Hollywood star Tom Cruise has been branded the “number one victim” of the Church of Scientology by a former senior member of the church via Newsweek.
Cruise is arguably Scientology’s most famous member, having joined the church back in the 1980s. Over the years, he has made headlines for being an outspoken advocate for the church, whose members have also included John Travolta and Elisabeth Moss.
Deceased celebrities like Kirstie Alley and Isaac Hayes were also avowed Scientologists, and Alley sometimes spoke publicly about her beliefs.
It has been noted that other celebrities have walked away from the church, including Laura Prepon, Leah Remini and Paul Haggis. Remini and Haggis have been publicly critical of the church since their departures. Actor Danny Masterson, who was last month sentenced to 30 years to life in prison after he was convicted on two of three rape counts, was recently expelled from the church.
The church has previously said that critics such as Remini, who left Scientology in 2013, have a “documented record of malicious lies.”
Former Scientologist Mitch Brisker, who previously served as senior director and creative executive of Scientology’s Golden Era Studios, has spoken about his time in the church’s ranks in a recently published interview with the Daily Mail.
Brisker, who left Scientology last year, alleged in the interview that David Miscavige, the church’s leader, was an “absolute control freak.”
