Well, this is an unexpected twist!
Danny Masterson has been EXPELLED from the Church of Scientology, according to a bombshell report from DailyMail.com! The news comes from private investigator Jeffrey Augustine, who has been digging into the Church’s alleged wrongdoings on his Scientology Money Project website for years now.
The That ’70s Show alum was convicted of rape back in May — and sentenced to a whopping 30 years to life last month. One could understand why any organization might want to distance themselves. But the funny thing here is… the Church was accused of trying to help Danny get away with it! Multiple victims have claimed Scientology members pressured them not to report their allegations — threatening them with disturbing consequences. And now that it came out, despite their machinations, they’re distancing themselves? Wow.
Augustine tells DM the Church’s official position is still that Danny is innocent of the charges!
“They are telling Scientologists that he will file an appeal and that he is innocent of the charges for which he was convicted. They (church officials) declared Danny a suppressive person for not maintaining the high ethical standards for the Church of Scientology, and other reasons — but not because he was convicted of rape.”
That or they just know a PR disaster when they see one.
In any case the consequences from the expulsion are all too real. This isn’t just being disinvited to Sunday bake sales. According to Augustine, the disgraced actor has been declared a “suppressive person” or “SP.” For those who haven’t gone clear or aftermathed with Leah Remini, this is a HUGE deal. Church members are not allowed to have any contact with SPs. They’re essentially shunned!
This is a big problem for Bijou Phillips. Danny’s wife has long stood by his side. Like the Church, she believes he’s innocent and has continued to support him despite the guilty verdict. She has gone and seen him in prison. And now… she’s being forced by their church to CUT OFF ALL CONTACT! To her HUSBAND! Oof. Yet another blow to her…
Related: Bijou Denies She & Danny Were Living Apart Before Rape Conviction
But how do Masterson’s victim feel about this added consequence? Chrissie Carnell Bixler told DM it’s about time:
“They should have declared him an SP when I originally went to them.”
Augustine reiterates this is NOT because they think he committed rape — but purely about the optics, if only to their own members:
“A lot of Scientologists were complaining that they have friends and family members that they can’t talk to because they were declared suppressive. They questioned why Danny Masterson was allowed to be a Scientologist in good standing when he’s brought such a horrible public relations situation on to the church with his felony rape convictions. So the members are asking why were their friends and family declared for reading the internet, watching Leah Remini’s show, and doing other things that are far below what Masterson was charged with?”
So first they try to sweep his crimes under the rug, then they declare him SP because it looks bad? It’s almost like they care more about how the Church looks than the actual morality of his actions…
If you or someone you know has experienced sexual violence and would like to learn more about resources, consider checking out https://www.rainn.org/resources.
[Image via MEGA/WENN.]
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