Will Smith Goes Into Damage Control Over Scientology Rumours
A few months back, there were some sketchy rumours floating around about Will Smith secretly becoming a Scientologist. At the time, it seemed like a lot of hearsay and tabloid talk, since Will Smith has always been very vocal about the fact that he is a Christian. Besides, despite the cult-ish nature of Scientology and its overwhelming presence in Hollywood, I still see it as a personal choice and one that doesn’t have much bearing on the actual movies that get made.
However, this week the Will Smith story has taken another interesting turn. Just days before the release of his next movie Hancock, it has been revealed that he and his wife Jada Pinkett Smith are opening their own private school in Los Angeles called the New Village Academy. Initial reports had stated that it would be a Scientology Facility, but now the school’s director was forced to step forward and clarify things. It turns out the school actually has no religious affiliation, and it just happens to be using teaching methods developed by L. Ron Hubbard called “study technology”. Sure, a few of the teachers are Scientologists, but there are Muslims, Christians and Jews in there too. Hmm… study technology eh? Yeah, that clears it up, alright!
While I can’t say for sure that Will Smith is or isn’t a Scientologist, he certainly seems to be closely affiliating himself with them lately. What I’m really wondering is whether this could hurt his reputation as one of the most bankable movie stars working today. We all saw what happened to Tom Cruise, and although Smith hasn’t jumped on Oprah’s couch lately, I think he’ll want to be very careful about how he approaches this. Do you care what an actor’s religious beliefs are? If Will Smith was indeed a Scientologist, would it change how you view him? If the story gets out to a wider audience, do you think it could hurt Hancock’s box office performance?
Comments (16)
If Will Smith came out of the Scientology closet I would still see his movies, but it would seriously hurt my vision of him as coolest guy in the world. But seriously, I don’t think it would hurt his box office draw so much as his flawless status as a whole. As long as he doesn’t start with the maniacal laughter and electrocuting Oprah then I still love the Fresh Prince.
Lets get jiggy wit it!
Anyone? Jiggy?
Posted by Ryan on June 30th, 2008They are all nuts in Hollywood. Does it really mater which imaginary friend they pray to?
Posted by Matt Gamble on June 30th, 2008Ryan hit the nail on the head as to what i wanted to say, i would still see his films, only my appreciation for him as a person would diminish
Posted by Torim on June 30th, 2008What I find funny is, there is an advertisement for Scientology on youtube on this site :p
Doesn’t bother me what Will Smith believes in. As long as he does not pull a Tom Cruise then it shouldn’t matter. If people stop seeing Smith movies if he was a Scientologist, then those people are morons. Everyone has a right to there own believes and we should all learn to respect what we believe.
Posted by Robert(wolf) on June 30th, 2008I see a movie if I think it’s going to be good or fun or some combo of the two. Not because of someone’s personal life.
Also, @robert(wolf) … I totally agree.
Posted by Brett on June 30th, 2008What religion somebody is part of is their business alone. If Will Smith was a sciencetologist my opinion would not change of him. He’s a decent guy who makes (mostly) decent movies. If, however, Will started getting preachy and made a bunch of outrageous claims involving scientology, and became a laughing stock as a result, then my opinion of him would change. There are many famous sciencetologists who I like, but that’s because none of them are as preachy as Tom Cruise. And I didn’t mind him either until he started saying really dumb things. These people are sciencetologists that I don’t mind at all.
Anne Archer, actress
Chaka Khan, singer
Jason Lee, actor and professional skateboarder
Juliette Lewis, actress
Mimi Rogers, actress
Patrick Swayze, actor
Greta Van Susteren
And some ex-sciencetologists:
Posted by Matt on June 30th, 2008J. J. Abrams, Writer
Emilio Estevez, actor (renounced it and won’t discuss it)
Charles Manson, serial killer
Ricky Martin, singer (says he dabbled in it)
Van Morrison, singer, songwriter
Jerry Seinfeld, comedian
Oliver Stone, director (said involvement was finished after 4 months)
Sharon Stone, actress
Scientology is a last ditch effort for “atheists” or other religious followers to cling on to a faith of some type.
The power of Christ compells you!
Posted by Baychuk on June 30th, 2008But when you hear someone is a scientologist, it just speaks to their mental state of mind. Tom Cruise is in no way mentally sound. And it’s just unfortunate to see another person fall victim to the bullshit that scientology has to offer. Just more proof that mega-stardom must mess up your mind in a big way.
Posted by Jon Rocks on June 30th, 2008The actor Jason Beghe, a long-time member of Scientology, recently left the cult. He’s had quite a number of nasty, scathing words about them.
He comments that these celebrities experience a cocooned version of this dangerous cult, sheltered from a more disturbing reality.
Here’s a link if anyone is interested (its NSFW – he swears a lot):
Posted by JakeTheFatMan on June 30th, 2008http://xenutv.wordpress.com/2008/04/21/jason-beghe-interview/
Hasn’t the Scientology trend gone away yet? I really felt like we were close this time.
Posted by Rian on June 30th, 2008Judging people is no laughing matter – and for the most part you are right in your comments – what business is it of anyone’s to delve into Will Smith’s personal or religious life? But, he is edging on being preachy – he sent out baskets for free seminars for Scientology to all the crew of I AM LEGEND – that smacks of trying to recruit to me. He is donating to a school that teaches scientology principles. Sounds like a pusher to me.
Posted by David on July 1st, 2008Let’s also think about this – if Jehovah Witness sent you a package called “The Watchtower”, would you invite them in and think “Wow, I am glad they did that, let’s watch this person entertain us?”. Probably not.
Would you send them money? Probably not.
Would you take them to dinner? Probably not.
Me neither. I won’t see another Tom Cruise or Will Smith movie.
@ “Hasn’t the Scientology trend gone away yet? I really felt like we were close this time.”
I’m going to offer a guess that you don’t live on the West Coast.
Posted by Rusty James on July 1st, 2008Scientology will always be popular with those who can afford to remove their sins, ahem, ENGRAMS with cash.
Posted by KL on July 3rd, 2008It does matter if Will Smith is a Scientologist or not. Scientology isn’t just a “religion”–it’s a dangerous organization that really *hurts* people. Do you really want to give your money to someone who not only aligns themselves with, but tries to *recruit* people to such a malicious group?
Even though I liked his movies before, I’ll never go to another Will Smith movie again, as long as he considers himself a Scientologist. I don’t want any of my money to go back to Scientology, even in a roundabout fashion.
For more information on Scientology, check out exscientologykids.com or xenu-directory.net.
Posted by Anonymous on July 23rd, 2008yes i would no longer love him
Posted by monica ponomarev on March 16th, 2009but i would probably still watch his movies
The studio asked Will Smith to downplay his involvement in Scientology, but the fact is, Will Smith is a Scientologist and so is Jada.
Will Smith denies involvement and yet he gave a combined $122,500 to the Church of Scientology, broken into these donations: $67,500 to the New York Rescue Workers Detoxication Fund, $50,000 to the group’s Celebrity Center in Hollywood and $5,000 to ABLE, another Scientology offshoot. Smith and his wife have also supported a private school called New Village Academy they opened this fall in suburban Los Angeles that uses Scientology learning concepts.
Contrary to popular belief, Scientologists usually hide their status as cult members until they are outed by the press. The reporter from The Star who confessed to outing Cruise was attacked by Scientology in retaliation in accordance with Scientology’s “Fair Game Policy.” If association with Scientology cuts into profit, the Scientologists will keep it quiet. Just check Tom Cruise’s “completions.” He is an OT8 and an Auditor, but no completions are listed, they are hidden.
Posted by Mest on June 26th, 2009Leave a Reply