Paul Haggis says leaving Scientology was ‘a treasonous act’
(Photo: Rock Center with Brian Williams)
In an exclusive interview with Rock Center’s Harry Smith, ex-Scientologist and famed Hollywood director Paul Haggis discusses the controversial church of which he was a member for more than 30 years. He calls the religion a ‘cult’. Haggis is part of author Lawrence Wright’s new book, “Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood, and the Prison of Belief.” Wright talked to Rock Center about his new book and Scientology’s controversial history. Rock Center’s two-part report airs Thursday, Jan. 17 at 10pm/9CDT on NBC’s Rock Center with Brian Williams.
Hey Harry, did you ask him about the Atlantic ad?
We screwed up. It shouldn’t have taken a wave of constructive criticism — but it has — to alert us that we’ve made a mistake, possibly several mistakes. We now realize that as we explored new forms of digital advertising, we failed to update the policies that must govern the decisions we make along the way. It’s safe to say that we are thinking a lot more about these policies after running this ad than we did beforehand. In the meantime, we have decided to withdraw the ad until we figure all of this out. We remain committed to and enthusiastic about innovation in digital advertising, but acknowledge—sheepishly—that that we got ahead of ourselves. We are sorry, and we’re working very hard to put things right.
If you remember correctly, the ad was something of a spectacle. Fun to look at though.
We have temporarily suspended this advertising campaign pending a review of our policies that govern sponsor content and subsequent comment threads.The Atlantic • In a statement regarding their controversial scientology ad, which we wrote about earlier in clearly positive terms. Perhaps not the best way to make a good impression.
Currently leading? A breakdown of Scientology practices, though a pitch about the nature of journalism outsourcing isn’t far behind. What would you like to see us cover next week? Let us know! (Click over here to read up on our prior entries.)
nickdivers asks: Does anyone actually think Tom Cruise would send Suri, his very cute and very public daughter, to Sea Org? Wouldn't that be a huge PR disaster for both Cruise and COS?
» SFB says: Whether or not the Church actually would (the reports suggest that, even if they did, that was a concern of Holmes), they’re formally denying it, saying you have to be 16 to go to Sea Org. Don’t doubt you though; it’d be bad optics. — Ernie @ SFB
“Suddenly I’m in that world in my backyard afterwards …” You mean your Scientology seances, Tom?
Questionable movie role of the day: Couch-jumping Scientologist dude Tom Cruise as an aging rocker in upcoming movie musical “Rock Of Ages.” We cropped in tight so you could see how stupid he looks with all those tattoos. The only thing this photo needs is a unicorn. (via Tom’s Twitter page)
» That new-time religion: The Church of Scientology, in addition to dealing with last year’s high-profile defector, high-profile director Paul Haggis, now must survive the fruit of Haggis’ labor with New Yorker writer Lawrence Wright; a 26-page tale of his ascent and subsequent rejection of the church. Amongst the familiar charges the article makes (secrecy, strident and at times brutally violent discipline by church leader David Miscavige, disconnected families, and an inscrutable origin story that Scientologists are forbidden to admit exists), it also reveals that the FBI has been investigating Scientology for almost a year regarding potential rights abuses in their elite “Sea Organization,” or “Sea Org.” They’re looking into defector allegations of forced manual labor, shockingly low pay, and “re-education” through rehabilitation camps, which it goes without saying are at best creepy ideas, at worst wicked ones.
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