David Miscavige in 1991, one of two Miscavige pictures on Getty. Looks totally sane!
Scientology can tear families apart, as we all may know. But who knew that the religion has made enemies out of Scientology leader David Miscavige and his own father? Wisconsin police once caught an apparently Miscavige-hired private eye tailing the father, Ronald Miscavige. The investigator was even reportedly ordered to not intervene when it looked like Ronald was having a heart attack. This was all because the son was afraid that the father — who had left Scientology — would reveal the abuses within the religion.
According to the Hollywood Reporter, Ronald Miscavige’s tell-all is called Ruthless: Scientology, My Son David Miscavige, and Me, and will be published by the London-based Silvertail Books. Miscavige has hired Johnsons Solicitors to serve Silvertail with a letter, threatening to sue them for defamation if the book’s publication go forward on May 3rd.
What are these defamatory statements?
Among the “malicious, false, misleading and highly defamatory” assertions made in the book: that Miscavige “seized power” from Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard by “outmaneuvering rivals”; that “Gold Base” headquarters in Hemet, Calif., has “appalling conditions” and staff “were not permitted to leave”; that church members were “subjected to deprivation and violence” while detained in a prison-like containment center known as “the Hole”; and that Miscavige hired private detectives to trail his father.
The United Kingdom traditionally has libel laws that are friendlier to the plaintiff than in the United States. This is why another Scientology expose Going Clear didn’t come out across the pond. Silvertail, however, plans on releasing that book as well.
(via The Hollywood Reporter)