Upcoming Scientology Documentary ‘Going Clear’ Outs John Travolta…Again
Not 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
Pete
March 14, 05:41I don tire for this guy case
Masked Man
March 14, 05:52What is their problem with the brother na? Someone wants to remain in the closet, na wahala? Now church don dey blackmail?
chestnut
March 14, 06:24The book didn’t name names nah; are they sure they weren’t referring to Tom Cruise? *sips tea*
pinkpanthertb
March 14, 07:01Hehehehee!!! Chestnut! Be kiafu
chestnut
March 14, 07:11But 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, 07:41Scientology sees and hears all things. That’s all I’m going to say.
Deola
March 14, 07:16Aswear Joan certainly knew where the bodies were buried…the sweet tea that must have been served during brunch, I salivate at the thought.
Mercury
March 14, 06:43John Travolta’s closet is pretty shallow tho……him own dey him body jare.
Max
March 14, 07:01Hmmmm
Deola
March 14, 07:10All 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, 07:13LOL! Hahahahahahhaa!!! Deola, you are wicked. But so on point.
chestnut
March 14, 07:14Lol. lately he’s been looking like a character from “Star Trek”…the ooooooooooooooollllldddd Star Trek.
Deola
March 14, 07:19Hahahahaha!!!!! This is so true!
kendigin
March 14, 07:26ok 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
trystham
March 14, 07:32An auditor??? At confession??? What happened to ‘forgive and forget’? Dear God, ur judgement shud start in the church o.
pinkpanthertb
March 14, 07:51Gbam!
chestnut
March 14, 08:10Scientology is not a conventional Christian church o…I think they worship…science? (What exactly do those ppl worship sef?)
Mitch
March 14, 08:14Irriz not a small something! Scientology, confession, auditor, BLACKMAIL!
And we still call it the ‘church’! Is it a church or a crime network?
Sinnex
March 14, 11:15OK…
Ruby
March 14, 11:28Oh 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!