As we’ve already noted (with much hilarity), Scientology is in huge trouble from a public relations standpoint after fallout from the TomKat divorce. Now cult leader David Miscavige is rallying his celebs to help out with a new PR strategy that’s sure to fail, but that won’t stop former golden boy Tom Cruise from hitting up the old recruitment tactics as well. His new target? Russell “Shag-a-Million” Brand, whom Tom first enjoyed contact with while they filmed their mutual box-office flop, Rock of Ages.
Tom apparently believes that recovering (drug, alcohol, and sex) addict Russell would not only make a great CO$ recruit but also a gloriously effective spokesperson for Narconon, the CO$-affiliated drug rehab program that aims to detox drug addicts through a ridiculous regimen of vitamins and saunas. Never mind that Narconon’s flagship center has just experienced its third patient death in a matter of six months, and never mind that Russell has very low tolerance for religious extremes (as in Katy Perry’s parents) in any shape or form. Tom still thinks Russell would be a great fit and is said to be putting on the moves to get him indoctrinated at the Celebrity Centre. Russell probably has had a good laugh about it and declined to take any of Tom’s calls in the future. Here’s the story:
Tom Cruise is hoping to introduce comic Russell Brand to Scientology.
Newly separated Cruise is keen to recruit his Rock Of Ages co-star to be a spokesman for Scientology rehab project Narconon.
“Tom thinks Russell’s battle with alcohol and drug addiction is a way to reach out to the vulnerable,” says an LA spy.
Cruise also introduced Brand to Hollywood studio boss Sumner Redstone, who asked Russell to compere an event to help addicts.
[From Daily Mail]
First off, Russell would never fall for any religion that treats celebrities like gods because he himself has said, “Who cares about bloody celebrities?” Secondly, Russell is a terribly intelligent man who has articulately argued for compassion towards addicts in front of Parliament. Russell believes that addiction is an illness that finds its roots in “emotional difficulties [and] psychological difficulties,” and Scientology doesn’t jibe with the ideas of “illness” or “psychological difficulties” as concrete subjects that require treatment from a physician or, for that matter, anything other than auditing. Further, we’ve already seen that Russell has very little patience for bullsh-t, which is evidenced by the fact that he cut his marriage to Katy Perry short after merely fourteen months. In other words, Tom is wasting his energy here.
Here’s Russell out and about in Beverly Hills with his new girlfriend, Isabella Brewster (sister of Jordana) on 7/21. Yes, he’s putting her in a headlock, and yes, she’s biting his arm in response. How romantic.
Photos courtesy of Pacific Coast News and Fame/Flynet
Katy Perry must be gloating over these photos, now that Russell Brand has downgraded to a fat nobody who will likely be replaced by yet another brunette in a matter of weeks.
She’s fat?
lady_luck is probably just a Katy Perry Stan. Nothing wrong with that, but to call this girl fat, is laughable. I have seen her face too at DM and she can run laps around katy perry in the looks department.
Are you blind or just a jealous troll? That young woman is about as far away from fat as one can get without heading into anorexia territory.
I’m sorry….fat? She doesn’t look fat, she looks like she’s got a set of boobs and some hips….You know, like an actual grown up woman.
yeh she’s enormous! I wish I was that ‘fat’
Second that!
Yeah, wow! She’s almost as fat as the cow Kate Upton. Pfffffft! If only I could be this “fat”. What is wrong with people?????
Good lord, first thing I thought looking at the pics is how cute the girl was. She is not fat, not at all!
she’s cute and your definition of fat is wrong..
My reaction was oh, look he’s with an actual, real girl. How refreshing, good for Russell.
I can’t see much of her face from these pics but she looks like she’s just as cute as her sister Jordana.
She looks comfortable, confident and happy, not tryhard famewhore. What’s wrong with that?
Where are you getting fat from. She has a nice set of curves on her which is unusual for Hollywood. She’s not overly skinney, but she’s not fat by anymeans.
Yeah, Katy’s gonna gloat alright, until she sees her face without makeup – she’s Loki.
Do you feel better about yourself now?
Fat nobody? Wow. Jealous much?
My first thought on seeing these pix was, Russell’s finally with someone hot – & good for him!
Katy, is that you?
LOL! Exactly!
She may have curves, like a real woman should, but she is not one bit fat! He does seem to have a type though.
She looks super normal to me. So calling her fat Is like calling most women fat
Now now Katy. Jealousy is a green monster that does not look pretty on you.
Are you calling this poor, short girl fat? But for a diet of vodka and coke, Katy would look quite similar to this. Brand clearly likes well-rounded brunettes that are short. She’s just not wearing those horse hooves women call shoes these days.
Off topic, but LOL @ horse hooves – you are not kidding! I work in an office full of chicks who clomp around in those things all day. They look ridiculous, and the stomping/clomping is beyond annoying. Looking forward to that unattractive fad passing!
THANK YOU! 😀 lol
I still contend that it’s unladylike to wear shoes that make unnecessary noise to work. I worked with somebody in a law firm that actually thought it was okay to wear platform foam flip-flops to work. ::slap-slap-slap:: everywhere she went. Trashy!!
I could not agree more! Unladylike is the perfect word for it. And btw, the office I work in is a law office, lol.
I didn’t buy a single new pair of shoes yet this year – those awful hoof/wedges!! They can’t go away fast enough.
And wearing those hoove shoes they take small mincing steps – very irritating during rush hour on transit.
Oh, thank goodness. I thought I was the only one that thought those types of shoes are unflattering at best, and hoof like most of the time. I cannot wait for trends to slip back around to feminine styles of footwear. You can have heels with feminine, delicate lines. Please come back!
I think Russel Brand is too outspoken to be a part of Co$. they should really brainwash him with bleach to get him on their side.
I wish he’d join just for kicks and use his inner evil troll to rout them out from the inside, and then tell all. He could be the hero of the world.
Off-topic a bit, but here is an interesting article about the c0$’s tax status we want changed BADLY!
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/07/24/why-is-scientology-tax-exempt.html
I don’t believe this story because if Tom was trying to convert Russell he would have done it a year ago during filming.
I don’t understand why this relationship is getting so much hype considering he’s had other girlfriends.
she doesn’t look skinny or fat. She looks short with an athletic body. I wonder what her eyes look like.
I don’t buy it at all. Bedhead was dead on when listing the reasons, but especially the fact that Russell believes addiction is physiological and psycological.
Even the quote says they like ’em vulnerable. That gives me a chill.
“Hey, Russell, it’s Tom!”
“Wif all due respect, I -” click… Dial tone… Changes number… If you hang up in the middle of your own sentence, the other person will just think you got disconnected.
I like him in skinny jeans more than Jenifer’s hipster.
Y’all she is not fat, just short and desperately needs a good haircut.
Is it bad that all can think about is how great this is going to be in Russells stand up gigs? Tom doesn’t have a hope of turning Russ into a robot. Not to forget to mention Russell didn’t get his help through CofS so how could he be a spokesman for their treatments. Which after a few deaths in 6 months mustn’t be too good. Russ may take those phone calls from Tom just to get more tidbit’s and funnylines for his show. As for the girl pointless talking about her she won’t be around that long. Russ looks like he has gone back to his old days.
Brand would make a good Cult Leader though. it would be the best life for him, countless women offering themselves for sex and he can talk about his nonsense all day with lots of people worshiping every word he utters.
is Russel Brand even relevant these days? every movie he is in bombs and he’s not even funny.
I know!? I don’t understand how or why people are still trying to make him happen…he was funny in Forgetting SAra Marshall, but after that, flop after flop. He seems like a genuinely good guy, conquering his deamons and all that, but he needs to go back to Britain where they apparently love him.
He could totally get everybody on his side if he started ripping on the cult in his act. I’d start watching if he did that. Think of the comedy material!
If I remember accurately, in his first autobiography he states that he’s an atheist and he seemed very wary of any form of organised religion, although quite a few years have passed since then and he’s obviously found some kind of spirituality.
I do so hope that he doesn’t fall for Co$. I do think he’s much smarter than that, but still…
@Gia
Because Americans are obsessed with Brits.
I am so tired of it. Okay, I like McAvoy, Sewell etc. but enough is enough. It killed Game of Thrones for me. Everytime I hear them talking I think about the douchebags in my area. I am also tired of American remakes of British shows e.g. Skins, Shameless etc.
Yeah, agreed. He seems too smart and critical, but the Co$ recruitment methods are smart too – they have – many times! – gotten people to speak for one of their organisations without even knowing it’s scientology. And if it suits them (ie, Brand being an atheist) they are happy to tone down the religious spiel for the self help aspect.
And Brand does seem the sort of seeker/full force/addictive personality they typically recruit.
I know it’s more comforting for people here to see the cult as stupid and ‘nobody would ever fall for that’ but the fact is that they are smart, insideous and persistent and it takes more than intelligence to stay out of their hands once they have their eyes on you.
OK, I’m ducking as I type this, ’cause I just KNOW it will bring boos, hisses and objects hurled at me head…but I DO agree with Lady_luck. Ms. Brewster is definitely one of those “fat-bottomed girls” of song-writing lore.
*Dodges flying objects*
That being said, I would like to go on record with a hearty “HA!!” at Russell Brand being recruited by Tommygirl. My experience with Brits (and I have half of my Mother’s family across the pond) is that their tolerance for this type of rubbish is low, low, LOW. Plus, Russell is already a celebrity, and doesn’t need to be celebrated or fawned over any more than he already is.
And the absolute WORST reason of all? Russell Brand is kind of a loose canon. I think his opinion and probable derision of CO$ is the very LAST thing they need now. For God’s sweet sake, can’t they target a celeb who’s a bit more malleable? Russell is way too much his own person for such cult rubbish, and WAYYY too smart.
Although, if they proceed, it will be hysterical to watch. Just think this move will backfire in so many ways, IMHO. 🙂
On Stern’s show, Brand indicated that he was into the Hare Krishna thing.
REALLY? This, I did not know.
Hmmm…perhaps he’s more susceptible to the cult mentality than I thought.
I’ll just HATE it if I’m wrong about him…thought he had the intelligence to run away FAST from CO$. If Tom recruits him, I’ll be positively ill. 🙁
Yeah, he’s very into meditation and spirituality. I don’t think he’d get pulled in by CO$ though. He strikes me as a sharp guy, a bit “hippy-dippy” at times, but really really clever. On Stern’s show, Howard really put his feet to the fire with his marriage to Katie Perry, including playing verses of her songs about him and analyzing line by line. I give Russell so much credit for taking the high road the entire interview. Not once did he say anything bad about KP.
Anyway, I think he’ll stay strong against COS influences…
co-sign w/ Genevieve. New chick is one donut away …
Narconon? Sounds like a word a third rate science fiction writer might pull out of their arse. Oh, hold on…
LOL
or some cheerleader.
“I say NARCO! you say…”
“NON!”
“I say NARCO! you say…”
“NON!”
“N-A-R-Co-N-O-N!!”
OK that just made me spit out my coffee. Too funny! Cruise as Hollaback girl perhaps?
Run Russell run. Get as far away from Tom and his cronies as you can.
I really like Russell Brand. I heard him on Stern’s show on Saturday and he dispelled the wheelchair p0rn rumors BTW. He’s a really funny, smart guy and he’s a free-thinker–he’s not going to do this.
Also, my ex-bf was an Oxy addict and he went to Narcanon (Arrowhead). It worked for him-he’s been in recovery for 6 years and counting and hasn’t touched a substance since. I really have no idea why his family chose Narcanon because none of them are Scientologists and he certainly isn’t-he’s an atheist. He was never “converted” although he said that they made several attempts afterwards to do so. I haven’t talked to him in a few months but I’d be curious to know what he thinks about all this. He also told me about a lot of the (mental) “exercises” they did in rehab-they sounded….strange. And one last thing-Narconon cost his family a fortune. If I recall correctly, they ended up spending between 20 and 30 grand for the treatment.
I can’t even imagine how much the CO$ religion makes from this.
until recently, most people were blissfully unaware narconon was a CO$ entity – they just saw it as the drug version of AA
I believe it-that would make much more sense then that his family chose Narconon. I think it was more for the location (Oklahoma)-it’s really far from Boston (where we’re from) and just to get him away from all the bad influences. I remember when he told me afterwards that it was CO$-related I was REALLY surprised.
When he was “sent away” the hardest part was not being able to talk to him AT ALL for a couple months. At the time, I thought that was just standard practice for all rehab programs, but in hindight that’s probably part of the CO$ practice of “cutting people off” from friends/family.
They must be confusing narcanon with narcotics anonymous. What is it about drug addiction that makes so many people think the solution is to get involved with some sort of religious cult?
Well, they didn’t succeed on converting him, but he’s very very strongly anti-religion (or anti-cult) so he’s not really susceptible to stuff like that.
I think CO$ preys upon the “lost soul” and targets the weak. As I said, the program actually worked really well for him but he said it utilized “certain fundamentals” of Scio-it wasn’t like they were forcing propaganda down his throat (maybe because they knew he wouldn’t succumb?). I guess it’s not any different than AA in that sense. Isn’t AA religion-based?
I’d love to pick his brain about it now and find out more. I know he said they did weird exercises where they would partner up and stare into that partner’s eyes for literally 20 minutes straight, without looking away or saying anything. And yes-TONS of sauna stuff. He said the saunas were so uncomfortable but that it was part of the “detox” aspect of the program.
@ Ol Cranky: thats totally what i thought until just NOW… i was wondering that the whole time i was reading, and then your comment came along! dang …… it’s been around a long time!
People have confused it with NA (Narcotics Anonymous, a NONPROFIT rehab program).
Narconon is FOR PROFIT. A huge profit for co$. Like absolutely everything they do.
In other words-they’re deliberately obtuse about the COS connection. If you look at the home page of Narconon Arrowhead there is no mention of COS whatsoever. I tried to post link but can’t get past the filter. Anyway, not trying to increase traffic to anything COS-related, but it’s interesting how they mislead people by making it seem unaffiliated.
As we are discussing, my ex had no idea that it was COS-related until he got there. They probably design it that way in hopes of attracting people and then converting them once they’ve already enrolled.
“They probably design it that way in hopes of attracting people and then converting them once they’ve already enrolled.”
DINGDINGDING we have a winner in theoriginalkitten’s comment I think they intentionally want people, including referring physicians and social workers, to think it’s narcotics anonymous
@ TOK – yep, that eye staring stuff is a basic Co$ course. Did they make him tell an ashtray to move, as well?
I’m glad he’s clean now, but that’s nothing to credit Narconon with – he did that himself. Narconon has a considerably lower success rate than mainstream rehab facilities with things like actual medical personnel and scientific methods.
Glad he stayed out of their clutches, too. It is a double whammy for Co$ – people worried about their addicted family member are easy to squeeze for money, and addicts make for easy recruits.
That’ll be the follow up go Get Him to the Greeks then…ha…we cant wait…how hilarious!! Do they have furry walls at CoS???
Yeah, I bet Scientology thinks addiction is just because the person is weak and full of aliens. And it will only cost their life savings to cure it!
I find Russell fairly repulsive, I can’t really look at him and his voice is awful. He doesn’t seem like a bad guy though, and if COS is setting their sights on him, I wish him luck avoiding them.
Speaking of Jordana Brewster, has anyone seen her on that new Dallas show? She looks like a skeleton, and it’s really messed with her face. She was very pretty too, it’s a shame.
I can’t stop staring at her face during Dallas; her eyes seem so abnormal now. I don’t know what she’s done to herself but she’s not as beautiful as she used to be and it almost looks painful for her to talk.
@Lucy2 – they actually think all illness, not just mental health issues & addiction, is because the person is weak, has too many engrams or body thetans and that people “should trust in the tech” to cure them. Anyone who seeks medical treatment is chastised to the point women with breast cancer do not get it treated either because if they were better $cilons they could beat it on their own
A very high percentage of female $cientologists seem to fall victim to cancer at a young age.
But yet again, there’s one rule for the drones and another for the higher echelon.
Tommy Davis’ wife Jessica Feshback was suffering from leukemia last year and was admitted to a hospice. Apparently she’s better now. What’s the betting she underwent proper medical treatment instead?
she was admitted to hospice but she’s gotten better? hospice for supposed to be for end of life care (as in you have less than 12 months, usually less than 6). If they said she was admitted to hospice but has gotten better, my guess is that they lied about it being hospice care and she was treated aggressively on the downlo so they could say the tech cured her
Her figure is quite nice but what a pronounced difference from her very lean sister.
Cute girl… I m one of those weirdos who finds Russell Brand damn funny.
This story is so unoriginal. The tabs are trying to drag the celebs into the current PR toxic mire aka Scientology. Next is what? TC getting together with Demi Moore and curing her issues with the magical auditing, and they live happily in Xenu’s paradise?
(OMX, I m turning into a tab writer)
I think she looks normal and healthy, not starved. She’s not an actress so I guess she doesn’t feel the pressure to thinnify like her sister. To call her fat is utterly ridiculous and those who think she is are clearly drinking the pro-ana koolaid.
E-nough with fat! She’s dressed for comfort, not to show off her physical assets. She’s wearing a loose top that’s not tucked in and a skirt that hits her in a place where her waistline probably isn’t. The camera has caught her mid-stride in the second shot – not a flattering angle for anyone.
I love him for what he wrote after Amy Winehouse’s death. And if he wants to date a real girl, good on him!
100% agree. When you see other pictures of her she doesn’t look fat because her clothes are tighter. She has boobies and hips, and wide outfits make u look pregnant when u have that. Just a bad angle and poor outfit-choice.
Poor Tom. Fag end of his career and cult at the same time.
Hope that’s a typo because otherwise you sound incredibly ignorant.
@Kitten – It’s not a typo. “Fag end” means extreme end. It’s a commonly used word in India (Diana mentioned she’s from India). I suppose the word is British – ex: “at the fag end of life” etc.
Oh! I’m sorry. Thanks for the clarification, Mira. Never heard the expression before 🙂
You’re welcome, Kitten. I’ve seen people roll eyes in North America whenever someone from the subcontinent uses the word. I intervene promptly to say it’s not the “fag” word as understood in North America 🙂
A “fag-end” is a cigarette butt. As in Tom is in his last stinking, crumpled, worthless burnt end of his career.
Ah, I see. I thought this person just omitted comas 🙂
@ Mira
Hi again!!!
Thanks for being such a nice person 🙂 Is there any way I can contact you? Am nt a stalker, I promise.
And gg, for pointing out the usage of the informal English idiom.
@Original kitten, its K. It s actually quite funny when I tried reading it the way you pointed out.
@gg – Fag end is British informal for the stub of a cigarette. It’s usually used to mean the last part of something, or the least interesting part of a time (ex: fag end of summer, career etc). Fag anyway is slang for a cigarette. “Let’s go for a fag,” “Have a fag on you” etc.
Hey Diana! I’m flattered that you want to get in touch with me 🙂 Hmmmm…well I’m here on CB, commenting on some posts depending on my schedule. We can always chat apart from commenting on posts, no?
2 things:
– his ‘dark’ Jesus look is all about it. so dope. 😉
– regarding Co$, *in Jen-ny’s voice* “RUUNNN, RUS-SELL, RUUUNNN!!!”. 😮
Run, Russell, run! Far, far away from the crazy Cruister!
And dayum, his new girlfriend is sexy! I’d say quite the step up from homely Katy Perry.
“your own ….. personal …… darkjesus”
Russell Brand is so gross.
Would be worried if it was anyone but Russell. He’s probably going to say he’s had a chat with Xenu already and it’s all good between them but not a love affair.
I don’t believe this. I mean, I believe they’d try to convert Russell, but he’s not dumb enough to fall for it. He’s a very intelligent guy, and having watched his Parliament testimony, it just doesn’t jive with his beliefs. And that girl is NOT fat! People just aren’t used to seeing non-anorexic girls in LA.
“Tom apparently believes that recovering (drug, alcohol, and sex) addict Russell would not only make a great CO$ recruit but also a gloriously effective spokesperson for Narconon, the CO$-affiliated drug rehab program”
OMG best laugh of the day!!
I haven’t a clue if Russell is clean but IMO he just doesn’t ooze clean and sober living.
Well, TC and CO$’s mutual MO IS to target TC’s co-stars, correct? So this should come as a surprise to approximately NO ONE. (Except may Russell himself.)
I doubt Russell would get involved. But just to be prudent: Russell, change your number.
I don’t think they could recruit him. Scientology uses secrets to keep people in the fold.
Russell, if anything, gives us TMI. He’s written two books about what he’s done as well.
Don’t believe this story.
The only celebs familiar with rehab that I could see getting on board with endorsing a treatment involving saunas would be Lindsay Lohan or Charlie Sheen. Though in the latter case it’d be saunas and porn stars instead of saunas and vitamins.
Here’s hoping he politely tells the Smarmy, Lift-Wearing Midget to shove it. Sideways so it hurts more 🙂
Hmmm, if this is true, then looks like CO$ is anxious for Tommy to pimp them some new celeb members. Can’t imagine anyone with even half a brain considering it though…. Now why did Tara Reid and Lindsay Lohan just pop into my head??? 😉
Run, Rusell, run!
I don’t understand how anyone affiliated with CO$ would think Brand would be a good spokesperson for Narcanon. He didn’t even get clean using the program.
Rusty’s way too smart to fall for that. And, at this point I would think that Co$ needs to worry about holding on to all the celebrity defectors, not recruiting more. Their “religion” has taken a huge hit in the press, and deservedly so!
Narconon? More like NarCONon. That’s all it is – a con.
I thought Kirstie Alley was a spokes person for Narconon? They mustn’t be too happy with her efforts if they want to recruit Russell Brand.
I don’t think we have to worry about him. He’s pretty much in the know about what’s going on in the world.
I’m sure he heard about Stacy Murphys death in Oklahoma. And how her friend then tried to leave the facility but was told she couldn’t. (Her mother had to call the police and they got her out)
Village Voice has some great articles about the place.
You’re so right about Narconon. I read a book many years back about a young German junkie prostitute who was forced into the Narconon program. Her description of what went on was just bizarre. Treated like hostages, deprived of sleep, battered with talk, and forced to carry out a lot of meaningless repetitive activities designed to break the will of the subject (like being forced to touch the door knob over and over and over, for hours). To my understanding they basically tried to reprogram the subjects, except that those who were able to escape the facility went straight back to their former habits. And I also believe her Mother tried to get her out but ran into all sorts of roadblocks. It didn’t sound like the program actually worked for anyone. Just a lot of freaky, crazy crap, so typical of CO$.
Incidentally, this girl finally got straight when she was sent to live with family in the country. Far away from the drugs and the scene she was able to find herself again. No thanks to Narconon.
“Narconon, the CO$-affiliated drug rehab program that aims to detox drug addicts through a ridiculous regimen of vitamins and saunas.”
What?..Seriously? Does the CO$ think vitamins “fixes” everything? I remember when Tom said that Brooke Shields should have taken vitamins to deal with her postpartum depression. He’s an idiot.
oh wow, he looks like the star of the 1970s Broadway smash ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ by Andrew Lloyd Weber!
“Jesus Christ, Superstar, Do you think you’re what they say you are?”
I’m sorry…I just offended Tom Cruise’s evolution beliefs….”
Xenu! LR! Do you all think Tom’s the craziest Movie Star!”