Ex-Scientologist Jason Beghe: “Let Will Smith know that his sh*t was f*cking recorded.”
In a stunning interview in the Village Voice, actor Jason Beghe unleashed his pent up hostility and spoke candidly about his disappointment and emotional baggage at the hands of the Church of Scientology.
Yesterday, Jason made news around the world for being the first celebrity Scientologist to speak out against the Church of Scientology, an institution so many powerful people in Hollywood call home.
The video and clearly the Village Voice interview were in the works for a while now, and major kudos to Andreas Heldal-Lund of Operation Clambake (Xenu.net) and Mark Bunker of (xenutv.com) for helping Jason tell his story. The short clip posted on YouTube was just a brief taste of what’s to come and according to Jason, the three hours he spent with Mark and Andreas (who flew in from Norway for the interview) “barely scratched the surface” of his ordeal with the sinister organization.
Jason tells the Village Voice that unlike so many celebrity Scientologists, he was the real deal, truly engaged in the process of “moving up the bridge” and felt a tremendous sense of commitment and enthusiasm for his new found religion. Jason was considered a “poster boy” by Scientology leader David Miscavige, and according to Beghe he, like so many celebs, was given special treatment:
Over the next year, Beghe says he rocketed through Scientology’s expensive levels like no one else. Along the way, he got plenty of special treatment. “Celebrity Centre. My own private sauna. Everybody kissing my ass, which I was uncomfortable with. But nice people. Couldn’t be nicer,” he says.
His move to clear was so rapid, Beghe was told that diminutive Scientology leader David Miscavige considered him a “poster boy” for the religion.
“I was Miscavige’s favorite boy, so they were doing all kinds of things to keep me happy,” he says. “I moved up the Bridge faster than anyone in history. I went at it 24/7 for about a year. I went clear. Got to OT V. I was a trained auditor.” (OT stands for “operating thetan,” and the highest level in the church is said to be OT VIII.)
“I’m farther up the Bridge than Travolta, and he’s been in there a thousand years. He’s not a trained auditor.” To Beghe, some of the celebrities “seemed like dilettantes,” enjoying the perks but not really working hard at being Scientologists.
“I was on a spiritual journey. I wasn’t trying to make money, or influence people. I just wanted to try it.”
Jason says that instead of making money, he was spending it on expensive auditing classes, and estimates he spent close to $1 million dollars during his 12 years in the organization. He also cautioned the public and unwitting celebs alike about the CoS:
Other celebrities, he points out, go through similar periods of no longer auditing or moving up the Bridge, but are still considered members. Bringing Cruise back into a more active role, Beghe says, was a major Miscavige project.
“He was out for like ten years. There are people who just aren’t doing anything Some are out but don’t talk about it. Why? The church is scary. These are bad motherfuckers.”
And for a group of people who are consumed with protecting their image, the Church of Scientology is the LAST place a celebrity should consider joining:
“Not one auditing session—which are supposed to be private—is not recorded on film,” he says, and claims that secret cameras are used at every session at the Celebrity Centre in Los Angeles, recording sessions that for Scientologists are supposed to be something like confessionals in the Catholic church.
“Will Smith is supposedly dabbling in Scientology. Let Will Smith know that his shit was fucking recorded. And tell him to look them in the eye and see if he believes it when they deny it.”
This article, like the video, was just a taste of what we can expect in the future. Jason is the first celeb to speak out against the Church, but mark my words, he won’t be the last. Like a house of cards, Scientology will begin to fall, one card at a time with celebrities and regular Scientologists alike breaking free from their bondage of this “religion”. A religion mind you that videotapes your deepest secrets and promises to forget your sins if you bring in more recruits and pay more money. If that isn’t the most perverse attempt to prey on the human spirit, I don’t know what is.
Jason you are a brave soul, and you just may be the catalyst for what ends up saving lives from the destructive practices of the CoS.
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Excellent article as usual, Dawn. Thanks for everything that you’re doing and have done on this subject!!
Comment by Thomas — April 15, 2008 @ 10:37 pm
Hey, Curiouser and Sylver and Terryeo: Hear that? It’s the sound of your fucked-up cult taking yet another hit.
$cientology’s ugly secrets are coming out, boys.
Comment by Narcissus — April 15, 2008 @ 11:04 pm
Fantastic article.
Comment by Rao — April 16, 2008 @ 3:03 am
What a load of rubbish. Scientology clearly works otherwise it wouldn’t be as big as it today. You don’t go from one man to millions without it working.
I read a magazine article with Jason a couple of years back and he was saying how brilliant Scientology was.
Comment by Jesse — April 16, 2008 @ 11:10 am
Sure Jesse, did OSA send you? Go outside, get a bite to eat and come back and rethink your strategy.
Clearly Jason covered that issue in this article. He was expected to say all sorts of good things, but now he’s being honest about what a scam Scientology is.
It’s ok Jesse, we’ll be here when you are ready to blow.
Comment by D — April 16, 2008 @ 11:17 am
Jesse, there are countless scams that are successful in taking people’s money. The fact that they “work” in that regard doesn’t mean their products or services work.
Comment by Run-DMS — April 16, 2008 @ 11:27 am
Time for Scientology Deathwatch!
http://lifeisacookie.wordpress.com/2008/04/16/jason-beghe-deathwatch/
Comment by Thecookie — April 16, 2008 @ 3:59 pm
Hey Jesse: ever hear of Enron? They thought their shit worked too.
Comment by David Mudkips — April 16, 2008 @ 5:32 pm
he should have say that in 2001 before Tom join scientology again!
Cruise was not a scieno in the 90s
Comment by Holy Mary — April 16, 2008 @ 7:24 pm
“What a load of rubbish. Scientology clearly works otherwise it wouldn’t be as big as it today.”
You mean, with more people classifying themselves as Jedi than as Scientologists?
I think you’re mistaking “loud” for “big”.
Comment by AF — April 16, 2008 @ 9:15 pm
ALERT! ALERT! ALERT!
They’ve just suspended Mark Bunker’s YouTube account, xenutv1. I shit you not.
Man the harpoons!
BTW, Here a re-hosted copy of the Jason Behge interview teaser which was on xenutv1:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5H7A1tttu0
Comment by Sponge — April 17, 2008 @ 7:19 pm