Upcoming Scientology Documentary ‘Going Clear’ Outs John Travolta…Again

Upcoming Scientology Documentary ‘Going Clear’ Outs John Travolta…Again

Cast member John Travolta arrives for the "The Forger" gala during the Toronto International Film FestivalNot that this is remotely shocking news, but the new HBO documentary Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief reportedly outs John Travolta for the sixth ninth fifteenth time. No use counting anymore.

The film, based on Lawrence Wright’s 2013 book of the same name, details Travolta’s involvement in the church dating back to the early part of his acting career. Back then, he was a halfhearted supporter at best. Why, then, is he now one of Scientology’s most outspoken zealots?

The film strongly suggests that the church is essentially blackmailing him by threatening to out him if he ever betrays them.

Again, this isn’t anything entirely new per se, but the weight of Alex Gibney’s new film adds a heaping dose of gasoline to the John-Travolta-is-trapped-in-the-closet fire.

This passage from Wright’s book says it all:

“The church hierarchy was desperately concerned that their most valuable member would be revealed as gay; at the same time, the hierarchy was prepared to use that against him.”

The book also describes Scientology’s current leader, David Miscavige, as extremely duplicitous on the subject. In 1980, as he wined and dined Travolta to become involved in the church, he is reported to have said behind his back, “The guy is a faggot. We’re going to out him.”

While the film never says the word “gay,” they use Travolta’s case to highlight the practice of “auditing” — the church’s one-on-one therapy-style counseling — as a way of amassing a collection of personal information about its members.

“An auditor learns to keep notes contemporaneously as he is doing a session,” Marty Rathbun, an ex-Scientologist who was Miscavige’s right hand, says in Going Clear. “It’s the most intimate detail. You’re always encouraged, you’re always threatened to disclose more and more and more. And all of it is recorded.”

“It’s not my business,” Gibney told BuzzFeed News about his decision to single out Travolta’s sexuality in his film. “We just know that the church made it its business to collect private details and threaten to reveal them. That’s really the relevant detail.”

It really makes us wonder though — how could coming out in today’s social and political landscape really be worse than living at the beck and call of Scientology? It seems like there must be more than meets the eye.

‘Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief’ airs on HBO on March 29.

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20 Comments

  1. Pete
    March 14, 05:41 Reply

    I don tire for this guy case

  2. Masked Man
    March 14, 05:52 Reply

    What is their problem with the brother na? Someone wants to remain in the closet, na wahala? Now church don dey blackmail?

  3. chestnut
    March 14, 06:24 Reply

    The book didn’t name names nah; are they sure they weren’t referring to Tom Cruise? *sips tea*

      • chestnut
        March 14, 07:11 Reply

        But pinky check am nau: Tom used to be the hollywood poster-boy for scientology at some point,no? And Joan Rivers used to make all these gay jokes about him…that woman lived in hollywood long enough to KNOW “things”…

        • pinkpanthertb
          March 14, 07:41 Reply

          Scientology sees and hears all things. That’s all I’m going to say.

      • Deola
        March 14, 07:16 Reply

        Aswear Joan certainly knew where the bodies were buried…the sweet tea that must have been served during brunch, I salivate at the thought.

  4. Mercury
    March 14, 06:43 Reply

    John Travolta’s closet is pretty shallow tho……him own dey him body jare.

  5. Deola
    March 14, 07:10 Reply

    All overdone and tired sexuality talk aside, what the hell is up with this guy’s hair. Why does it always look like it was glued on his head or painted sef?? Na wa oh.

    • pinkpanthertb
      March 14, 07:13 Reply

      LOL! Hahahahahahhaa!!! Deola, you are wicked. But so on point.

    • chestnut
      March 14, 07:14 Reply

      Lol. lately he’s been looking like a character from “Star Trek”…the ooooooooooooooollllldddd Star Trek.

      • Deola
        March 14, 07:19 Reply

        Hahahahaha!!!!! This is so true!

  6. kendigin
    March 14, 07:26 Reply

    ok i think this man has suffered enough. he has lost almost everything…family, job, etc

    But this scientology thing eh…hmmm i dont just know. is it a cult or what. Nobody ever comes out wit anything good to say

  7. trystham
    March 14, 07:32 Reply

    An auditor??? At confession??? What happened to ‘forgive and forget’? Dear God, ur judgement shud start in the church o.

    • chestnut
      March 14, 08:10 Reply

      Scientology is not a conventional Christian church o…I think they worship…science? (What exactly do those ppl worship sef?)

  8. Mitch
    March 14, 08:14 Reply

    Irriz not a small something! Scientology, confession, auditor, BLACKMAIL!

    And we still call it the ‘church’! Is it a church or a crime network?

  9. Ruby
    March 14, 11:28 Reply

    Oh Johnny! From your Dramatic Choker Necklace, the Red Carpet Drama to your on stage Stint with Idina Menzel @ the Oscars. Now This???
    Scientology has got one on you now eh!

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