Kirstie Alley is featured on the cover of The National Enquirer this week in a story that claims she has only four years to live. Hidden in small font under the headline are the words “expert predicts,” and if you read the article it’s just a calculation of her life expectancy based on her current weight. The Enquirer had a similar “celebrity could be dying” cover story with Oprah in May in which they claimed she had just three years to live. The little words “expert predicts” were written on that cover, too.
Alley is predictably outraged about this, and claims that the cover upset her 85 year-old father. She is urging her followers on Twitter to harass an employee at the National Enquirer, who I won’t name here. Regardless Alley seems to think this woman had a hand in the story despite the fact that she’s not listed as an author at all. Alley’s tweets on the matter are ominous and she practically threatens the woman, calling her “fair game” and saying she’ll expose her photos and secrets. Alley lists the Enquirer employee’s contact information, including her e-mail and phone number, and asks people to contact her. The term “Fair Game” is used by Alley’s cult, Scientology, and refers to the practice of revealing damaging information about detractors and harassing them relentlessly until they back down.
THat’s [name redacted] . [email address redacted]..show S SOME LOVE..tell her my DADDY sent you..More news on S to follow
about 23 hours ago from webPlease call Ms. [name redacted].Your natural instinct will be to be kind.Pretend your father just called you panicked that you were dying.Bang Bang
about 23 hours ago from web@mladenstanisic SHe IS famous isn’t she? Now she really IS a public figure. Fair Game for Public photos and speech. Same terms as Me..lol
about 23 hours ago from web in reply to mladenstanisicS[name redacted] …watch your back honey..two can play at the INFO and picture game and YOU are a public figure now too, girly girl..click click
10:07 AM Aug 16th from webnasty writers dirty little secrets..and I will be happy to EXPOSE them right here on twitter. Nasty Writers beware of the truth..
10:04 AM Aug 16th from webIt also is never the answer to harm their loved ones when they are not even the target. I am NO DOVE,but I won’t hesitate to EXPOSE these
10:02 AM Aug 16th from webIIT PROVOKES me to do the same thing to them and their families as I CAN GET THEIR PRIVATE DATA. But my religion teaches ignore and flourish
10:00 AM Aug 16th from webto buy this sh*t. It wreaks havoc on families and friends,just like any other bullying except it is on a world wide scale.Oo Daddy,look away
9:58 AM Aug 16th from webI am sharing this with you because it truly is the highest form of insidious evil bullying that exists.What you CAN do about it, is refuse
9:57 AM Aug 16th from webI don’t care for myself..If it wasn’t weight it’s been some other lies for 28 years..but it breaks my heart when my Dad worries about it..
9:56 AM Aug 16th from webI DESPISE THE F*CKING NATIONAL ENQUIRER!!!! My 85 year old amazing father just called to ask me if “I AM DYING” Bless his heart..EVIL F*CKS
9:48 AM Aug 16th from web
[From Kirstie Alley’s Twitter, names, contact information and swear words redacted]
I get that this cover upsets Alley, it would make anyone mad, but the best way to handle would be to simply dismiss it and/or explain that it’s a ruse to sell tabloids. The news cycle is fast, and if you handle something like this with grace it will go away much quicker. Instead, Alley is attacking someone personally. That says more about her “religion” and personal ethics than any of her assurances to the contrary.
I contacted renowned Scientology expert Dr. Dave Touretzky from Carnegie Mellon University to ask his opinion on Alley’s use of “fair game” and harassing tactics. He thinks that it’s not related to her involvement in the cult and could be an innocent, natural response to a tabloid story that attacks her:
1. “Fair game” is a common English idiom; it’s not unique to Scientology, like certain other terms are.
2. Alley was never on staff in Scientology, much less in the Sea Org.
She has only been a “public” Scientologist, i.e., a parishioner.
Scientology tends to hide the internal ugliness from its public members.
She may not even be aware of the Scientology “fair game” policy.3. Alley was twittering to a large audience. She has not been one to use Scientology jargon when talking to the general public. Why would she start now?
While Alley’s threat to expose writers’ “dirty little secrets” does have a Scientological ring to it, this is also what the Enquirer does to celebrities, so Alley is really just saying that turnabout is fair play.
Botom line: I think her usage of “fair game” was innocent, and you can quote me on that.
[From Dr. Dave Touretzky, received via e-mail]
What do you think, is Alley engaging in Scientology smear tactics, is she fighting back against a mean tabloid that personally hurt her, or is it a little of both? Would you go after someone if a story came out in the national press that you were dying, or would you laugh it off and say it isn’t true?
I’m inclined to think that her use of the term “fair game” is somewhat tinted with Scientology brainwashing. I’m mainly basing that on her relentlessness in the matter and the fact that she capitalized the F and G, which tends to point to her using it not as an expression, but as a term from Scientology vernacular.
I despise Scientology but I do understand Alley is upset, she has every right to be. It’s no secret that her weight and appearance yo-yo a lot but that’s no reason to be so mean, even if it is summer and they’re all having slow news weeks. I’m a journalist and I’m not partial to smearing someone’s name like that and printing the frumpiest looking picture you could find. And being a big girl myself, I understand how infuriating the situation is. In my opinion, she is reacting with such anger and “calling to arms” so furiously because she feels a bit helpless and is trying to remedy that. I know that I feel helpless when someone attacks my weight, although I’m usually quite verbose and able to stand my ground (and even though I know my weight is what it is based on a medical condition!). These are some deep-seated insecurities and in Alley’s shoes, with her having a fanbase and all, I’d also be tempted to lash out. However, you are right CB, in saying that these things go away quicker when handled with understatement and grace. It’s just not always easy to be graceful.
You know why Kirstey Alley went all nuts about National Inquirer story, because high level Scientologists are supposed to be able to ward off illness and the like with Scientology.
Inguirer should have checked out Scientology beliefs before they printed that story. They should have just printed how fat and jolly Kirstey was, and that would have no reaction from her.
“refers to the practice of revealing damaging information about detractors and harassing them relentlessly until they back down.”
yeah, organized religion is so comforting and supportive, ain’t it?
Sorry Kirstie, but that is the price you pay for being a celebrity. Right or wrong, she isn’t the only celebrity to be tabloid fodder. Ignore it and they move on, give them attention and they sell more magazines. Simple as that.
Now that she had made a big deal of the story, the sales for this week’s Enquirer will increase.
I’m with her on this… Scientology or not… these stories are disrespectful, rude and hurtful… they might be stars, wackjobs and weirdos, but they are people first. How about some semblance of respect?
and are you seriously going to analyze her usage of the word “fair game”. this is why I sometimes really hate mob mentality… all of a sudden, having a basic human grievance is going to be attributed to her religious or philosophical beliefs? grow up please…
This is a typical Scientology-type reaction to anything they find defamitory. After watching how they handled the Lisa McPherson case, this type of response should surprise no one.
Kirstie’s biggest problem is that she is still lying about her weight. Like anyone with an addiction, she will never overcome it until she comes to grips with it. She is closer to 350lbs, but has everyone trying to be nice by claiming she’s only around 250. I have female friends who weigh over 200lbs and they’re not half Kirstie’s size.
It will be a shame if her life ends because of her weight issues, she is a talented comedic actress.
@ Firestarter – that’s what I was thinkin’. It’s probably not easy to ignore it, but doing so does make it go away faster. Just tell Pops it’s BS and move on, don’t worry about it! I bet some celebrities have to reassure their families fairly often that stories about them aren’t true.
Also, Kirstie sounds positively NUTS in her twitters! She sounds like a psychotic 5th grader. If I was that NE reporter who she is naming, I would consider getting a restraining order against her!
why is her 85 year old grandfather reading the enquirer?
I don’t think you have to be a scientologist to be pissed off that someone is publicly calling you a fat ugly slob who’s going to die. you just have to be human…
Well, fat and ugly is rather obvious and there’s no doubt everyone is going to die. Not really libel involved.
I feel sorry for her no matter how she’s acting. Wish she could find a way to be healthy. Maybe a good diet and exercise program without the publicity and pressure.
weight watchers anyone??????
Her language choice may have been subconscious, and not a call to arms, as Scientology is a fringe religion in the mainstream public who seemed to be her target audience. That said, I can definitely her beliefs driving her vocabulary. In a only most tangentially related to Alley side note, The St. Petersburg Times did a pretty good story on Miscavige a few months back. http://www.tampabay.com/specials/2009/reports/project/
Is she burping up a car? Talk about tube-neck.
St. Angie, “organized religion” as you put it, does bring many people comfort. I am one of them. It doesn’t matter what religion I am in the context of this article.
Scientology is a Cult, however, and that is the subject of the article. Please, please don’t start hammering all religion, whenever the cult of $cientology is brought up, so you can further your point on your own rejection of spiritual principles. It’s apples and oranges, and it’s disrespectful.
gg: most people are too thickheaded to see subtle differences in religions.
… or HUGE differences …
thanx hatsu. 🙂
oh, get over yourselves.
I know that Scientology is not a religion by most people’s standards, but I didn’t want to single anyone out.
“please don’t start hammering all religion, whenever the cult of $cientology is brought up”
Um, I DON’T usually…but when $ciento is bashed, some people on here tend to get all bent out of shape saying “how is the mythology of Christianity so different from the mythology of $ciento”…THAT’S why I said “organized religion”…because, you know, $ciento is not the only religion that has historically used intimidation and harassment to make a point.
“so you can further your point on your own rejection of spiritual principles”
pardon me, but WTF do you know about MY spiritual principles? NOTHING, last I checked. Spirituality and organized religion don’t have to go hand in hand.
why doesn’t everyone just stfu? this is why i never trust people’s account of things. this one woman’s personal greivance is somehow being billed as a representation of scientology… how people can come to this conclusion i don’t know… and after seeing so many misguided conclusions of this sort, i always take someone’s personal “experience” of something with a large heaping of salt…
I think Kirstie should quit the damn twittering and use the ALLEGED effectiveness of Scientology to lose the weight already! Didn’t she used to say that Scientology helped her to overcome her addiction to cocaine? Why can’t she ask for help for her addiction to food? She probably has given enough of her hard earned money to expect a little help from the “Church”. Whatever works, ya know what I mean?! I am old enough to remember how beautiful she was and she is a very good comedic actor.
WTF? this woman is straight up nucking futs. that many posts? she is practically on the front of that mag every week for being fat, so why does she care now?
if only she put half as much energy into keeping her hands away from shoveling food into her mouth as she does furiously twittering and divulging public information, she would be 140 lbs. and isnt scientocult supposed to FIX addictions? it obviously hasnt done anything for her. i would ask for a REFUND.
Screw the Scientology knocking (it’s no worse than the Catholic religion in my book and most of the public knows shit about it).
If a headline says you’re dying, friends and family start to believe it because hey, does the media lie?
Go Kirstie, you sit on and squash those Enquirer writers who be doing you wrong!
She’s fat. She’s ugly. And she’s going to die sometime. It’s the truth.
Fair game (or fair play) doesn’t have to be associated with Scientology. Check a number of philosophers, and her beliefs could coincide with them. I think it is difficult to ignore something that goes on for so long. The Enquirer thrives on gossip, exaggerations, and sometimes flat-out lies for financial gain. With online blogs, their time will come to an end in the relatively near future. I guess they’re getting desperate. Whether Alley’s tactics work or not…that writer she is pissed at will be on the breadline looking for a new job soon enough.
I’m going to go out on a limb and say her old man saw that PICTURE of her on the cover and decided for himself she was going to die soon. You don’t need a headline for that.
no surprise dr. Touretzky claims her reaction has nothing to do with $cientology, because we all know $cientologists are well adjusted and happy people with no problems whatsoever =D
Krazy Alley going nuts is bad publicity, just like Loon Cruise´s couch-jumping on Oprah
I have to come to the defense of St. Angie. I think COS is f’d up, but ya know what? The reason they are f’d up is not much dfferent from the reason most organized religions are f’d up.
I believe there are many good people that become Scientologists just like in any other religion. Being much newer, people are much quicker to see it as a cult. They too find solace in their religion as many others find in theirs.
Have people died suspiciously who were related to COS? Yes, but MANY more people have died under the name of much older and more popular religions.
Does Scientology take people for $$$. Yes. So do many other religions! How many preachers or spiritual leaders have been singled out for fraud?
Do they believe in Thetans that came from another world that are higher beings? Yes. Just replace that with any other name of a god.
Most religions donate to charity, do good deeds, etc. COS does too.
Most religions have done some crazy f’d up stuff in their beginnings (many still do). So yes, COS is crazy, but they are not alone.
She IS crazy. And you can quote me on this – Dr. Dave Whatever is WRONG. “Fair Game” is a well known $cientological policy, created by L. Ron Hubbard himself. She didn’t just happen to use that language. “Attack the attackers” is something else he said, and the organization (not a church) has a long history of going after writers personally. Kirstie has no right to give out the writers’ personal information – the writer didn’t do that to her. Kirstie CHOSE to be a celebrity, knowing that she would retire her privacy for a life of fame. She WANTED that, and it didn’t come as a surprise to her. If she were a “normal” (or in $cientological terms -“a degraded being” – i.e., someone not famous) she wouldn’t have these problems. She is totally using the cultic tactics that she lives by. If $cientology worked, she would have a career and she wouldn’t be fat. And furthermore, this entire subject calls for Kirstie to have her “O/W’s pulled” in an ethics session (that means her sins and secrets – “overts and withholds”). The ONLY way that something “bad” can happen to a practicing member is if they are connected to a Potential Trouble Source (which at her level – she shouldn’t be – she is supposed to be able to spot them instantly AND handle them!) or if she is out-ethics – whatever the case, she “pulled” this in.
….OMG…(sigh)…. who REALLY gives a f*ck??
I bet the writer at the National Enquirer does as she gets thousands of death threats and hate mail…
the writer does not deserve this.. this is not justice, this is kirstie seeking vengeance. kirstie’s personal contact info was not placed in that article so people could call her and tell her that she is fat and ugly and a total has-been.
So why is she telling her followers to call the personal phone line of this writer?
Kirsty, go to a 12 step program and do it one day at a time. Do not project!!
I’m torn. While I agree that true tabloid reporters are bottom feeding scum who should get what they deserve for their invasive nonsense, hardcore Scientologists are little better.
and to the “golly gee whiz Scientology is just another religion, glory heck” shills and dupes out there who have posted:
The next time a Lutheran minister follows me home threatening to call my boss at work and tell him I’m a child m*lester for protesting outside his church- your points will be validated.
But I don’t see it happening.
Turn it up!!!!
Fair game ?
That’s such a common expression.
How rediculous!!!!
I love how you liked it to Wikipedia!
hahahahahah
What they have done is terrible.
CB – how would you like you Dad to see that on the front page of a stupid mag?
You wouldn’t.
end of story.
It is unlawful to release anyones medical records without their constent according to our goverment’s HIPPA laws. So this person should be reported to the Feds and charged with the crime accordingly.
Re: Firestarter: August 18th, 2009 at 9:24 am Sorry Kirstie, but that is the price you pay for being a celebrity. Right or wrong, she isn’t the only celebrity to be tabloid fodder. Ignore it and they move on, give them attention and they sell more magazines. Simple as that. Now that she had made a big deal of the story, the sales for this week’s Enquirer will increase.
Response: You are totally wrong just because she is a star and fair game because according to the goverment HIPPA laws, no one can release any medical information about you without their written consent. And that holds true for every US citizen and includes famous people too. It’s a crime now.
Maybe she needs to convert to a religion that involves lots of fasting.
Or maybe she could popularize Female Sumo-Wrestling. I’d love to see her and Rosie fight. “Fat Fight!!!”
It’s straight out of the Emanuel/Obama/Pelosi playbook.
I dont like, care for, am not a fan of, dont find attractive or think a good actor of Kirsty. BUT…if a reporter is willing to dish it out they should be willing to take it back. Especially the tabloid scumbags.
I’m not saying I necessarily agree with Kirstie’s reaction, but the reason she posted that particular employee’s information is because she received a message from that employee asking her to confirm that she is “going to die in 4 years from being so f***ing fat.” Apparently those were the exact words. Kirstie tweeted about that message a few days ago, but I guess those tweets were not included in this post.
PHUCK Scientology as it is a made up “CULT” or wanna be religion. The Truth of the Matter is that Kirstie Alley is an Talented Actress and She got caught up in the Jenny Craig BS and Then here comes the National Enguier which is the biggest Non fact paper/Magazine out there. Give it a rest already and for god sakes. If you all need some business to worry about, ask a mofo for a quarter to buy you some business. Leave the Actors and Actresses alone and let them live thier lives!!! If you are trashy enough to read what the Nation Enguier puts out there, Then I guess its time to Polish your trailor wheels and or finally invest in something other than reading Gossip Mags.
celebritybich…who are they and when did we start giving CELEB-RAGS a hoot in hell….back off self proclaiming wonna bees…….trying to do what national enquirere did with MJ death
Hahaha, yeah, Christianity is SO different from Scientology, whatever helps you religious morons sleep at night! Religion is RIDICULOUS, it makes NO SENSE, it encourages sexism and homophobia and I wouldn’t go talking about ministers not doing what those Scientolonuts do, they’re too busy molesting children to harass parishioners! Bloody idiots.. STFU about your moronic beliefs and smack yourself in the head with your bibles for being so stupid.
yeah, she’s obese, but who cares what she weighs? it’s not like she has been doing any work recently. she should just waddle off into the sunset and let oprah became the tabloid fat icon again.
A Dr. Seuss poem for Emma G —
If at times you cannot whack
resort to ad hominem attack.
There is so much wrong with what you say in your post I am too tired to even address it all, so I’ll just let you hate on, because you must enjoy it. 😉
But in case you want to load up on facts, I dare you to look at this:
http://www.xenu.net
For Sooth, Say what? That makes as much sense as saying it’s from the Bush/Cheney/Rumsfeld playbook.
Huh? Here, I’ll spell it out for you: If you can’t think up a point to make, and don’t want to just smack somebody, just call them names. That’ll work … [this is called sarcasm ;)]
j.ferber-
Thanks for noticing. It does make sense, especially when you insert your names. And thanks for making my point. This is the playbook for ALL politicians. It just happens that the current administration has full use of it right now, and using it they are. Isolate, single out and personally attack, attack, attack. Nothing new. Just ramped up. But Rahm learned this style well in Chicago.