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The Church of Scientology has recruited celebrities for their endorsement of Scientology as a public relations strategy. The organization has had a written program governing celebrity recruitment since at least 1955, when L. Ron Hubbard created "Project Celebrity", offering rewards to Scientologists who recruited targeted celebrities.[1][2][3]: 254  Early interested parties included former silent-screen star Gloria Swanson and jazz pianist Dave Brubeck.[2][4]: 394–5  The Scientology organization has a particular interest in international focus on wealthy businesspeople and influencers to help promote its ideals. A Scientology policy letter of 1976 states that "rehabilitation of celebrities who are just beyond or just approaching their prime" enables the "rapid dissemination" of Scientology.[4]: 394–395 [5][6]

Hubbard's views on celebrities

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The Church of Scientology has a long history of seeking out artists, musicians, writers and actors, and advertises that Scientology can help them in their lives and careers.[7][3]: 253  According to religious historian Carole M. Cusack, "L. Ron Hubbard was fascinated by Hollywood, and actively pursued "stars" by promoting the Church of Scientology among the rich and famous. That celebrities joined the Church became a powerful draw card for Scientology, in that it rendered membership desirable."[4]: 396  According to Mike Rinder, Hubbard frequently name-dropped, "claiming association and interaction especially with Hollywood figures", soon envisioning their role as helping him gain publicity and acceptance, ultimately making up a list of celebrities to target for recruitment.[8]: 138  It was in 1955 when Hubbard started Project Celebrity in order to recruit people he considered "opinion leaders" in the fields of art, sports, management, and government.[3]: 253  As Hubbard put it, "Celebrities are very Special people and have a very distinct line of dissemination. They have comm[unication] lines that others do not have and many medias [sic] to get their dissemination through".[9][10]

Celebrity Centres

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Celebrity Centre International in Hollywood

Certain Churches of Scientology have been designated as Celebrity Centres, particularly those in cities with a large entertainment industry that attracts artistic hopefuls, such as Hollywood, Nashville, New York City, and Paris. Celebrity Centre policies state that "one of the major purposes of the Celebrity Centre is to expand the number of celebrities in Scientology",[11] with the goal of "broad public into Scientology from celebrity dissemination". Each Celebrity Centre has a division for planning celebrity events and directing general public onto Scientology services as a result of celebrity involvement.[1][12]

Recruiting celebrities

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Scientology actively tries to recruit celebrities and aspiring actors in Hollywood. They have tried such tactics as standing outside the gates of Central Casting passing out flyers offering workshops in finding an agent and how to get ahead in the film industry, advertising in magazines such as Variety, Backstage and The Hollywood Reporter, and displaying posters of film stars saying "I am a Scientologist... come in and find out why". The approach is to promote Scientology as professional development.[13]: 139–40  [3]: 265 

Aspiring actors would often be referred to Milton Katselas for acting lessons. Katselas, a Scientologist who kept L. Ron Hubbard's photograph on his desk, ran his Beverly Hills Playhouse with strict Scientology principles, and the acting school was "an unofficial feeder" to Celebrity Centre in the 1990s and 2000s.[3]: 266–7 [14]: 136 

Professor of religious studies Hugh Urban spoke about Scientology's appeal to celebrities in an interview:

But then I think the reason that celebrities would be interested is because it's a religion that fits pretty well with a celebrity kind of personality. It's very individualistic. It celebrates your individual identity as ultimately divine. It claims to give you ultimate power over your own mind, self, destiny, so I think it fits well with an actor personality. And then the wealth question: These aren't people who need more wealth, but what they do need, or often want at least, is some kind of spiritual validation for their wealth and lifestyle, and Scientology is a religion that says it's OK to be wealthy, it's OK to be famous, in fact, that's a sign of your spiritual development. So it kind of is a spiritual validation for that kind of lifestyle.[15]

Scientology isn't the only new religion to seek out celebrities to help promote their movement. Sociologists have posited that emulating celebrities is an important part of an individual's identity formation, explaining the significance of a group having celebrity members.[4]: 396–7  Journalistic and media sources claim that Scientology is "The Church of the Stars" or a "star-studded sect," although there are likely more Hollywood celebrities in other religious traditions. One reason for this is the Celebrity Centres, which are unique to Scientology. Most members in these facilities are not celebrities, however many of the members are part of the entertainment industry.[16]: 23 

Expectation to proselytize

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Celebrities are pressured to proselytize, and Tom Cruise has been one of the most outspoken. In 2003, Cruise's publicist wanted him to tone down his proselytizing because the movie studios wanted him to "sell movies, not Scientology". Cruise fired his publicist, hired his sister instead, and proceeded to make a public fool of himself with such stunts as jumping on Oprah Winfrey's couch in 2005 and targeting Brooke Shields for taking certain medications.[8]: 193  It backfired, and since 2008 Cruise has clammed up about Scientology and has forbidden interviewers from even asking him about Scientology.[17]

Scientology routinely gets their celebrity members to hold seminars and workshops for their peers, pointing out how Scientology had helped them achieve success in the industry, which was used to recruit new members for Scientology.[13]: 198 

Celebrity members are constantly being pressed to add their names to petitions, being showcased at workshops and galas, or having their photos posted over the logo "I'm a Scientologist." Their fame greatly magnifies the influence of the church. They are deployed to advance the social agendas of the organization, including attacks on psychiatry and the pharmaceutical industry, and the promotion of Hubbard's contested theories of education and drug rehabilitation. They become tied to Scientology's banner, which makes it more difficult to break away if they should become disillusioned.
— Lawrence Wright in Going Clear [13]: xi 

Special treatment

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Their most promising, or highest profile, celebrities would get special treatment from Sea Org members, and might be assigned their own pandering sidekick to attend to them. Any mess-up and the Sea Org member would be punished, sometimes quite harshly.[13]: 150, 282–3 

Notable celebrity members

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Further information: List of Scientologists

Current

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Former

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References

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  1. ^ a b Sappell, Joel; Welkos, Robert W. (June 25, 1990). "The Courting of Celebrities". Los Angeles Times. p. A18:5. Retrieved June 6, 2006.
  2. ^ a b Shaw, William (February 14, 2008). "What do Tom Cruise and John Travolta know about Scientology that we don't?". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on January 12, 2022. Retrieved June 25, 2009.
  3. ^ a b c d e Reitman, Janet (2011). Inside Scientology: The Story of America's Most Secretive Religion. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. ISBN 9780618883028. OL 24881847M.
  4. ^ a b c d Cusack, Carole M. (2009). "Celebrity, the Popular Media, and Scientology: Making Familiar the Unfamiliar". In Lewis, James R. (ed.). Scientology. Oxford University Press. pp. 389–410. doi:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195331493.003.0021. ISBN 9780199852321. OL 16943235M.
  5. ^ Baker, Russ (April 1997). "Clash of Titans". George.
  6. ^ L. Ron Hubbard. "HCO Policy Letter 23 May 1976R: Celebrities". Scientology Celebrities & Human Rights. Church of Scientology International. Archived from the original on July 14, 2013.
  7. ^ "Artists Find Inspiration, Education at Church of Scientology & Celebrity Centre Nashville". Tennessee Tribune. January 20, 2011. p. 14A – via The Wikipedia Library.
  8. ^ a b Rinder, Mike (2022). A Billion Years: My Escape From a Life in the Highest Ranks of Scientology. Simon & Schuster. ISBN 9781982185763.
  9. ^ Farrow, Boyd (August 1, 2006). "The A-listers' belief system". The New Statesman. Archived from the original on August 14, 2007. Retrieved August 24, 2006.
  10. ^ Hubbard, L. Ron (May 9, 1973). "FO 3323" (Flag Order). Church of Scientology.
  11. ^ Hubbard, L. Ron. "FO 2310" (Flag Order). Church of Scientology.
  12. ^ Richardson, John H. (September 1993). "Catcha Rising Star". Première.
  13. ^ a b c d Wright, Lawrence (2013). Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood and the Prison of Belief. Alfred A. Knopf. ISBN 9780307700667. OL 25424776M.
  14. ^ Breitbart, Andrew; Ebner, Mark (2004). Hollywood, Interrupted : Insanity Chic in Babylon--The Case Against Celebrity. Wiley. ISBN 0471450510. OL 3325539M.
  15. ^ Chasan, Alice. "Mind over Matter". Beliefnet.
  16. ^ Lewis, James R., ed. (2017). Handbook of Scientology. Brill Handbooks on Contemporary Religion. Vol. 14. Brill. ISBN 9789004330542.
  17. ^
  18. ^ McGrath, Nick (July 11, 2014). "Anne Archer: My family values". The Guardian. Retrieved August 10, 2015.
  19. ^ Zokaei, Mayar (Spring 2005). "Bell Hop". NYLA Magazine. Archived from the original on January 6, 2009. Retrieved August 10, 2015.
  20. ^ Sweeney, Claire (January 29, 2009). "Ay caramba! Bart Simpson is spruiking Scientology". The Sunday Times. London. Retrieved August 10, 2015.(registration required)
  21. ^ "Erika Christensen Defends Scientology: We Don't Worship Rabbits". The Huffington Post. January 17, 2013. Retrieved August 10, 2015.
  22. ^ "Cruise lobbies over Scientology". January 30, 2002.
  23. ^ a b c d e f Weisman, Aly (October 27, 2015). "19 famous Church of Scientology members". Business Insider. Retrieved May 28, 2016.
  24. ^ "Scientology Saved 'Moonlight' Star's Acting Career". Buddy TV. March 7, 2008. Retrieved June 28, 2015.
  25. ^ LaPorte, Nicole (August 26, 2010). "Stanley Kubrick's Lost Daughter". The Daily Beast.
  26. ^ Miller, Julie (July 29, 2015). "Walking Dead Star's Father Accuses Scientology of "Brainwashing" Her in Damning New Interview". Vanity Fair. Archived from the original on August 14, 2015. Retrieved March 24, 2016.
  27. ^ Silman, Anna (April 7, 2015). "Scientology and Elisabeth Moss: What the "Mad Men" star isn't talking about in interviews". Salon.com. Retrieved April 7, 2015.
  28. ^ Leigh, Danny (October 6, 2016). "Michael Peña: 'Scientology made me a better actor'". The Guardian. Archived from the original on October 8, 2020.
  29. ^ "Giovanni Ribisi". Now. April 12, 2007. Retrieved August 10, 2015.
  30. ^ Kreps, Daniel (November 22, 2019). "Beck Reveals 'I'm Not a Scientologist' in New Interview". RollingStone.
  31. ^ Wright, Lawrence (February 14, 2011). "The Apostate : Paul Haggis vs. the Church of Scientology". The New Yorker. Archived from the original on May 6, 2015.
  32. ^ Fieldstadt, Elisha (January 6, 2017). "Celebrity Scientologists and ex-Scientologists". CBSNews.com. Retrieved April 28, 2022.
  33. ^ Ryzik, Melena (December 27, 2021). "Juliette Lewis, an 'Imagination Freak Fairy,' Knows Her Worth". The New York Times. Archived from the original on January 15, 2022. Retrieved January 15, 2022.
  34. ^ "Slap Chop Pitchman Vince Shlomi Alleges Scientologists Ripped Him off for Millions - CBS News". CBS News. March 31, 2009.
  35. ^ McNeil, Liz (August 17, 2021). "Laura Prepon on Motherhood, Sharing Her Truth and Her Decision to Leave Scientology". People.
  36. ^ Troublemaker: Surviving Hollywood and Scientology
  37. ^ "Tom Cruise and Mimi Rogers: Marriage Impossible". EW.com. Retrieved November 8, 2023. What's more, Rogers today claims she is no longer a practicing Scientologist.
  38. ^ Parkel, Inga (August 30, 2024). "John Stamos claims he was 'kicked out' of Scientology for being 'too annoying'". The Independent. Retrieved August 31, 2024.
  39. ^ Schoellkopf, Christina (May 16, 2017). "Jeffrey Tambor Reflects on Scientology, Transgender Issues in His New Memoir". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved June 18, 2023.
  40. ^ Weisman, Aly (April 1, 2015). "The crazy story of how Scientology allegedly once groomed a girlfriend for Tom Cruise — and then tore them apart". Business Insider. Retrieved February 11, 2024.
  41. ^ Friedman, Roger (August 11, 2008). "Isaac Hayes' History With Scientology". Fox News. Retrieved April 22, 2015.
  42. ^ Heckman, Don (August 18, 2001). "Playing in His Key". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved August 10, 2015.
  43. ^ "Kirstie Alley: "I'm Not Some F---ing Fake" Scientologist". Us Weekly. Retrieved November 11, 2016.
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