A kerfuffle of epic proportions came about when a BBC documentary about Scientology ("Scientology and Me") culminated in a shouting match between Panorama reporter John Sweeney and Scientology spokesperson Tommy Davis in the "Mind Control" section of the Church's "Psychiatry: Industry of Death" exhibit in Los Angeles.
The clip was posted on YouTube (I also placed it at the end of this post), and while Sweeney says he regrets the unprofessional outburst, he still maintains his feelings that Scientology has a dark and insidious nature of which many of its celebrity endorsers are unaware. Sweeney claims he was pestered relentlessly by Scientologists as he was making the documentary, and that the forty-second clip, in which he's screaming so loudly it's almost impossible to hear what he's saying, was when he finally lost his temper.
Sandy Smith, the editor of Panorama, expressed his displeasure with Sweeney's outburst, but also with Scientology's tactics.
You can watch the entire program on BBC's site.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
5-15-2007 @ 2:20PM
la-di-dah said...
funny. i have gotten like that once or twice, when the frustration is blinding you just have to let it out and let the other person have it. but it is surely not good for blood pressures or aneurysms. and it is not good when everybody looks at you like you are nutso.
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5-15-2007 @ 3:20PM
RichardAM said...
It was an interesting prog, but after it was done I still feel as if I hadn't learnt anything at all, simply because of the secret no-telling nature of the "religion".
John Sweeney was correct however in his actions, it was manifestation of many of the emotions felt by all the people watching and rolling their eyes at the complete nonsense being presented.
The whole thing's a joke.
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5-15-2007 @ 5:34PM
Bash said...
No it's no joke.
What was that? A muffled sound from the closet?
Why I think it's Tom Cruise telling us that only Scientology can provide you with a life of happyiness and help you get rid of any addiction by following guidelines for your life. Yay!
*rolleyes*
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5-15-2007 @ 6:13PM
justin said...
I agree with RichardAM, I watched the half hour program and walked away with no more understanding of Scientology than when i tuned in.
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5-15-2007 @ 7:59PM
greg said...
"...culminated INTO"? Dude, c'mon - you're supposed to be a writer.
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5-15-2007 @ 8:28PM
Adam from TV Squad said...
""...culminated INTO"? Dude, c'mon - you're supposed to be a writer."
But what I really want to do is direct.
I changed it. Thank you.
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6-15-2007 @ 7:59PM
Ex Scientologist said...
To learn more about Scientology Google "A Comment by a Friend of Elli Perkins" a very moving story about life in Scientology
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7-28-2007 @ 1:10PM
Arnie Lerma said...
"Scientology is a joke", though true, is a dangerous characterization, as it reduces the probability that readers will take acion to expose its sinister traits.
This month's Der Speigel describes scientology as a nazi-like organization. ANyone who doubts this claim should read this one page and a few of the links.
http://www.lermanet.com/scientology-and-occult/der-spiegel-scientology-nazis.htm
They laughed at the nazi's too.
regards
Arnie Lerma
Lermanet.com Exposing the CON
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