Apparently being called a Scientologist is just about the worst name you can be called in Hollywood these days – aside from being called Lindsay Lohan or something. And while that makes a lot of sense, you’d think that if people didn’t want to be called Scientologists, they wouldn’t partake in so many Scientology-related activities. The internet is abuzz with the news that Radar magazine is about to publish a cover story on celebrities involved with the dreaded church. But instead of focusing on the usual targets (Tom Cruise, John Travolta, Kirstie Alley), they’re focusing their article on some possible recent converts to the religion. The biggest suspects are Will Smith and wife Jada Pinkett Smith, though the magazine also mentions Kimora Lee Simmons – who has already denied any affiliation with the cult.
Will Smith, Jada Pinkett and Kimora Lee Simmons are loudly denying Radar magazine’s claims that they’ve been recruited into — dun dun dun! — the Church of Scientology. Smith, a good buddy of Scientology poster boy Tom Cruise, denies he is a church member. “You don’t have to be Jewish to be a friend of Steven Spielberg. You don’t have to be a Muslim to be a friend of Muhammad Ali. And you don’t have to be a Scientologist to be a friend of Tom Cruise,” Smith tells us. “I am a Christian. I am a student of all religions. And I respect all people and all paths.”
[From Rush & Molloy]
I cannot tell you how much Will Smith’s response annoys me… because it’s totally fair. He’s phrased it in such a way that I really can’t justify poking holes in it. That doesn’t necessarily mean I believe him, but he’s certainly right – being friends with someone of a different religion in no way means you’ve converted. One of the better arguments that Smith has converted is that Scientologists are generally encouraged to associate only with other Scientologists. The rest of us are supposed to have demon souls or something. But hanging out with someone open and accepting of the religion, as Smith claims to be, might be considered okay. But you’ll have a hard time convincing me that Tommy’s not putting the full court press on Will.
Here’s Will and Jada with their kids and Tom Cruise at the “I Am Legend” premiere on December 11th, 2007. Images thanks to PR Photos.
Will Smith is a Scieno.
no offense to Jehovah’s witnesses, but they have a similiar attitude to outsiders. they’re encouraged to mingle with other witnesses and avoid the evil outside world filled with heathens, yet they go door to door to recruit people to the “cause”. as long as the mingling is in the name of their religion it’s okay.
you are who your friends are.
I actually believe him. Will Smith has always been very candid about religious beliefs. His being a Christian was one of the many challenges he had to deal with when considering whether or not to take the role in Six Degrees of Separation. He has been very clear for years about being a Christian and I don’t think he would suddenly switch to a new religion just because he is friends with Tom Cruise.
I mean when Cruise was doing War of the Worlds, no one accused Spielberg of converting even though the two were practically inseparable. I think Tom is probably trying really hard to convert them, but I think Jada would be much more susceptible than Will.
I’ve always seen Will as a very smart and savvy guy, and he should be too smart to fall for this bullshit.
Considering his upbringing, I sincerely doubt he’ll ever bail on Christianity. If his own comments are to be believed, his mother would take his head off.
That being said, was anyone else feel a little chill run down their spine when he claimed Hitler just needed to be ‘reprogrammed’?
gumboyaya
Cruise TRIED to convert Spielberg by trying to drive a wedge between him and his wife Kate Capshaw. Cruise tried to convince him that Capshaw wasn’t in Spielberg’s best interests…which is Scientologist code for telling him that Capshaw was an SP, or Suppressive Person.
If he had succeeded in convincing Spielberg to dump Capshaw, then Cruise would have gone to the next step of actual recruitment.
Spielberg was way too smart for fall for his crap, though.
Don’t forget that Cruise had his Scieno buddies picket an office of a psychiatrist friend of Spielberg, after “innocently” asking Steven if he knew of any doctors who could prescribe mood-improving drugs. This was the last straw.
Oh good “ellenms” because I DONT believe you. I don’t believe your spam has anything to do with this post either! GO THE FUCK AWAY!
I want to know the exact instand Cruise turned from hot,lovable leading man to this??? Seriously. No one takes him seriously anymore. What happened? If he was always a scientologist, how come he just started getting kooky?
March 2004, mollination, when he cut ties with his agent Pat Kingsley who managed to keep most of the madness under wraps. Once she was gone, the lunacy that we now know and love was given free rein.
Phil, I’m sorry but what’s your point? I did say that Cruise is probably trying really hard to convert them. But I also said that no one accused Speilberg of being a scientologist. No matter how hard Cruise tried to convert him.
well thanks for the clarification geronimo. Man, I miss Pat Kingsley.
The Radar story is now online here, and Smith is only mentioned in one sentence (the story’s about the Anonymous group’s prankwar against Co$). Methinks he dost protest too much!
Then why was he passing out Free “Character Assessments” from the Church of Scientology after one of his movies wrapped?
I wonder about that too, Draya
I think if he hasn’t been Xenu’ed yet, they’re working hard on it. I don’t believe for a moment that Co$ and Tom Cruise would be able to resist the idea of such a high-profile (and rich) convert.
My guess would be that Jada would put the kibosh on any of that nonsense. She sorta wears the pants in that family.
Jada is MORE into Scientology than Will, not less. Either Will converts, or he winds up sleeping on the couch.
WOW!!! did you see David Spade on that show Pop Fiction on E!. Its was hella funny. The show made it look like he picked up a bride from the club and took her home. The paparazzi had a frenzie and thought he actualy did it!!! This show is so great. I cant wait till next sunday. Heres the links tell me what you think.
http://www.eonline.com/on/shows/popfiction/index.jsp
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=41Iw4qvy8jQ
I don’t know if Will needs what Scientology offers to its celebrity clients: a big ego. His ego is already of massive proportions just like Tom’s.
Will’s next movie should be called:
I, Scientologist
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