There are so many tragic, confounding and devastating stories about what really goes on within the Church of Scientology, it’s difficult to know where to start. Everything from de facto slave labor to further the glory of Tom Cruise, to the forced separation of families and, reportedly, the systemic coverups of sexual abuse and rape. Leah Remini has made it her mission to shine a light on the dark side (super-dark side) of CoS in her A&E show, so we should all prepare ourselves for even more stories to come. As it turns out, Leah took an interest in one woman’s story, and Leah seemed to convince the woman to come forward and give a statement to the LAPD. The story is about Scientologist actor Danny Masterson, who is probably best known as Hyde from That ‘70s Show. Masterson is being investigated for three separate rapes on three different women, including a case which was previously closed by the LAPD in the early 2000s.
LA cops are looking into allegations that actor Danny Masterson raped three women, accusations that have been kept under wraps for years, according to a bombshell media report published on Friday. The LAPD confirmed the investigation to Page Six.
“The Los Angeles Police Department Robbery Homicide Division, Sexual Assault Section, is conducting an investigation involving the actor Danny Masterson. Three women have come forward and disclosed that they were sexually assaulted by Masterson during the early 2000s,” the police statement read.
On his website The Underground Bunker, Tony Ortega wrote that all three women were Scientologists at the time. Masterson is a practicing Scientologist. Ortega, a former Village Voice editor who left the paper to cover the inner workings of the Church of Scientology, reports that the first woman only came forward to former member Leah Remini after the actress’ A&E series “Scientology and the Aftermath” began airing last November. The alleged victim, who was in a relationship with “That ’70s Show” star Masterson, claimed he raped her more than 15 years ago, Ortega wrote. After hearing the woman’s story, Remini encouraged her to go to police and became personally involved in the investigation. Ortega posted a police report showing a second alleged victim came forward in the early 2000s. A third woman’s claims are also being investigated, LAPD told us.
Masterson vigorously denied the claims in a statement released by his publicist to Page Six and pointed an accusatory finger at Remini. “We are aware of [the first alleged victim’s old] allegations. It was only after [the alleged victim] was in contact with Leah Remini that she made allegations of sexual assault by Mr. Masterson,” read the statement, from which Page Six has redacted the alleged victim’s name. Masterson then claimed that the accuser had continued to date him after the alleged incident, and accused her of erratic behavior.
“In fact, we are informed by the Church that the only demand [the alleged victim] made of the Church after Danny broke up with her was asking for their help to intervene so the breakup would not be permanent,” the statement read. “We are aware also that approximately 14 years ago a woman referred to in the blog made allegations of sexual assault and that the LAPD interviewed numerous witnesses and determined the claim had no merit.” The rep added, “Based on reading the anti-Scientology blog that posted this story, these false allegations appear to be motivated to boost Leah Remini’s anti-Scientology television series since [the alleged victim] only came forward after connecting with Leah Remini.”
Shortly after the statement was released to Page Six and other outlets, Ortega posted a screen grab showing that Masterson’s publicist was listed as a witness on the second alleged victim’s police report. The publicist did not respond to our request to confirm or deny the allegation.
This sounds just like the way that Amy Scobee’s case was handled by the CoS, including blaming her and calling her the aggressor when she was just 14 and her rapist was 35. CoS is known for trashing anyone who speaks out against them and going to any lengths to protect their own. You can read more about these cases Tony Ortega’s site, including allegations that the LAPD is extremely friendly with Scientology and that the investigating officer may have compromised one of the cases.
Photos courtesy of WENN.
His ‘she was my girlfriend so it couldn’t have been rape’ statement tells me all I need to know about him.
This one hurt, I loved Hyde. Now every time I see his face all I can picture is that poor girl bleeding, asking what happened and him laughing about how he sodomised her.
The coS is about to crumble and I can’t wait to watch it burn.
He’s had a sketchy reputation for a long time, sadly. His wife isn’t the nicest either.
Oh really? I don’t know much about her. I googled her but it was mostly stuff about her sister. Am I missing something about her?
Bijoux Phillips was a part of the celebutante scene in the mid 00s. Partied very, very hard. Infamous a-hole. The kind of lady who would physically attack people (and was at one point sued for it). Awful person. Master son has had a rep for serious drugging and partying too.
Ahh, I googled further back 2008ish, and found her. She was friends with the Hilton’s/Casey Johnson.
Apparently she also stabbed someone in the leg and cut off the top of her friend’s finger with a cigar cutter. Jesus.
No it won’t if it didn’t when Katie left Tom this won’t do it.
People in high positions are involved with CO$
With Co$ I feel like the only thing that will take them down will be something money-related – fraud charges, for example. Kind of like how they couldn’t get Capone for murder so they finally got him for tax evasion. The worrying thing is that the creepy cult seems to have friends in institutions, including inside the LAPD.
Not so much, any more. But they still have a pile of money and are very entrenched (for example, their cozy relationship with law enforcement). But the facade is cracking. The Underground Bunker always has the latest, and Tony’s fact checking is impeccable.
For that matter, why haven’t they sued Leah if they think she’s defaming them? Maybe because all of it is true?
Katie leaving Tom was a big deal but that’s just one crack in the wall. There is much more to come.
Disgusting. I have no words
PLEASE, everyone, go to ortegas website and read the details. It’s shocking. I read it Friday and I’ve been thinking about it ever since. He is disgusting. And his lawyer or whatever isn’t just a witness- she’s the one who brougbr the woman/victim to the party!!!! And that he laughed at the girlfriend after the incident when she Was sobbing- or that the second woman was”freaking out” in the kitchen after it happened and no one did anything to help her- like I said, I’ve been bothered all weekend.
Yes, everyone should read the article. The details are so disturbing, he is seriously messed up. Also disturbing is the LAPD’s incompetence, and IMO transparent attempt to butcher the investigation. The LAPD should be investigated.
The same LAPD that refused to investigate the disappearance of Michelle Miscavage, David Miscavage’s wife, who hasn’t been seen publicly in about a decade. Seems like the LAPD is in the pocket of CoS.
COS=Cult of Sh*t. Take a look at how it all started and you will fall down a rabbit hole of insanity. L.Ron Hubbard was a sociopath, who lied about everything he ever did. And when you find out some of the things he really DID do you feel like your brain needs to be washed. This criminal enterprise should be shut down immediately.
All you need to know about this “church” is that they’re commenting on rape allegations in support of the accused. What church gets involved at all, much less takes a side??
This is like the Cosby show for me!😓😒 also so Michelle Williams ‘ plus one busy is a scientologist? Really weird how it’s so accepted by Hollywood. I also love Laura prepon and mad men’s Peggy but it’s getting harder to turn a blind eye
No I think it is Bijou that is the Scientologist. Busy is normal.
OOOPS sorry! My error and thanks I feel a bit better now
I was definitely confused and still am. Wiki doesn’t tell me if the two are related😑 I also thought there was a connection with Wilson Phillips the old eighties group
Busy Phillips isn’t related to Bijou Phillips. In the same way that Emma Stone and Oliver Stone aren’t related :). Some last names are just common
Bijou Phillips is the daughter of John Phillips, one of the Mamas and the Papas. After he died, his other daughter Mackenzie Phillips (actress from the original Tv show One Day at a Time) claimed they had a years long consensual incestuous relationship.
Not related, and Busy Phillips has actually spoken about how Katie Holmes stopped talking to her after she got with Tom Cruise.
@reganmeister, the Phillips’ incest may have become consensual, but it did not begin that way. Mackenzie passed out and woke up to her father having sex with her. That’s rape.
That is one of the darkest, iciest Hollywood “dark side” stories. Poor MacKenzie.
For the longest time I thought Busy was part of that whole showbiz family. I don’t know why I thought that, but she’s not, she’s just a regular person. And yay, not a Scientologist!
No, Busy Phillips isn’t a scientologist.
Wait. What? Busy Phillips is a co$ member? Are you sure? I remember how she said Katie Holmes dropped her after Katie hooked up with TC. If Busy was a cos member, wouldn’t tom want to keep her around as a monitor for Katie? I just googled it, Busy doesn’t come up on any celebrities cos members list.
Busy Phillips isn’t a Scientologist, she’s agnostic. She used to be friends with Katie Holmes and has said that when Katie met Tom she dropped off the planet. If Busy was a scientologist that wouldn’t have happened.
Leah Remini is becoming such a hero. I admire her so much. What a ‘religion’ COS is.
They only sought and aggressively pursued religious status to avoid taxes.
And not only did they receive tax exempt status, the IRS forgave the over one billion dollars that was owed because Hubbard never paid. Absolutely sickening.
We should be outraged that this org does not pay any taxes- including property taxes on all the land they own. The public should demand another look at their status & that should change.
Never liked him once I found out he used to go by “DJ Donkeypunch”. Just ugh.
What a disgusting human being. My skin crawls at the sight of him.
I had such a thing for his brother Christopher (Francis from Malcolm in the Middle) while growing up, but it all flew out the window when I learned that they were hardcore Scientology. This does not help either. COS has to lose the religions status this instance.
I have a LITTLE more sympathy toward the ones who were raised in the church — Giovanni Ribisi, for example. (I’m a forever fan because of little Vonni in “My Two Dads.”) But it’s still a tough pill to swallow when someone you like is in this criminal, ridiculous cult.
You keep hoping they’ll grow up and renounce their “faith,” but it doesn’t happen. At this point the Co$ owns them and their families, and they might not even be able to break free if they wanted (without losing almost everything and everyone they’ve ever known).
Or maybe not… Just read this interesting article on Tony Ortega’s site.
http://tonyortega.org/2016/04/06/lucia-ribisi-ditches-scientology-and-says-of-famous-dad-giovanni-hes-questioned-it/
Giovanni’s best friend Jason Lee also left Scientology. Gio was the one who introduced Jason to the cult.
Lee and his wife moved their family to Denton, TX (near Dallas) and there were rumors that he was going to open a Scientology center. He told a Denton blog that they didn’t practice Scientology and were definitely not opening any religious center. They probably moved there to get AWAY from Scientology.
http://tonyortega.org/2016/09/17/with-jason-lee-out-what-does-it-mean-for-scientologys-tightest-celebrity-clique/
I saw that, KB! I had no idea Jason Lee had moved away from the “church,” and I’m glad to hear it. I always guilt-watched My Name Is Earl because of Jason Lee’s status as a Scientologist.
And his ex-wife’s Gawker article was especially damning – http://gawker.com/why-i-left-scientology-1703997050
I think Giovanni’s daughter got out a few years ago. She wasn’t declared an SP, at least then.. But his mother is big in COS, I think.
I do love Giovanni in Sneaky Pete. Such a good show.
As far as I can tell, Jason Lee’s wife, who wasn’t into Scientology like him, was the key. They almost broke up because of it. So he – finally, belatedly – chose his wife and left CO$ for good. It says something that when he left he had to move to Texas to feel safe from being hassled! They do some shit scary things to people who leave and even celebrities aren’t immune.
Interestingly, Ribisi’s daughter (who has left) said her Dad tended to drift away and question CO$ when he dated non-Scientology women. You understand now why they did everything in their power to get Nicole Kidman away from Cruise. They were in danger of losing him and they couldn’t have that.
Giovanni’s marriage to Agyness Deyn fell apart allegedly because she wouldn’t fully convert to Scientology.
That doesn’t surprise me. There are sooooo many broken marriages and ruined families associated with CO$. Lee’s first wife read a book (!) that criticised CO$ and got labelled an SP, Cruise has three failed marriages and a child he barely sees … you’d think they’d all wake up to how harmful it is to their relationships.
Agyness went onto marrying another scientologist: her wedding was full of active and proud scientologists, Mastersons included. She is full into it and her marriage to Ribisi ended it just because the opposite: he marries Agyness right after he broke up with Cat Power, who he hadn’t been able to recruit. So he went onto marrying Agyness not out of love but out of her link to the cult. Then of course those rebound marriages run its course.
Jason Lee has NOT left scientology: he just publicly said so, because the new strategy, specially after Leah’s success, is publicly denying it but privately practicing.
A non scientologist significant other is a HUGE NO for scientology and they manipulate their members and stars them to end their relationships, just like Kidman’s case. Another very similar was ben Foster and Robin Wright: word is they were after her and her kids and so she said no thanks bye
I do feel bad for anyone brought up in it. But they can get out – Leah is proof. It’s just terribly sad that they may risk losing family and friends to do it.
@Caitriona – that’s a disgusting name. He played at a music festival in my college town under the name ‘DJ Mom Jeans’ around 2009-2010. Although he wasn’t really a DJ, he just shittily mashed up songs like a second rate GirlTalk. I never liked Hyde as sarcasm isn’t my type of humor (just don’t get it) and I really, really hope these rapes get investigated again. To be a mediocre white man in America with a bit of fame and money (not that that’s even needed)…smdh
I love sarcasm, but hated Hyde.
ugh but hyde’s sarcasm was smug. much like i imagine masterson to be. he must have brought some of himself into the character.
Considering how the CoS treats it’s celebrity members like special snowflakes, I believe the allegations fully. That cult blames the victim every time. So it couldn’t be rape because she was his girlfriend? That’s very telling about his attitude. Go to hell Danny. Is he going to blame his wife for not using Scientology tech properly and therefore causing her own kidney failure? That’s what they do to the regular members of the church and Sea Org. Since he’s a celebrity, different rules apply.
I read she had a kidney donated by a “friend.” Who’s willing to bet that friend was a sea org member?
Yes. I didn’t think of that at the time but wondered how she cold have found a donor so fast when many wait for a long time even when a family member could be a match. Its fishy to say the least.
Oh god, I hadn’t even thought of that. It’s plausible for sure.
Yet another male celebrity who does not understand the concept of consent.
He is canceled. Goodbye, Hyde.
Omg, I read the article on the link. Horrible. I didn’t know what DJ Donkey punch meant, that’s horrible. So basically. The witness brought the victim to the party for Danny. That’s my take on it.
The LAPD is deep into C$S. Remember when they “investigated” the disappearance of Shelley Miscavaige (sp?) Nothing will happen until the FBI or someone outside does the investigating. He sounds like a piece of shit and needs to be jailed.
Fairly certain they were actually taken to Shelly. According to Tony Ortega, she is alive and kept at one of their compounds. She apparently is a shell of a woman and constantly accompanied by handlers, but she occasionally ventures out into town to hardware stores and things like that.
http://tonyortega.org/2016/12/15/claim-frail-looking-shelly-miscavige-spotted-near-scientology-compound-in-california/
Not saying she’s well, but she’s probably brainwashed enough to tell cops she’s fine. That’s why the FBI can’t raid those compounds, the victims are too afraid to speak up or leave…they’re like domestic abuse victims that bail out their abusers.
Yeah totally, it could’ve been Shelly, but it could also have not been, or maybe is was someone “representing” her. Also the man in charge of the investigation, Lt. Dawson, is a Scientology speaker. So, how can his word be trusted?
They haven’t provided an official report as to why and how the investigation was deemed “unfounded,” or if they even actually met with Shelly in person. Read in the link below.
http://tonyortega.org/2016/12/13/leah-remini-to-lapd-cough-up-proof-that-you-checked-on-shelly-miscavige/
LAPD has never yet revealed how they determined that the Missing Person report filed by Leah Remini was “unfounded”. Ms. Remini has filed a formal follow-up request with LAPD asking how they reached their conclusions. They are dragging their feet in answering her request.
The reports of two “Shelley sightings” were given to Tony Ortega by a person who lives nearby a fenced and guarded $cientology compound near Lake Arrowhead, California. Mr. Ortega was unable to verify the sightings – he could only verify that the person who reported the sightings to him “seemed legitimate”.
Scientology made so much of its name with its celebrity following, they treasure and protect and insulate the few that they have left. Kelly Preston, Jenna Elfman, the dude who was in The Mod Squad, and of course this clown – are cherished and made to feel like they’re the most important and special people around. These allegations don’t shock me at all.
Jenna Elfman has a new show on NBC. I was kind of shocked to see the commercial. How is that crazy still being taken seriously?
“WHAT CRIMES HAVE YOU COMMITTED?? HAVE YOU RAPED A BABY??” – Jenna Elfman
http://m.tmz.com/#article/2006/06/13/when-elfmans-explode/
I will never understand how that woman still gets jobs – it does make me think that it’s the Scientology connection. Because she is just so unappealing and off-putting (not to mention an a-hole). I can’t watch anything she’s in.
Everything I’ve read about Jenna makes her sound like a deeply horrible person. On the plus side, apparently her and her husband are almost bankrupt. She doesn’t get much work anymore, really and they’ve given millions to CO$. That’s karma for Dharma.
I’ve never understood Jenna Elfman’s appeal either. Off putting is an excellent way to describe her. She seems obnoxious and loud, and I’ve never seen her in anything where I’ve thought she was an asset to a show.
Don’t forget serial masseuse assaulter, John Travolta.
Which dude from the Mod Squad? The original MS?
Scientology made so much of its name with its celebrity following, they treasure and protect and insulate the few that they have left. Kelly Preston, Jenna Elfman, the dude who was in The Mod Squad, and of course this clown – are cherished and made to feel like they’re the most important and special people around. These allegations don’t shock me at all.
No need for anything as trivial as the outcome of an investigation or an actual trial before passing judgement then. Perhaps Brie Larson could adjudicate.
I understand the whole innocent until proven guilty argument, but that doesn’t really apply to this case.
One of the major issues with this is that the victims’ allegations have not been taken seriously by the LAPD. Read the article in Tony Ortega’s website.
The person handling the case of the gf victim, has a picture of a scientologist hanging in her office. She made the victim contact her abuser and people working for him numerous times without any direction on what to say or how to go about it, to which the LAPD then blamed on her for saying the wrong thing and “ruining the case.”
the LAPD also gave victim B a phone number to use when calling so that they (Masterson’s team and scientologists) wouldn’t have her personal number, and it turned out that phone number was already publicly flagged for being one the police used for sting operations. So that basically gave her away.
The LAPD also refuses to give them the official full report filed against Masterson, and the only page they did give the victim was filled completely wrong.
One of the few scientology witnesses that did come forward gave the LAPD his contact info months ago and he’s still yet to be contacted by them.
Masterson”s alleged victims also warned the LAPD that scientology officials were rounding up the witnesses and making sure they do not cooperate with he police, to which the LAPD respond by ignoring the warning and saying they’re looking for more victims of Danny, instead of actually helping the 3 that have already come forward.
So yeah, do you really think the best idea is to just wait and rely on the LAPD, who has strong ties to scientology, to actually conduct a legitimate investigation, let alone file charges against Masterson?–I’m hoping, but i’m not holding my breath, so yeah it’s not totally unfair to take the victims’ and the witness at their word.
Unless there’s public outcry against the LAPD about this, they and Scientologists are just going to keep undermining and blaming and bullying the victims into silence.
Also i have no trouble saying that IMO DJ Donkeypunch is totally guilty. Do yourself a favor and read the full article. I bet you’ll find not giving him the benefit of the doubt to be a lot less trivial.
I have no doubt at all that the COS is a weird cult devised by a Sci fi writer, which is enforced by obnoxious and sinister methods of control. That doesn’t alter the need to be aware that there has been no finding in the case of the individual concerned, in whom I have no investment one way or the other btw.
There have been a lot of really serious allegations connected to the COS, and that also include covering up abuse and sexual assault, amidst a corrupt LAPD. Not to mention, only about 1 out of every 10 rape victims even come forward, and fewer see a guilty verdict in their cases.
Clearly one guys opinion on the internet is sufficient for conviction.
@MrsBadBod
What are you talking about? One guys opinion?
Are you a scientologist? Google is your friend, not your enemy.
I really liked him when that 70’s show was a thing. This is sickening. If you’re out there, the women who accused him, I believe you!!
I bet more victims eventually trickle out too. These were all from early 2000’s and there’s no way he suddenly corrected his behaviour when he suffered zero consequences thus far.
Gah! I had a sex dream about Hyde once. I need to go take another shower now.
Co$ is why I can’t get excited about Elizabeth Moss in The Handmaid’s Tale. Not even planning to watch it.
They have been a lot of rumours about Moss not being active in CO$. That is, she’s nominally in it because that’s how she was raised by her parents but she keeps her distance. I think there are a few children of Scientologists in that position. They don’t want to alienate their family but they aren’t true believers themselves.
BTW she recently filmed Top of the Lake 2 with Nicole Kidman in Australia. http://www.heraldsun.com.au/entertainment/confidential/nicole-kidman-emotional-during-filming-as-keith-urban-flies-in-to-surprise-her/news-story/6a00049ef8743e2da9b46dad06688f29
Thanks, msd. She’s repeatedly cast in roles that I admire, but I have a really hard time with seeing her as any kind of feminist icon because of her association.
(On a side note, I didn’t realize Top of the Lake was having a 2nd season. I found the entire series incredibly disturbing. Moss was great, though).
No worries. I don’t know that much about her, just some things I’ve read but it seems like her parents were ‘old’ Scientologists. Many of that generation have become disillusioned with CO$ because of how it changed under Miscavige. They don’t rock the boat, as such, but they have quietly drifted away and become less involved, or practise it their own way. I have some sympathy for kids raised in the church – it’s all they knew. It is interesting that she’s working with Kidman though, who publicly praised her. Leah Remini said CO$ wouldn’t approve of anyone active in the church working with her professionally now because she’s an SP (suppressive person). And Kidman was apparently labelled an SP so ….
I really hope she’s not involved in it. I love her as an actress, and God knows we all need to watch the Handmaid’s Tale these days.
It does seem that there was a rift when Miscavage took over, hopefully she and her family left.
“SUSP (acquaintance) s/exually assaulted the victim while she was passed out. The victim woke up while the suspect was having s/ex with her and struggled with him. The suspect choked the victim until she passed out,” the document reads.”.
O.M.G. And Hyde was my favorite character on “That 70’s Show”. Disgusting, I am disgusted. He needs to go to prison. Like now.
That sounds like rape and attempted murder.
I recently found out that a sort-of friend from high school is involved in CO$. It doesn’t sound like he’s in very deep, but the good thing was seeing so many people, including many I wouldn’t think would be aware, warning him to be careful and that they’ve heard terrible things. The word is out. I hope he doesn’t get hurt by it all. I think he’s had some substance abuse issues and probably feels like they’re helping him, but we all know their ultimate goals.
victim C’s story: http://tonyortega.org/2017/03/08/danny-masterson-victim-c-gets-support-from-a-veteran-actress-but-will-lapd-answer-the-call/