HBO’s Going Clear documentary brought plenty of damaging information about Scientology to the public. Our Scientology archives contained all of this info already, but the film put it out there for the masses. Part of the film discussed the incredibly close friendship between Tom Cruise and CO$ leader David Miscavige. Tom is considered by many to be #2 in command of Scientology. It’s not as if Tom would officially take over the helm if something happened to Dave, yet Tom’s influence runs far in the cult. He’s treated like a god, including gifts of slave labor. Some people think Tom is simply brainwashed about what happens behind the CO$ scenes. I’m not letting him off that easy. Dave’s own niece, Jenna Miscavige, believes Tom knows exactly how CO$ runs, or he’s “willfully ignorant.”
For the past several years, Scientology has experienced money troubles (despite its tax-free status, which should be revoked). The cult still technically has $1.5 billion in assets. A lot of that amount is tied up in property and a large overhead. Liquid assets are a problem because, thanks to the internet (and this new doc), people are no longer signing up for their nonsense. Not even their remaining cheerleaders like John Travolta can recruit for the cause. The CO$ has ordered its remaining members to not watch tv because they’re trying to stop the exodus.
Interestingly enough, Tom Cruise hasn’t said a thing about Going Clear. He used to be one of their most outspoken faithful, and he quite nearly destroyed his career in the process. A decade after that PR disaster, Scientology is smart enough to keep their main moneymaker quiet. They desperately need Tom’s Mission: Impossible 5 to be a success because Tom’s backend deals with studios are sweet. And because Tom’s basically funding the CO$ at this point, according to the NY Daily News:
There’s no mission impossible for Scientologists.
Tom Cruise is such a force for Scientology that followers believe the action movie star bankrolls much of the church’s dealings — even its network of spies.
That’s what a private investigator allegedly working for Scientology leader David Miscavige — billing the church $10,000 per week — told Wisconsin police when they brought the gumshoe in for questioning in July 2013.
“Where do you think the funding comes from?” an investigator asked Florida-based PI Daniel Powell in audio recordings obtained by The Daily News.
“Probably Tom Cruise,” Powell said around the 36-minute mark. There’s audible laughter on the recording, but it’s no joke. “I’m being serious,” Powell continued. “That’s probably where it comes from.”
The 21-year-old Powell spoke with West Allis Police after his father, Dwayne S. Powell, was stopped while staking out Miscavige’s 79-year-old father.
Cops discovered two rifles, four handguns, 2,000 rounds of ammunition, a stun gun and homemade silencer on the elder Powell.
“(Tom Cruise) funds the church with anything they need. So he’s pretty much funding all of this,” Powell said of the army of people he alleged the church was spying on.
“We make jokes all the time — when Tom Cruise’s last movie came out — it was a terrible movie,” Powell said. “We we’re going around telling everybody how awesome the movie was. Go see the movie so Tom Cruise can get paid and we can get paid.”
[From NY Daily News]
This report (which comes from one of the PIs that CB discussed) arrives with plenty of irony. Tom probably ended up paying for the spies who brought him back when he defected during his marriage to Nicole Kidman. Now that the CO$ can’t recruit any fresh meat, they’re even more desperate for money. I’ve already hinted at how Tom is selling off property like crazy. Tom’s Hollywood Hills home on the market (for $13 million), and his Telluride estate is up for grabs too (for a mere $59 million). Will all of the money go to Scientology when the property sells? It wouldn’t surprise me.
One of the world’s biggest movie stars is completely under the thumb of this cult. But I don’t feel sorry for him at all. Tom willingly ignores his youngest daughter so he can hang from airplanes like an idiot and give more money to CO$. This cult has forced so many of its members to sell their homes and hand the money over to the organization. If Tom bankrupts himself by funding this cult, then so be it.
Photos courtesy of Freedom magazine, Fame/Flynet & WENN
I wouldn’t be surprised. And can they stop making Mission Impossibles, they suck.
Totes
+2
Tom Cruise, and David McCaviage are two of the biggest SOB’S dick holes on the planet. Also Scientology is the biggest brainwashed cult on earth.
Is anyone else seeing a resemblance between Tom and his son Conner? I am starting to wonder if he is really Tom’ s biological child. As for Tom bankrolling the church and going bankrupt in the future, I can see that happening
I didn’t until recently, but now looking at that older pic of Connor (with Tom on the “Throne”) again, I see it even moreso…yeah, I think he could be.
I am glad I was not the only one seeing the resemblance
No, but is daughter looks like David Miscavige. I would not be surprised if both children are biologically DM’s.
I don’t know, Suri was looking more and more like Chris Klein at the Nickelodeon Kids Choice Awards.
And honestly, don’t you really think that if she was Miscavige’s kid, the Co$ would have made Tommygirl fight harder for custody of her?
mindrew, I was talking about his adopted daughter. Suri looks just like Tom’s cousin William Mapother.
i think suri looks most like tommy davis
Recent photos seem to show a strong resemblance to Tommy (not TC, but TD, of the church).
Here’s the thing that a lot of people don’t know about Scientotology, L Ron Hubbard studied under Aleister Crowley. Their roots are based on the Occult.
Did you watch or read Going Clear? It’s not just bast on the occult -which to me isn’t really a big deal occult can be good or bad just like any other religious tennants and there is mystic sects of every religion even the traditional ones that to an extent form their ancient roots (Kaballah, Sufism, Gnostic Christianity etc) . LRH basically formed a cult as a money making scheme and used A combo of Crowleys ideas, satanism, and his own sci fi novels to form a fake religion with the pre meditated intent of avoiding taxes and bilking people of money
Add to that his military background for the structure and parafernalia. My utmost respect to the navy and army, but he installed the same (and worse) methods to discipline and maintain “order”.
What a crook.
Those ridiculous faux naval uniforms had me snickering pretty hard.
Hubbard got the idea on how to successfully run a cult from Crowley however Scientology has little to do with Occult. Scientology is very much a religion made to appeal to futurists, people who are sick of hearing how desert religions from 2,000 years ago explain the world. So rather than demons they talk of alien races and spaceships. In my opinion both are utterly absurd and I suspect Hubbard knew that too, before the senility took him. Scientology was a con that the conman lost himself in
You can’t even compare Crowley or the OTO to Hubbard and Scientology. Hubbard actually ripped off a member of the OTO to the tune of a few thousand dollars. He’s basically a confidence man.
I hope he sinks with all of this, and takes the “church” down with him. Every time I read about the slave labour and the brain washing it just kills me.
+1
Absolutely! He could totally end up bankrupt and alone in his old age, and I, for one, think it would be well-deserved based on his involvement with Co$.
Could it be that Tom needs medication? He seems to be in a continuous hyper state that goes with bipolar disorder.
To bad he has no one in his life to seriously get him on medication. He would probably wake up one day and say to himself,”What the f$ck? I’m in a cult! “
You make a good point! I remember when Oprah went and interviewed him and “Kate” in Colorado and thought to myself how in hell’s name does she keep up with all that goddamn activity? It was non-stop adventure and it did seem to border on mania. Ugh.
I doubt the pi knew where the money was coming from. That said, its interesting that cruise is unloading expensive real estate.
In the past, I always believed TC was another brainwashed member, but not after the Vanity Fair article about the great wife hunt. Tom is fully aware of what David is up to. He dumped his one gf, before he married Kati Holmese, because she “disrespected” DM, the Grand-Poo-Pa of Co$. The poor woman was sent to Clearwater to scrub floors with a toothbrush. Tom knew something like this would happen and he did nothing to stop it. Who treats an ex, someone he professed to care about, that way?
Tom’s no innocent. He’s a despicable human, just like Miscavige. I’ve been boycotting his movies for years. I hope MI tanks.
I haven’t seen a movie with Cruise in it for at least 10 years. Anyone else boycotting with me?
Yep. Not interested in bankrolling the cult, and his movies aren’t that good, so…
Same! Haven’t watched, or at least paid for, any TC movie in probably a decade 😉
nor have I. I won’t even watch on cable anymore and skip right on by when I see one showing. haven’t paid for one in a LONG LONG time. and I won’t until he leaves the cult, denounces them completely, and apologizes for his complicity.
oh, and pays back all the money he owes to the slaves who worked for him for all those years.
so, basically…NEVER.
(plus, as Izzy pointed out, most his movies lately SUCK big time.)
Last movie I saw with Tom in it was Mission Impossible 1.
Ditto for him as lead. I did see Tropic Thunder in spite of him being in it.
The sooner he fades away the sooner they do.
A few years ago i went to see Rock Of Ages. I love a cheesy over the top muscial.
Imagine my disappointment when i realized i accidentally broke my Tom Cruise boycott.
Also the movie was bad.
I’m with you. Haven’t watched at TC movie in years and I don’t expect to any time soon.
I think Tropic Thunder, Top Gun, and Mission Impossible 1 are the only Tom Cruise movies I’ve ever seen. And Tropic Thunder, I was so there for RDJ and was shocked he was there, ugh. Mad. Two actors I never want to seen in a movie: Marky Mark and Tom Cruise.
I had not seen TC’s movies in a long time, but hubbie took me to see Tropic Thunder and there he was!… ugh, I have been careful to avoid him again, I was successful into making excuses for the last MI.
Hubbie prefers the fast and furious movies anyway, tiny tom is not that appealing to him.
I’m not exactly boycotting. He just doesn’t interest me, no, that’s not it, he just disgusts me so his movies don’t appeal. Ever since he got all in Brook Shield’s face for using an antidepressant for her postpartum depression, I just haven’t wanted to look at his sneering, idiot face. Plus Scientology.
Yes, I’ve definitely been boycotting his movies. I can’t stand to look at that insane grin (like the header photo), it just gives me chills. Plus, $cientology and the Brooke Shields debacle too. I felt sorry for him for allowing himself to be duped by these people–until I learned more about it and realized he’s just as bad (even worse) as DM. Now I loathe even his name.
Yes I’d briefly forgotten about that one, just how much of a pos can one human be? well this much for starters….
Yes. I’ve been boycotting him for a while, as I don’t have any interest in funding his cult.
I paid to see Eyes Wide Shut. First & Last Tom C. movie I paid to see. And his involvement in the ‘cult’ is simply insane. Like Tommy himself.
Me too, initially because they were rubbish but I won’t watch anything he’s in now because of his connection to COS. I won’t bankroll criminals.
I quit watching him when he burned nicole, wont even watch on free tv
If I found his films remotely entertaining i’d then boycott. I’m not seeing them to begin with so I guess i’m technically not boycotting.
You just know the restrictions on tv and outside news is something members are questioning internally.
Last movie I saw was Tropic Thunder and I didn’t watch it for him. I watched it for Stiller and RDJ. He just popped up. I’ve boycotted him since he made those blasphemous comments about PPD and bullied Brooke Shields. The Katie thing was also a big turn off. I heard the movie with Emily Blunt was good but I’m not cancelling my boycott for EB!
What he’s doing sounds like Co$’s mo. Make members sell off everything to feed the beast. I hope he goes bankrupt and takes the “church” with him too. Nothing like a good liquidation to get rid of pond scum.
Count me in, Nerdmomma. I haven’t seen a Tom Cruise movie since watching that very early one about pool playing with Paul Newman. It was so long ago I can’t even remember its name. We didn’t even go to the movies to see it – a friend brought around a VIDEO that he’d hired because my hubby was an ace pool player. I’d already heard whispers then of his involvement with this cult, and it put me right off. At the time, there’d been several attempted exposés of the cult’s shenanigans here in Australia. Since then, my opinion of Cruise has gone so far South there’ll be no going back up. He’s a total creep who makes my skin crawl.
Ever since his first movie that I refuse to admit I saw.
Yes! I haven’t seen a movie of his in years and years. Ditto Travolta. But Cruise is the worst and most grievous offender, IMO.
I don’t know how long it has been, but I’ve been boycotting Tom Cruise since his comments about Brooke Shields. None of my girlfriends will go see him, either. Same reason. Which is bad for Tom Cruise because women are half the audience, and a lot of us have written him off.
He’s a pitiful, child-abandoning nut at this point.
Just yuck.
I really need to watch ‘Going Clear’ but I don’t think it’s going to be released in the UK 🙁
It was really good…L. Ron Hubbard was a NUTJOB!!!
It’s so good.
I know! I’m dying to see it! But not sure how I can get access in Switzerland 🙁
It’s on youtube
Oh thanks Odessa! I’ll try and see it ASAP
It is worth the time to watch, if you can get access. Not a lot of surprises, but to see it all knitted together in a documentary is fascinating.
I saw it in my lap, look for it.
I have HBO, and if it plays in my country, I’ll see it again.
Try youtube. I was able to see it there, but you may have to check back frequently as it may be put on, than removed, etc
I really want to see it, too, Maefabulous, but I don’t know if it slated for viewing in Australia. I guess there are ways of getting access to it, but I’m rubbish when it comes to all that stuff.
You can read the book that the doc is based on. Same name by Lawrence Wright.
For all of you outside of the U.S. here are the steps to use:
1. If you don’t have it already, download Chrome Browser. It works with a PC or a Mac.
2. In extensions, download “Hola” (it’s free). This will allow you to access a U.S. IP address needed
3. Once Hola is in your Chrome Browser, click on it (it’s a little “fireball” emoji symbol”), and a box will open up with a couple of flags (mine shows US, United Kingdom, and “Other”). CLICK ON U.S. FLAG. It will process, and then it will ask you if the right one opened. When you click yes, it comes back with a thumbs up symbol and says “Awesome”.
4. Now, you’ll have access to shows shown on American TV.
I totally think, if anything happened to Miscavige, Tom would become the head of Scientology…I truly do…look at him sitting in that “throne” in that first picture….he already, look like his is the King of Crazy Town! And, who else would it be…according to Going Clear, Miscavige got rid of all his top guys…Tommy boy is the only one left!
I agree. When Tom was berating his last gf, he said LRH was “up here,” next in line to run Co$ was DM, then he (Tom) was number #3. So, from Tom’s own mouth, he thinks he’s in line to take over after Miscavige. Tom has a huge ego and the cult puffs that up.
King Candy!
(couldn’t resist, I am a fan of Wreck It Ralph!)
Hahahahaha! Big wreck it Ralph fan too! Great comparison!
I got around to watching Going Clear and I have no words. Except, may the fall be glorious. The IRS needs to speed this up.
I’d love to see the tax returns of some of these very wealthy members. I have long had a feeling that many of their big paydays go right to the church to avoid taxes. I wouldn’t be surprised if those two properties he is trying to unload actually belong to COS.
He most probably saves a los of money because he uses the free or almost free labor provided by his cult, so his expenses are not salaries, but paying the whims of his BFF Dave Miscwhatshisname.
Personally, I don’t think Tom is allowed to see Suri. I think Katie Holmes has something really bad on Tommy, and the deal was that she gets sole, full custody or she tells all. I wouldn’t want my child alone with that lunatic either…even if he is her father…Katie did to Tom, what Tom did to Nicole….I hope it hurts him like hell!
Absolutely!
I believe that after leaving Tom, Katie became a “suppressive person” according to COS and therefore Tom wouldn’t see Suri as she would be suppressive by association.
She undoubtedly does have something on him otherwise their divorce wouldn’t have gone as smoothly and quietly as it did. I still believe that Cruise is not Suri’s bio father, and she’ll spill the beans on the paternity if he doesn’t play by her rules. He’s an evil, horrible human being with an out-of-control ego, and the deeper he sinks into the madness of Co$ the worse it will be for him – he and Travolta will eventually bankrupt themselves as more senior members leave and expose Co$ as a money-making cult based on brain-washing that enriches a very few and enslaves the majority.
He had visits with her for a while there. I do think Katie has the dirt though, so I’d imagine DM has been pulling Tom away and convincing him that Katie and his daughter are not to be spoken to.
Katie Holmes has guts- I believe she really was in love and than soon found out she’d made a deal with the devil (or alistor crowley, as it were). I wonder if the terms of the divorce included never being able to speak publicly about cruise? I know some believe Katie knew what she was in for because it was so obvious Tom was/is nuts, but I really don’t think so. I wish she could write a book- I know I’d buy it, that woman probably knows EVERYTHING.
They’re all possibilities, aren’t they? If you’re correct, SpringingForward, he’s even more vile than I already think he is. I agree it’s probably best that KH keeps the daughter away from him, because he’s a complete nutter. It’s sad for Suri, though. I wonder what she’s told when she asks about him? And I wonder if she has phone or video contact with him – regularly or irregularly? Poor child – being kept away from your dad because he’s a creepy, vindictive and maniacal nut job, or worse, because he has no interest in you.
If you think about their big (celeb) names, who else is bringing in a big salary? Most of the big names saw their bigger paydays two or three decades ago.
After watching the documentary, one question that popped in my mind was, what happens to TC or any other huge donor once they are of no value? Tom won’t always be the hot commodity, and as he grows older, what ‘power’ will he have? LRH was holed up for years before he died.
This is a 60yr old organization. I have a hard time believing it’s being funded being funded by a few wealthy members.
Speaking as someone who lived near Clearwater and saw the Scienos all the time, the “church” has a lot of real estate assets, but not a lot of liquidity these days. I foresee Co$ selling off property in the future. They cannot afford to pay for Miscavige’s lifestyle with no incoming new members, and are relying on old members to fund the mansions, motorcycles and private jets. Tom or John are not the bankable stars they once were and Kirstie Alley cannot afford to feed her monkeys, let alone donate huge sums of money anymore. So David needs to find a new source of money…and soon. I hope I’m around when this cult falls.
And they have that one Simpsons’ cast member who is basically bankrupting herself by giving them her entire fortune, which if you factor in the residuals on that show is quite a lot.
Watch Steve Mango’s youtube video on how they get lower-rank members’ money. Very disturbing.
Is it me or is David positioning himself to look taller than Connor?
I think David M. & Tom C. are boyfriends. Clearly they have great admiration for each other, in a very deep, strange way.
I think DM would like to be Tom’s BF. And Tom enjoys having his ego stroked by DM. They are both so pathetic. They really do deserve each other.
It’s weirder than that – Miscavige has been pretty mean to TC in the past. Years ago there was a really big Scientology party and Miscavige was telling everyone all the secret stuff TC admitted to during his auditing sessions and everyone was laughing about it
Do you think that’s what keeps TC in the fold? Whatever is on the tapes? I can’t decide if he’s mostly a victim, or if he’s totally in there of his own free will, loving the free labour and worship.
That pic of TC and DM on the motorcycles is killing me. It’s like DM really wants to be an action star too. Lame.
Everytime I see that picture I giggle. They look like a couple of douches striking a “tough guy” pose. So lame and laughable.
“Tough guys” that would fold like lawnchairs at the first sign of real trouble.
IKR? it’s like something out of The Simpsons LOL
The New York Daily News has three sound-cloud audio tapes of the police or sheriff interviews with the father-son PI team. Two of them are with the father, the 3rd is with the son.
They have some very interesting things to say.
Well I guess we know why Tom works constantly. He has to so DM can get his cut
I’d just like to point out that on my pc, the ad connected to the photo of Tom Cruise and David Miscavige says “Meet Litter’s Power Couple.”
Ha!
I initially read that as ‘meet LITTLE power couple’ 🙂
I actually feel a little sorry for Tom. Did Katie have dirt on him, to prevent him making their separation hell? Obviously. The man is a control freak, and yet he folded. Which makes it pretty obvious that the church has a similiar hold. They milk him of a fortune, ruin his relationships, and make him look a fool – without him quarelling or leaving.
He may like where he is in the organization, enjoy the power of it, and have no desire to leave. On the other hand, he may want to leave but they have dirt that keeps him from bolting. If they have dirt, than either he’s done something really bad, or he’s hiding something that’s embarrassing and his ego can’t take the exposure . Either way, no sympathy from me.
If the assertions made in the hbo story are true, he and other celebs get members to work for them for practically nothing..so maybe he’s getting his money’s worth with the big donations.
This link worked in Canada
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=R8Mu7dI4VL8
Incredible!
Shite, Shelly. I’m in Australia and it’s not working for me… BOOOOO!!
@TeaAndSympathy, see my reply above as how to access an IP address to be able to watch in Australia 🙂
TC has dissolved into simply playing his version of himself in movies. He has long stopped being a character. The actors are all playing their part & he is playing TC. Not a fan of TC & don’t want to see his inflated egotistical self promotion.
I do believe he is as maniacal as Miscaviage & ‘true character is how you treat people you don’t need to treat well’ (that was a line of Philip Seymoir Hoffman’s character in MI3) last movie of TC’s I saw & it was for PSH. The whole acceptance of slave labor & mistreatment of his “gf” shows he has no redeeming character.
Ugh! Tom I want to save you from yourself. I actually feel sorry for him, if he is in fact being brainwashed. We should pity him and want to save him in the same way we would want to rescue all cult victims. Rich, poor, famous or not.
I have to agree with you on that one. I think that Tom in reality was (or is) a very insecure person. He had dyslexia growing up which probably didn’t help his self esteem at all.
Then along comes this cult lavishing praise on him and making him beleive he’s the next messiah. They played on his insecurities to ensconce him firmly in their grasps. Now, they probably have so much dirt on him he’s afraid to leave and is brain washed to beleive he would be nothing without them. Quite sad actually.
I think he would get alot of support if he just up and left and let the chips fall where they may. It’s not like the COS has a boat load of believability these days.
Met Nicole about 15-20 years ago at a friend’s birthday party in Sydney, she was warm and very chatty at the time. Very normal.
Years later, met Tom and Nicole in Sydney through a guy I was seeing at the time. Tom was very nice, we chatted for a couple of minutes about not much, Sydney weather and whatever. He introduced me to Nicole and she goes “I don’t have time for this” and totally ignored me, just folded her arms, looked the other way and stood there frowning. He went bright red, shot me an embarrassed look and mouthed ‘sorry’ and the BF and I walked away.
So there you go.