Scientology Spokesman Storms Out on Nightline, Refuses to Answer Questions about Emperor Xenu
Last night’s episode of ABC’s Nightline included interviews about the Church of Scientology, one of which ended when Scientology spokesman Tommy Davis stood up, tore off his microphone and stormed off the set.
Martin Bashir incited him to leave with a series of questioning, starting with “Do you believe that a galactic emperor called Xenu brought his people to earth 75 million years ago and buried them in volcanoes?”
It might seem like a pretty simple yes/no question, but Bashir was asking about a part of Scientology scripture derived from the writings of Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard and kept secret from the non-Scientologist public and even some Scientologists who don’t rank high enough, we think.
Davis was noticably upset as soon as Xenu entered into the questioning, telling Bashir:
“Ok, Martin, I am not going to discuss the disgusting perversions of Scientology beliefs that can be found commonly on the Internet and be put in the position of talking about things that are so fundamentally offensive to Scientologists … that’s all.
But Bashir persisted, citing his responsibilities as a journalist. Soon enough Davis stormed out, and Nightline cut hard to Bashir in the studio, who doesn’t bat an eye behind the Nightline desk: “When we come back, the future of celebrities in the church.”
Martin Bashir interviews Scientology spokesman Tommy Davis on ABC’s Nightline (starts at 3:40), via TV Newser:
22 comments
Puter Boi says: He didn’t storm off anywhere……he told Bashir that if Bashir asked another offensive question that he was leaving….he stood up…and he left. He even informed Bashir why these questions were offensive. Bashir ignored him.
Missed the storming part….perhaps a little exaggeration there, Zeke?
Zeke Turner says: I don’t know … I thought it was a little stormy when he tore his microphone off and dropped it on the floor.
mrbean says: Watch for the official Scientology spin on this story. Or has Puter Boi already started it. ??
Exasperated says: Tommy Davis is a bug-eyed cultist.
homie says: “He even informed Bashir why these questions were offensive.”
Is it unreasonable to explain *why* such questions might be offensive, given the fact that they are derived from the published doctrine of the cult?
Puter Boi says: I dunno, Zeke…I went through Hurricane Andrew…now THAT was stormy…Davis was more of a breezy night on the beach in Key West.
Yephora says: It was a “Do you believe, yes or no?” question, nothing offensive about it. The interviewee hid behind being ‘offended’ instead of giving a truthful Yes or No.
It seems to me Scientology is no more or no less a Cult than any organized religion, it’s tenets no more or no less far fetched.
it’s hard to defend the idea that aliens swooped down 75M years ago, and are still lingering, and led by some alien Xena dude, and not sound batsh*t.
Do you suppose that’s why Scientologists are against Psychiatry? HA
He stormed off because he gets rich selling this crap to gullible fools and doesn’t want to have to explain the lunacy of it.
sara or Zeke, please help me with pointers as to putting up avatar here. Usually I figure it out easily enough. Thank you so much.
m says: >it’s hard to defend the idea that aliens swooped down 75M years ago, and are still lingering, and led by some alien Xena dude, and not sound batsh*t.
Or our planet created through magic 6000 years ago, followed by a space god zombie.
The only difference is societal norms. If we’d all been Scientologists we’d think all Christians were complete nuts.
Cactus says: I don’t buy for a minute that Scientology is “no more, no less a Cult” than any religion, or just a matter of societal norms. If you wish to restrict the discussion to the craziness of beliefs, fine, I’ll take it. But Scientology isn’t even a cult; it’s a scam.
Fact remains that Scientology asks you for money up-front; it’s not a basket going around the pews, there’s a cash register right up front and the fees are not negotiable. And to this day, they go after anybody who dare publish or independently spread any of their “scripture”; I don’t see any actual cult or religion objecting to their “gospel” getting publicized.
And as you drop thousands of dollars along the way, you reach OT levels the crux of which are “everything we’ve told you till now — yeah, made it all up”.
atsah says: I have the written testament that my parents handed down to me for my salivation, did not cost me anything.
Seattle Dave says: @ atsah: “Salivation?” That may be more accurate than you realize.
Sunnyr says: Scientology is a secretive cult and when you get too inquisitive, you will be chastised. Nutjobs, all!
exitflag says: “m says:
October 24, 2009 at 8:13 pm
Or our planet created through magic 6000 years ago, followed by a space god zombie.
The only difference is societal norms. If we’d all been Scientologists we’d think all Christians were complete nuts.”
It’s more complex than a flippant “societal norms”. Assuming both are false one comes from our cultural past developed through the need for a primitive, then somewhat literate society’s need to explain the world around it, our place in it, our fears and hopes. It incorporates centuries old themes, myths many based on Roman, Persian, Greek or other pagan belief systems revolving around crops, astronomical observations, etc. It’s a part of our cultural, artistic, religious and even intellectual heritage whether we believe in it or not.
The other was founded by a Sci-Fi author on a bet while playing cards. There is a bit of a difference.
Allen says: “…that I find offensive.” D’oh… I could have fielded that better. That’s their spokesman?
Robert Heinlein (another sci-fi author) gave his view of Scientology in what is arguably his best work, “Stranger In A Strange Land,” published in 1961. Having lived in California at the same time as Hubbard, it’s an interesting read to get a different point of view.
torgman says: Puter Boi: I missed the part where Davis explained why his questions were offensive.
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