asking on r/popculturechat: 'How big of a deal was the Tom Cruise incident on The Oprah Winfrey show at the time?' Other users quickly responded to assure the original poster that it was seemingly all anyone could talk about that year. YugisMillenniumBSBcd wrote: 'It was massive! It was one of the last big pop culture things before youtube really took off. Everyone was talking about it without having actually seen it, so people thought it was more shocking than it really was. It didn't help we all knew he's got several screws loose with his Xenu worshipping BS, so the idea of him jumping around the Oprah set like Top Gun: Kangaroo was 10000% believable.' amomentintimebro agreed: 'Oh HUGE. I remember watching it and the media storm after. He came off as a total crazy person and everyone was super weirded out.' Aware-Impression8527 chimed in: 'HUGE. There was no social media so celebrities were still kind of remote and moments held more weight (and didn't happen every minute of the day). He had this reputation for being so straight and restrained so to see him jump up and down on a couch was wild.' In the years since the couch jump was seen around the world, Cruise and Holmes have divorced, and it's believed he's estranged from their shared teenage daughter, Suri, who recently graduated in New York. She remains close with her mother, though, having dropped the 'Cruise' surname, as she now goes by Suri Noelle. It was previously claimed that the 46-year-old Dawson's Creek star filed for divorce from Cruise to protect Suri from Scientology, with Suri no longer a practising member of the organisation. According to The Sun, visits between Cruise and his daughter ceased around 2013, although he previously claimed he 'never cut [her] out' of his life. More Trending Cruise, currently rumoured to be dating Ana de Armas, also shares adopted children Bella and Connor with ex-wife Nicole Kidman, to whom he was married from 1990 to 2001. Away from the dramatics of fatherhood, Cruise has managed to rehabilitate his public image. The Mission: Impossible actor, who recently reprised his role of Ethan Hunt for The Final Reckoning, has even been called 'the last movie star' by those who will forgive just about anything from a man who does his own stunts, whether it be hanging from a plane or plunging to the depths of the ocean (or whatever else he does). Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: Netflix fans praise 'suspenseful' dark comedy perfect for Bank Holiday binge watching MORE: Nicole Kidman's Amazon Prime show branded 'comedically bad' as season 2 drops MORE: Pregnant news anchor hosts three-hour show after going into labour live on air
Time of India
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Tom Cruise x BTS' Jin collab on Run Jin' sparks backlash over Scientology concerns, ARMYs say, 'Begging HYBE to...'
BTS' Jin hasn't had a moment to breathe since his military discharge. From charming fans on Run Jin to causing chaos on Kian's Bizarre B&B and Screwballs, he's been popping up on every variety show worth mentioning. He has also released two albums—Happy and Echo—since his discharge, and the promotional campaigns have been nothing short of a dreamy experience for fans. Just when we thought we'd seen it all, Jin's next guest might be his most unexpected yet: Hollywood's action hero, Tom Cruise. As part of the Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning promo tour in South Korea, Cruise is set to appear on Run Jin. A recently released teaser shows Jin tackling a high-stakes 'mission,' ending with a warm hug that fans suspect is with Cruise himself. While the team-up is definitely one for the history books, not all ARMYs are thrilled about the collaboration. Run Jin gets Tom Cruise as its first Hollywood guest RUN JIN WITH TOM CRUISE NEXT TUESDAY Run Jin follows the same unpredictable and often hilarious formula of BTS' pre-military variety show, Run BTS. Only this time, it's focused entirely on Jin. The series, which kicked off after Jin's return from military service, invites surprise celebrity guests to take on weird and wild missions with the BTS vocalist. Hollywood's new favourite promo stop? K-pop Tom Cruise's team-up with Jin is just the latest example of Hollywood finally recognising the potential of the Korean market. From Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman doing promotions for Deadpool & Wolverine in Korea, to Robert Pattinson's surprise stint on a Korean variety show while promoting Mickey 17, South Korea has become the global hotspot for promotional tours. And, given Korean stars' huge global fan following, it's understandable to see why. Tom Cruise's Scientology connection resurfaces Amid the news of Cruise's participation in Run Jin, his long-standing, high-profile ties to the Church of Scientology are once again under scrutiny. The Hollywood star has been one of the church's most prominent members for decades, and his affiliation has often sparked controversy. His divorce from Katie Holmes in 2012 was widely speculated to be influenced by Scientology, especially after Holmes sought sole custody of their daughter Suri. More recently, Suri dropped Cruise's last name altogether and now goes by Suri Noelle, a move many see as another quiet break from her father's world. ARMYs raise concerns about the collab While many ARMYs are excited to see Jin back in action with a global star, not everyone is celebrating the collab. Fans have voiced discomfort over Cruise's involvement, pointing to his religious affiliations and the problematic allegations tied to Scientology. One user pointed out, "Everyone knows that Tom Cruise is into Scientology and tbh maybe they should stop collabing with weirdos." Everyone knows that tom cruise is into scientology and tbh maybe they should stop collabing with weirdos Another concerned fan wrote, "There's no need to celebrate Tom Cruise is a literal scientologist cult member... begging hybe to do SOME kind of research before letting him go on Jin's show." there's no need to celebrate tom cruise is a literal scientologist cult member... begging hybe to do SOME kind of research before letting a literal lunatic go on jin's show "I am deeply uncomfortable about Tom Cruise being on Run Jin bc this is almost definitely a bid to try and introduce Scientology to armys, like that man did not ask to be on the show for any other reason," wrote a third user. i am deeply uncomfortable about tom cruise being on run jin bc this is almost definitely a bid to try and introduce scientology to armys like that man did not ask to be on the show for any other reason "Tom Cruise is a very bad man involved with very bad people and its actually a bit upsetting that he is going to be involved with them like this. The Run Jin team probably doesn't even know all this but... yeah idk i'm so disturbed by this," wrote a fourth fan. tom cruise is a very bad man 😭😭😭 involved with very bad people and its actually a bit upsetting that he is going to be involved with them like this. the run jin team probably doesn't even know all this but... yeah idk i'm so disturbed by this. Check out more reactions below: Chat is the Tom Cruise on Rn Jin real?? Please get that Scientology piece of shit away from Jin fuck you @HYBEOFFICIALtwt you Zionist pieces of shit god I hope your company falls and turns to ash along with your pedo Zionist CEO's TC supports the human trafficking cult of Scientology and fully endorses their policies of disconnection, forced labor and abortions…I will not watch, sorry Jin tom cruise better not try to indoctrinate jin into scientology People celebrating Tom Cruise like he's not one of the biggest supporters of Scientology a cult who has people in slave contracts. Tom hasn't even spoken to his own daughter bc he considers her a suppressive person The Run Jin episode featuring Tom Cruise will premiere on May 18 on BTS' official YouTube channel, BANGTAN TV. For all the latest K-drama, K-pop, and Hallyuwood updates, keep following our coverage here.
