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Since its founding in 1952, the Church of Scientology has faced significant criticism. Created by American author L. Ron Hubbard, Scientologists believe that Earth is populated by alien 'thetans' who disguise themselves as humans. The 'auditing' process is believed to purge the body of these thetans and their 'mental implants,' which they claim affect everyone. Scientology also proposes that humans evolved from clams.
While the controversial beliefs may seem bizarre to some, these celebrities remain steadfast in their devotion to Scientology and have publicly expressed their commitment to the church.
10. John Travolta
Hollywood icon John Travolta has been a member of the Church of Scientology since 1975 and is among its most prominent supporters. Along with his wife, Kelly Preston, Travolta credits the church for its unwavering support during the devastating loss of their son, who passed away after a seizure at the age of 16.
Travolta shared, 'The church stood by us for two years. I’m not sure I would have made it without their support.' He continued, 'Honestly, I didn’t know if I could go on. Life lost its meaning for me, so it took a lot for me to heal.'
Mike Rinder, a former Scientology spokesperson, has claimed in an interview that the church exerts far more control over Travolta and his family than the public is aware. He stated, 'Kelly is a much more devoted Scientologist than John. Scientology influences every decision they make and governs all aspects of their lives.'
9. Kirstie Alley
Kirstie Alley has been a committed member of Scientology since 1979, having been raised as a Methodist. Alley admitted that she turned to the church while battling cocaine addiction. She underwent the Scientology-affiliated Narconon drug rehabilitation program, which helped her overcome her dependency.
After the Las Vegas Strip shooting in 2017, Alley took to Twitter, blaming the shooter, Stephen Paddock's actions, on psychiatric medications—an assumption made before the coroner's report was released. Scientology claims that drugs harm a person's physical, mental, and spiritual health, recommending Narconon rehabilitation centers instead.
Alley has spoken out in defense of Scientology, challenging critics who question its practices. She remarked in an interview, 'I think all religions may sound strange to those who don’t practice them. To me, Scientology feels completely normal, and probably 90 percent of the negative things I hear are untrue.'
8. Beck
Grammy-winning artist Beck was born into the Church of Scientology. He first publicly acknowledged his connection to the church in 2005, stating, 'It’s just something that I’ve been around. People in my family do it. I’ve read books, and I’ve learned about it.' His estranged wife is also a second-generation Scientologist.
In an interview, Beck shared his thoughts on Scientology, saying, 'It’s definitely something that’s helped me. I think the good done speaks for itself.' When asked about the church's critics, he responded, 'There’s that kind of intolerance, which to me is pretty insidious—you can’t judge something you don’t understand. They have one of the highest success rates in drug treatment and offer programs for criminals in prisons—it’s quite impressive.'
Beck remains an active member of the Church of Scientology. However, recent interviews have prohibited him from discussing his religious beliefs.
7. Issac Hayes
Singer Isaac Hayes won an Academy Award for Best Original Song for 'Theme from Shaft,' but he is also widely recognized as the voice of Chef on the iconic comedy South Park. After nine years of voicing the character, Hayes left the show when an episode mocked the Church of Scientology, of which he was a member.
Hayes issued a statement saying, 'There’s a place for satire in the world, but there comes a point when satire crosses over into intolerance and bigotry against the religious beliefs of others. As a civil rights activist, I cannot support a show that disrespects those beliefs and practices.'
In response, South Park co-creator Matt Stone countered, 'This isn’t about intolerance or bigotry. It’s about Isaac Hayes being a Scientologist and us recently featuring Scientology in an episode. In over 10 years and more than 150 episodes, Isaac never objected to jokes about Christians, Muslims, Mormons, or Jews. He suddenly became religiously sensitive when his own faith was ridiculed.'
6. Nancy Cartwright
Nancy Cartwright, the voice actress famously known for portraying Bart Simpson on The Simpsons, has been a dedicated Scientologist since 1991. In 2007, she received Scientology's prestigious Patron Laureate Award after donating $10 million to the church—twice her annual salary. After the release of the controversial documentary Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief in 2015, Cartwright publicly expressed her support for the church.
Cartwright responded, 'It was such a lie. That book and that movie, I don’t even know how to describe it. It’s pure prejudice. Very irresponsible reporting. If anyone wants to learn about it, they should do their own research. It’s called integrity. Just look at me, at who I am, at what I’m doing. You can’t criticize me for helping.' She continued, 'Shame on them, and the truth is, find out for yourself.'
5. Elisabeth Moss
Elisabeth Moss, star of The Handmaid's Tale, grew up in the Church of Scientology and has always been private about her religious views. However, after a fan commented on her social media post, comparing the fictional world of Gilead (from The Handmaid’s Tale) to Scientology's belief in rejecting external sources like news, Moss responded, 'That’s actually not true at all about Scientology. Religious freedom, tolerance, and the pursuit of truth and equal rights for all races, religions, and creeds are very important to me.'
In 2017, when Elisabeth Moss accepted her Emmy for Best Actress, she surprised the audience by using several F-bombs during her speech. Former Scientologist Tiziano Lugli revealed that this is a tactic encouraged by Scientologists to connect with others. He explained, 'Scientologists are advised to communicate with 'average people,' and to do so effectively, they must 'lower their tone.' That’s why they use 'f—, f—, f—' in every conversation. It’s quite fascinating.'
4. Juliette Lewis
Academy Award-nominated actress and rock star Juliette Lewis has been a committed Scientologist for years, growing up in a family deeply involved with the religion. Her father, actor Geoffrey Lewis, was also a Scientologist. Despite expectations that her rebellious spirit would lead her to leave the church in adulthood, she has remained steadfast in her faith.
In 2017, Lewis expressed her support for fellow Scientologist and actor Danny Masterson, who was facing rape accusations. She tweeted, 'Love you and your beautiful family. It will get better. We know this.'
In response to criticism of Scientology, Juliette Lewis remarked that every religion can face its share of challenges. She said, 'Any religion, you can find trouble in. At the end of the day, I’m about defending my right to choose, express myself, and practice my religion. As long as no one is limiting that... But yes, there are annoying misconceptions.'
3. Tom Cruise
Tom Cruise is one of the most famous faces associated with the Church of Scientology, but also one of its most controversial figures. He claims that Scientology’s 'Study Tech' program helped him conquer dyslexia and advocated for the church to be officially recognized as a religion in Europe. In 2004, he famously stated, 'I think psychiatry should be outlawed.' He also faced backlash for criticizing actress Brooke Shields for her use of antidepressants during her battle with postpartum depression.
Leah Remini, a former Scientologist, once remarked, 'He is second only to David Miscavige—the savior of the free world.' Another ex-member, Bree Mood, recalled, '[Cruise] was revered like a god in the lower ranks. Every time one of his movies released, they’d buy thousands of tickets—up to 2,500. I’m serious.'
It is widely believed that actress Nicole Kidman distanced herself from Scientology following her divorce from Tom Cruise. However, their adopted daughter Isabella has since embraced the religion and even underwent the auditing process while interning at Scientology London. There is also speculation that Cruise's religious beliefs contributed to the end of his marriage to actress Katie Holmes.
2. Laura Prepon
Laura Prepon, known for her role in Orange Is The New Black, has spoken openly about how Scientology has helped her manage life’s stresses and helped her find relaxation. She shared that she has worked through several of the church’s programs, including 'Personal Values and Integrity' and 'Purification Rundown.'
Prepon has also gone through the controversial auditing process within the church, which has faced criticism from former members who argue that it manipulates their past traumas for control. The process involves evaluating past struggles and eliminating any negativity that might be hindering personal growth. Prepon commented, 'The auditing has removed all the false ideas, decisions, and emotions that were holding me back.'
She remarked, 'I discovered this choice I made long ago, and it’s still impacting me today. At the time of the situation, I made a decision that seemed 'pro-survival,' you know? Then, after years of peeling back layers, I finally identified it—boom, there it was! It’s astonishing to realize it was hiding in my mental 'bank' all along, affecting me.'
1. Michael Peña
Michael Peña, widely recognized for his roles in Ant-Man and the Wasp and Narcos: Mexico, attributes much of his acting success to the programs he became involved with as a Scientologist. He joined the church in 2000 after participating in the 'Purification Rundown' detox program to overcome his alcoholism. Peña explained, 'For me, it's not a belief-based religion; it’s about practical actions.'
Later, Peña took part in another Scientology program called 'Study Tech,' designed to improve his reading skills. He shared, '[Study Tech] made me a better actor because it improved my understanding of scripts.' Study Tech, created by founder L. Ron Hubbard, aims to enhance literacy within the church.
When asked about the criticism directed at the church, he responded, 'I don’t pay attention to that. Let’s say we’re friends, just the two of us. And there’s a tabloid story about you. There’s no chance I’d read a tabloid story about you, especially when I know it’s inaccurate.'
