Posts Tagged ‘scientology’
Katie and Suri Visit the Scientology Center
March 31st, 2009
Jett’s Memorial Held in Florida
January 8th, 2009 / Author: OK! Staff
Friends and family said goodbye to John Travolta’s son Jett in a small private memorial service, held on Thursday in Florida, where the Travoltas have their main home.
Travolta and his wife Kelly Preston called the outpouring of love from around the world, "a beautiful reminder of the inherent goodness in the human spirit."
Jett, 16, died nearly one week ago on Jan. 2, after suffering a seizure while on vacation in the Bahamas with his family.
Much has been speculated over Jett’s health–he had a history of seizures but Travolta and Preston have only said that their son suffered from Kawasaki syndrome when he was a toddler.
Jett, whose remains were cremated in the Bahamas earlier this week, was expected to be given a Scientology memorial in line with the belief that, while there is no heaven or hell, individuals live on as immortal spiritual beings.
Travolta and Preston are leading members of the Church of Scientology, which was founded by science fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard in 1954.
Controversy has arisen over whether their Scientology beliefs affected their management of Jett’s medical condition, but supporters including singer Lisa Marie Presley deny this.
Lisa Marie Presley Defends Scientology
January 6th, 2009
In the recent whirl of media attention surrounding John Travolta and Kelly Preston’s family in the wake of their son Jett’s death, criticism of their religion of choice, Scientology, has once again popped up. Lisa Marie Presley, also a member of the group, has taken to her MySpace blog to defend Scientology, in a post titled, "Now Is Not The Time."
"I wished I could be writing you under happier circumstances but I cannot because Two of my very good friends, (John and Kelly Travolta ) the sweetest people in the world have just encountered the worst possible tragedy a parent could be forced to endure, the death of their son Jett," she writes.
"I am writing this because I have noticed that for the most part, people and the media have been very sympathetic and respectful, but there are those certain ones that want to use this horrible tragedy as an opportunity to once again, blame and or attack Scientology? Folks, as popular as it has been to discriminate and ridicule Scientology and Scientologist’s in the recent past, Now is NOT the time," the star adds.
Noting that there is "misinformation" floating around about the religion, Lisa Marie tries to set the record straight in her view, saying, "Among most of the crazy made up garbage that goes around about it , It is not true that Scientologist’s ‘Don’t believe in’ medical care , medicine or medical Doctors and that may have something to do with this terrible tragedy. Just like anyone else, If one is sick , they go to the doctor, If a medication will make it better then they take it. If they don’t then they are an idiot and you can’t blame their religion."
The new mother of twins finishes, "Whatever medical and or physical condition Jett had , I can tell you first hand that his parents were on a tireless, never ending quest to get and provide him with the absolute best care anyone could ever ask for and need, Medically, physically, emotionally, medicinally and spiritually. I am not writing this to preach my beliefs, I am here to protect my friends."
To the few of you out there that this may apply to, Let’s not use the tragic death of a child to facilitate your insatiable need to attack and destroy Scientology shall we?
John and Kelly have done nothing but spend their lives and their time helping others, making people happy and making peoples lives better. Please let this family grieve in peace.
~LMP"
John Travolta, Kelly Preston Fought For Son
January 5th, 2009
Deepest condolences go to John Travolta and wife Kelly Preston, who lost their 16-year-old son Jett on Friday.
John and Kelly are among the most kind, genuine superstars I’ve met, which makes this heartbreaking tragedy that much sadder.
I first sat down with Kelly in 2001, when she was lobbying Congress on behalf of CHEC to enact a national Right To Know bill, which she described as “the right to know what chemicals are harming us and how.”
Accompanied by Olivia Newton-John, the two stormed the Capitol in Washington, D.C., to get things accomplished. They made a video called Not Under My Roof, which they hoped to get into maternity wards by 2002. (It worked!)
According to Kelly, Jett, then 8, nearly died at age 2 when he breathed in fumes shortly after their carpets were cleaned.
“We’re using things on counters, carpets and outside on the lawn that are very damaging to young nervous systems,” Kelly tells me. “The rates for cancer, autism and learning disabilities are way up. I want to know why and I would like to stop that.”
She was especially concerned about PVC, which is a chemical that was discovered in children’s necklaces sold at Kmart at the time.
“It is found in teethers, and America hasn’t stopped using them, which is appalling, because when the children mouth these toys, the chemicals are released into their little bodies,” Kelly tells me.
I’ve seen Kelly several more times over the years with her husband at 2003’s Stella Adler School of Acting Awards, his 2007 Hairspray premiere and her 2007 Death Sentence premiere.
It was very exciting to meet John Travolta for the first time. It was even more refreshing how his soft-spoken nature has a way of putting everyone at ease. (One time he even called me “honey” – wow!) He seems like he would be a great father, and he didn’t think his Hollywood fame made him any different from others rising to the challenge of parenthood.
“It’s tough to be a parent anywhere,” John said at his wife’s Death Sentence premiere. “I think there’s some advantages that Hollywood people have for encouraging privacy and homeschooling. We get to control our environment a little better — even though it looks like being famous you’re less controlled. We actually in some ways get to control it better.”
Kelly certainly cherishes motherhood. What’s her favorite part?
“Just the closeness and the fun and the joy they give you on an every-moment basis,” she tells me at her premiere. “It’s just so wondrous. There’s so many clichés, but it’s really seeing things through their eyes, or the hilarious ways they’ll perceive something. Their take on it is so completely astute. Kids say the wildest things. Well, they really do, and they nail it all the time.”
In getting through difficult times, the couple relies on their 17-year history as husband and wife.
At his Hairspray premiere, John tells me the secret to a happy marriage lies in communication. He says, “Communication leads to understanding, and understanding is a universal solvent.”
They also rely on spirituality to keep their union strong.
“We’re both Scientologists and we have similar beliefs in how to raise our kids,” Kelly says at her premiere. “It keeps us growing spiritually and constantly and happy and grounded.”
John says, “We use the techniques all the time at work, home, with the kids. It’s all tools for better survival.”
Kelly adds, “Better living. We know how to survive in life a whole lot better. It helps you on a daily basis. Apply religious philosophy everywhere that it’s applicable.”
John continues, “It is tools you need every day to better your life.”
Our thoughts are with John, Kelly and their daughter Ella Bleu, 8, during this devastating time.
Stars Roll Out For ‘The Day The Earth Stood Still’
December 10th, 2008
Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith certainly know how to make a scene. The married movie stars dually shun and invite the spotlight during their son Jaden’s premiere for The Day The Earth Stood Still, held Tuesday at AMC Loews Lincoln Center in NYC. The remake of the 1951 sci-fi thriller is in theaters Friday.
As Linkin Park’s Breaking The Habit and Living Colour’s Cult of Personality blare, the threesome take turns dashing into a crowd of autograph seekers — a trick my WPLJ pal Brad Blanks calls “the old Hollywood duck-and-run.” As Jada heads into the fan pit, Will returns.
“I’m here so my son can show me up, but I’m going to step back tonight,” Will says. “You guys are going to get me into trouble. I’m not supposed to talk to you. I’m letting him do his thing.”
Is Jaden, 10, giving Will competition?
“You know better than that,” Jada says shyly, standing ten feet away from reporters before moving up to gush about her son.
“As a mom, it’s hard when you put your son in a classic and you hope he can be part of the group to make the movie work again,” she says. “You always try to make it better than the classic, and that’s what is very difficult, because that’s what makes it a classic. But he had a great time and I’m very proud of him.”
Switch! As Jada heads into the theater, Jaden captures the spotlight. Does he feel like a star tonight?
“Not really,” he says. “Sometimes I don’t feel like that.”
Keanu Reeves steps up, and his charm immediately puts me on his side. He accidentally slams his hand into my recorder as he’s telling a story, but makes no fuss. A reporter asks if there are elements of a certain religion practiced by TomKat in this tale.
“Maybe in the beginning it’s a little more alien-infused, but the Scientology element is happening as well,” Keanu says.
After making this movie, both stars Jennifer Connelly (whose legs are like toothpicks) and Jon Hamm believe in alien encounters.
“I think there’s probably some form of life elsewhere in the universe, given the scale of the universe,” Balenciaga-wearing Jennifer says.
Golden Globe winner Jon agrees. “I just think the numbers are too big,” the Mad Men star, who is accompanied by girlfriend of ten years Jennifer Westfeldt, tells me. “There’s too many stars and planets and people and things out there. There’s gotta be something on top of them.”
Who would Ms. Connelly trust to save the world?
“I wish Obama a lot of luck. Or my kids – they’re pretty clever.”
Director Scott Derrickson fuels my newfound interest in Keanu.
“He’s a pretty serious person with a lot on his mind,” Scott says.
Apparently, The Matrix star is a voracious reader.
“He reads more than anybody I’ve ever met,” he tells me. “It was something new every time, because every time I’d see him, he’d finished the last book he had. He reads a lot of fiction, historical fiction, some straight history, science fiction. I saw him go through many genres in the short time I’ve been with him making this movie.”
Another selling point? Keanu is always on time.
“He’s extraordinarily punctual, and he’s extraordinarily prepared,” he says. “Actors are all over the map on that front, and some of them can be very undisciplined and some of them can do what they want because they’re movie stars. He’s really the opposite extreme of that. He has an extraordinary work ethic. I never found myself ever needing to push him along to get him to work harder.”
Sounds good!
The Day The Earth Stood Still is in theaters Friday.
Did Tom Have Anti-Scientology Book Pulled?
December 1st, 2008 / Author: OK! Staff
Superstar Tom Cruise may have just been listed as the most powerful celebrity male, but does the actor have the pull to scare online mega-market amazon.com?
John Duignan, the author of a recently published book that is very critical of Tom’s religion of choice, Scientology, is up in arms, claiming that the Valkyrie star pulled strings to have his book, The Complex, taken off Amazon’s British website.
“I believe Tom Cruise influenced them,” the author, who says he was once a high-ranking official in the church, tells the NY Daily News.
However, reps for the actor say it just isn’t so — a sentiment echoed by the folks at Amazon.
According to a statement from the online superstore, an anonymous person in England has alleged that the book contains "false claims" about him or her and therefore, "U.K. law gives us no choice but to remove the title from our catalogue” while the matter is still legally pending.
The book is still on sale here in the U.S. on amazon.com, though as of Monday morning it was listed as "temporarily out of stock."
Wild Scene Outside Katie’s Broadway Premiere
October 17th, 2008
Once again, it was a mob scene outside the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre on Manhattan’s 45th Street Thursday night, as protesters, police and paparazzi gathered for the official opening night of All My Sons, the Arthur Miller play starring Katie Holmes in her first Broadway role.
The actress was able to slip into to the theater around 4:40, several hours before the play — and all the associated hubbub — started. According to show insiders, hubby Tom Cruise was able to slip unnoticed past the anti-Scientology protesters two hours later.
CLICK HERE for OK!’s Ultimate Katie Holmes Gallery!
Unlike the first night of previews for the show in September, which drew an angry mob directly outside the theater, the 50 or so anti-Scientologist picketers at Thursday’s show — most from a group known as "Anonymous" — were quarantined down the block from the venue.
Most protesters wore masks, some dressed as the lead rebel character from the 2007 movie V For Vendetta; one activist was even dressed up as Joe Jonas. They carried signs with slogans like “Save Katie and Suri – keep Tom,” “Religion is free – Scientology is not,” “Katie, What Has Scientology Cost You?” and chanted harsh words like, “Scientology Kills.”
The folks from Anonymous were offset by a throng of fans across the street who cheered their support for Katie and her family.
After the production started, the protesters were told there would be no more loud chanting permitted and the group dispersed for the evening.
Reverend John Carmichael, who is the President of the Church of Scientology in New York, attempted to undo the damage done by the protesters by claiming that Anonymous made threats of violence. He also alleged that a group member was responsible for a school shooting in Finland in November 2007.
CLICK HERE for OK!’s Ultimate Katie Holmes Gallery!
After the show, Katie exited the theater around 9:45 and signed autographs for three minutes before heading to the cast afterparty.
"It was wonderful," Katie said following her opening night experience. "I’m just glad to be a part of it."
The former Dawson’s Creek star’s castmates also had kind words to say about the superstar.
"It’s really a pleasure," said All My Sons co-star Danielle Ferland. "She respects people. She’s one of the best people. Katie’s very generous… I think she’s a pro. She hasn’t done a lot of theater, and she’s amazing. It’s unbelievable."
By Valerie Nome
Amy Winehouse, Scientologist?
October 6th, 2008
Amy Winehouse doesn’t seem to be bouncing back from her recent problems with drugs, appearing out of it and scarily thin at concerts or backing out all together. Since she won’t go to rehab, will Scientology work?
The UK’s Sunday Mirror says that the singer told friends she was called by a member of the Church of Scientology’s celebrity center in L.A., offering to work with her to get her life together.
Founded by L. Ron Hubbard, a science fiction writer, Scientology has many famous devotees, including Tom Cruise, John Travolta, Kelly Preston and Juliette Lewis. The sect has a Narconon program which helps addicts conquer their dependency on drugs.
"She’s had a call from the celebrity branch of the Church Of Scientology, the Sunday Mirror quotes one of Amy’s friends as saying.
"She thinks they got her number through one of the American music producers who worked on her Back to Black album," continues the source. "They told her they wanted to help her beat drugs and could tailor-make a program so she wouldn’t have to go to a residential center. She liked that idea because her husband Blake [Fielder-Civil] is out of prison soon and wouldn’t want to be away from him when he’s finally freed.”
Despite Protests, Katie Perseveres in Broadway Debut
September 18th, 2008
Judging by the crowd of screaming, sign-carrying protesters gathered outside the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre in Manhattan on Thursday night, you would think a political rally was going on inside, and not the Broadway debut of actress Katie Holmes.
Wearing masks and holding signs with salacious slogans like "Free Katie!", "Scientology is a cult!", "Run Katie Run!" and "Free Katie! Keep Tom," many protestors shouted their distaste with the religion of choice for the former Dawson’s Creek star and her hubby, Tom Cruise.
"We’re not protesting the play, we’re not protesting her," explained one protestor who goes by the name of Little Sister. "We’re just showing her support pretty much. We’re showing her that she can have the strength to leave… We’ve seen Katie in recent televison and she looks miserable. She’s lost a lot of weight. We’ve seen her with purple hands."
According to the anti-Scientology crowd, they are are worried about Katie and her two-year-old daughter Suri. They also alleged to OK! that the Church of Scientologists had been attempting to stop the protest.
At one point, a fight nearly erupted outside the theater and police were forced to step in to calm things down.
However, despite rampant rumors that protestors would interrupt the actual performance, the audience inside the theater — including Oscar-winner Dustin Hoffman in the fourth row — was well-behaved as Katie made her way through her first live performance of the Arthur Miller play All My Sons.
In fact, the audience cheered as Tom entered the theater and took his seat near the front of the house. He even took the time to share a brief embrace with Dustin, who later stayed behind to offer his congratulations to Katie.
As for her actual performance, one audience member tells OK! that Katie was "actually pretty good. She has her hands on her hips a lot like she’s posing for pictures and she projects her voice a bit too much, but she’s a good actress."
Regardless of any minor shortcomings, when the final curtain closed, the audience applauded, giving Katie and her co-stars a standing ovation.
"Tom had a huge smile on his face after the show," says one witness, who spotted the superstar actor heading backstage to congratulate his wife.
Outside, the pre-show crowd had swelled to more than 150 screaming fans and dozens of photographers as a half-dozen police officers on horseback patroled the crowd who now carried signs pronouncing, "Well Done Katie!"
