As has become usual now, BEFORE the show finished airing scientology had a new webpage up attacking the contributors, and deployed their twitter and Facebook bots to announce to the world that the people who appeared on the show were some very bad hombres. Of course, nothing to respond to the CONTENTS of the show. That would not be scientology. Strictly ad hominem. And some of their ad hom is REALLY low, even for scientology. I had wondered whether they would focus on me and Leah due to the nature of the show. But they just couldn't resist going after Bruce Hines -- proclaiming him … [Read more...]
Scientology’s Response to Episode 3
True to form, within minutes of the show airing, scientology put up a new smear site, with videos from Liz Gale's mother and an unidentified "family friend." To call these videos lame is to give them way too much credence. Marie Gale spends most of her time talking about me -- that I have somehow twisted Liz's mind to get her to tell her life story and that I knew all about it 20 years ago, so no news here. She also talks about Philip being accepted to MIT. Not a SINGLE RESPONSE to the destruction of the family, abandoning Liz, selling the ranch or anything else in the episode. The … [Read more...]
Scientology The Aftermath S2 Ep 3: the Aftermath
Another tough episode. That was an example of the "ideal" scientology family. About as successful as their "ideal" orgs. It will be a bit of a breather next week as we take a look at Miscavige's rise to power. Elizabeth Gale is a courageous, strong, woman, mother and role model. We will be waiting (probably not for more than a few minutes) for the hate videos and smear site to go up that the busy little OSA beavers have been working on. Of course, every time they put them up they prove what is being exposed about them. But they don't care because they "know" (because L. Ron Hubbard told … [Read more...]
Scientology’s Response to Episode 2
As has become their practice, within minutes of the show airing, scientology puts up a new smear site, with videos from family members -- in this case Marie Bilheimer and Aaron Poulin's mothers, and Tayler Tweed's mother and brother. They are sadly predictable -- failing to address the issues raised in the stories and instead attempting to discredit Marie and Lauren (and Leah, Tony Ortega and me). Marie, according to Aaron's mother should "look in the mirror" and Lauren, according to Cathy Tweed, wasn't really even a friend of Tayler's. Lame stuff. But can you get inside the head of the … [Read more...]
Scientology The Aftermath S2 Ep 2: the Aftermath
As always, thanks to everyone for your amazing support. Most heartfelt thanks to Marie Bilheimer and Lauren Haggis -- two beautiful, courageous and caring women. Without contributors like them who are willing to stand up and bravely tell their stories, there would be no show at all. The purpose of this program is to provide a venue for the real, painful stories of life in scientology to be told. It cannot happen without those who will sit down before the camera. Every contributor knows that any remaining scientology friends they may have had will instantly disconnect (even though "that … [Read more...]
The Anti-Aftermath
It seems to be all hands panic stations inside the scientology bubble. In violation of Hubbard policy and all earlier practices, they are now "spreading the flap" by announcing it to all scientologists and "encouraging" them to write letters and sign a petition to shut down The Aftermath. This really is an unprecedented action in the annals of "attack the attacker" history. Scientology usually does its best not to make their public aware of "bad media", knowing most of them will not look at it anyway. Standard practice is to pretend it doesn't exist. They must be deluged with reports … [Read more...]
Scientology’s Response to Episode 1
Though I commented on this in my post of yesterday, I wanted to highlight the insanity of the scientology response to the new season's first episode while it is hot off the press (Thursday Funnies are on hiatus for a week). In a word. Lame. Their "defense" for child abuse is: We found three people who knew Saina when she was a child and she didnt mention she had been sexually molested -- yes and I found 5 people who knew Jeffrey Dahmer and they said he never told them he had killed and eaten people. So it didn't happen apparently. What they DIDN'T "find" was Mirriam or Saina's mother … [Read more...]
Scientology The Aftermath S2 Ep 1: the Aftermath
Thanks to everyone for supporting the show last night. There were too many tweets, messages, FB posts, blog comments here and at the Underground Bunker to possibly keep up, or respond to all the expressions of support and outrage. So let this be a general thanks to everyone. But thanks beyond all thanks goes to two incredible, brave women, Mirriam Francis and Saina Kamula who stood up, spoke up and gave voice to every victim of similar abuse in scientology. There is MUCH more to their stories as you might imagine. Only so much can fit in the minutes available for the show. I wish we … [Read more...]
The Aftermath Season 2
It begins tonight. A&E 9pm EDT. Looking forward to hearing your reactions tomorrow. … [Read more...]
Scientology’s Aftermath Part 2
See previous blog post Scientology's Aftermath. this is the second new PR spin to tumble out of Scientology in the last 24 hours. Responding to an article in Rolling Stone, headlined Leah Remini Wants Federal Investigation Into Scientology, Dear Leader Miscavige offered up further butt hurt whining: Regarding Remini calling for an "investigation," it is pure balderdash. The Church is a religious institution committed to our religious, social and humanitarian missions. The Church says Remini and her "sources" have continuously filed false reports with law enforcement that have been … [Read more...]