Scientology leader David Miscavige’s dad Ron Miscavige pens tell-all
SCIENTOLOGY leader David Miscavige is fighting a planned tell-all by his dad, Ron Miscavige, which portrays him as ruthless.
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SCIENTOLOGY leader David Miscavige is fighting a planned tell-all by his dad, Ron Miscavige, days before the book’s release.
According to Scientology critic Tony Ortega’s blog The Underground Bunker, lawyers for David Miscavige have threatened to sue over Ruthless: Scientology, My Son David Miscavige, and Me, due out Tuesday
The New York Post reports that a letter to Silvertail from British firm Johnsons, obtained by Mr Ortega, warns: “You are now on notice of the highly defamatory content of [‘Ruthless’] ... In the event that you proceed ... our client will be left with no alternative but to seek the protection of UK/Irish defamation and other laws ... we would urge you to reconsider your decision to proceed ... [with] a totally unjustified, premeditated attack” on David Miscavige.
The letter adds, “The book contains malicious, false, misleading and highly defamatory allegations,” including, “That our client’s management style is erratic and abusive” and, “that our client was never officially appointed to be [church founder] L. Ron Hubbard’s successor but rather seized power by outmanoeuvring his rivals.”
Ron Miscavige claims that his son created ‘The Hole’ as a way to punish insubordinates, subjecting them to deprivation and violence while detained.
Ron Miscavige says he introduced his first wife and four children to Scientology in the 1970s as he was trying to find a cure for David’s asthma.
The entire family left its home in Willingboro, New Jersey, to join Scientology. They initially went to England for training. They all stayed in the church for more than quarter of a century until Ron Jr. quit in 2000. David’s twin Denise and younger sister Lori are still understood to be Scientologists.
Ron Miscavige left Scientology in 2012 after 41 years. He and his second wife Becky were broke and moved in with his other son, Ron Jr., in Virginia.
His book was originally to be titled If He Dies, He Dies, after a comment David Miscavige allegedly made about his father when he thought he might be having a heart attack.
David Miscavige claims he has not had any “meaningful” relationship with his father since he left home at 16, ten years before he took over as Scientology’s leader.
Recent high profile defections have included Lisa Marie Presley as well as King of Queens actress Leah Remini and Oscar-winning director Paul Haggis who have both condemned Miscavige.
“I was slowly starting to self-destruct, and I didn’t know where that was coming from. I started to uncover the main person who was really close to me for years, and then it was a domino effect. I was devastated. I got bad advice. I was insulated with no grip on reality. They were taking my soul, my money, my everything,” Presley said after she left the church in 2012.
Tom Cruise’s former wives, Nicole Kidman and Katie Holmes, have also cut ties with the church. Miscavige was the best man for Cruise at both weddings.
But other celebrities including Lisa Marie’s mother, Priscilla Presley, actors John Travolta, Kirstie Alley, Kate Cebrano, Jenna Elfman, Jenny McCarthy and Mad Men’s Elisabeth Moss remain committed Scientologists.
Remini made a missing persons report regarding Miscavige’s wife Shelly, who has not been seen in public for nearly nine years. The LAPD investigated and eventually said they had found her and she did not want to make a statement.
The HBO documentary Going Clear won three Emmys last year for its account of misconduct and abuse and allegations that David Miscavige is power-hungry, violent and paranoid.
This article originally appeared in The New York Post
Originally published as Scientology leader David Miscavige’s dad Ron Miscavige pens tell-all