14 DAY TRIAL // Rumor has it that the Church of Scientology is on lockdown after the premiere of the HBO documentary “Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief,” which casts a very negative light on the cult. At the same time, one of the most prominent Scientologists, John Travolta, has a new movie to promote.
Some questions about “Going Clear” had to be asked and answered. Travolta did his best to blame criticism of his religion on general ignorance, during an appearance on Good Morning America. Video of this segment of the interview is available below.
“Scientology saved my life several times”
This is the second time that Travolta addresses the allegations made in the documentary, put together from testimonies from many former Scientologists. The cult is painted in a very negative light, as a money-driven organization that acts through emotional terror and blackmail, keeping its members under strict control.
The first time he was asked about the film, Travolta only said that he could never say he’d experienced any of this. He’s getting a bit more talkative now.
Scientology is a target only because people don’t understand it, because they’re not educated enough on the topic. Before spewing accusations, Travolta recommends reading the books on which the religion is founded, like “A New Slant on Life” and “Dianetics.”
Criticism is also directed at the Church because it’s gaining in popularity, the actor argues.
“Sometimes when something really works well it becomes a target,” he says. “Forty years, for me, I've been part - and I've loved every minute of it. My family has done so well with it. You know? It's a beautiful thing for me. I've saved lives with it, and saved my own life several times. Through the loss of my son, it helped me every step of the way for two years solid, and here I am talking to you because of it.”
New movie isn’t even worth Travolta’s trouble to make promo appearances
John Travolta has been getting a very bad rap in the media for his association with Scientology and because of claims that emerged online a couple of years ago, that he had forced himself and then tried to buy the silence of several men working at massage parlors.
In fact, if we’re to go by the claims made in “Going Clear,” Travolta is gay and in the closet, but has admitted to it during Scientology auditing sessions. Leaders of the Church taped the sessions so they could have leverage on him in case he wanted to leave. They’re holding the tapes over his head, forcing him to be their mouthpiece in their relations to the media.
That is to say, Travolta is caught between a rock and a hard place: on one hand, he must do the Church’s bidding and defend it; while on the other, he has to make appearances to promote “The Forger,” which means he has no choice but to take Scientology questions.
The funny part is that reviews for the film are disastrous, even though it’s only getting a very limited release in US theaters. As of the time of writing, “The Forger” has 8 reviews in total on Rotten Tomatoes, both from critics and moviegoers, and the abysmal rating of 0 percent.
So much trouble for nothing, it seems.