Summary: Former Scientology member Leah Remini accuses the church of using its power to delay an investigation into sexual assault allegations against Danny Masterson.
Former Scientology member Leah Remini is accusing the church of covering up rape allegations against member and actor Danny Masterson. The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office and Los Angeles Police Department were investigating Masterson after four women came forward with allegations of sexual assault.
Even with “overwhelming” evidence, no charges were ever filed against the actor. Remini, a now outspoken critic of the Church of Scientology, believes the lack of charges against Masterson is because the church used its power to influence those with authority.
In an interview with The Daily Beast, Remini gave her thoughts about the delayed case against Masterson, the actor who played Steven Hyde on That 70’s Show. He is just one of many men that have accused of sexual misconduct ranging from rape to harassment. She said, “The captain of that department, Cory Palka, goes to the Scientology Celebrity Centre often. There are pictures of him hanging at Celebrity Centre. Scientology is very slick in that it’s partnered in this Police Activities League with the Hollywood division, and every year around Christmastime Celebrity Centre International right on Franklin presents the Hollywood Police Department with a check for this Police Activities League, which gives back to children.”
She blames the relationship between the police department and the church on the mishandling of the allegations against Masterson. The church has partnered with the chapter of the Police Activities League (PAL) connected with the LAPD’s Hollywood division on fundraising. The Celebrity Centre holds fundraisers for the Hollywood PAL, some of which Masterson has attended.
One of the accusers, Chrissie Carnell Bixler, claims she was pressured by Masterson, his publicist Jenni Weinman, and the church to drop her charges against him because she was in a relationship with him at the time of the alleged rape. The Huffington Post reported that Weinman, Masterson’s publicist for roughly 20 years, said, “Well, Chrissie was Danny’s girlfriend at the time, there’s really nothing, there’s no story there.” Bixler says Masterson raped her when he was unconscious during their six-year relationship.
Bixler was a member of the church at the time. She tweeted last year, “Because your boyfriend tells you it’s not rape if you’re in a relationship and then his church covers it up.” She has come forward now to criticize Netflix for keeping Masterson’s show “The Ranch” even though he is tied to sexual misconduct. Netflix has severed ties with other actors like Kevin Spacey and Louis C.K. when they were accused of sexual assaults.
She told the Daily Beast, “For me, what Netflix has done feels like a continuation of how the Church of Scientology made me feel when I reported my rape to them, as well as how Danny Masterson made me feel when I would beg him for an apology, an explanation, anything. I was made to feel unimportant. I was made to feel like I didn’t matter. … I will NOT shut my mouth when Netflix tries to make us feel like we don’t matter…victims are taking back the power that was stolen from us, and things are going to change. Netflix should write that down.”
Remini explained how the church operates, “What it’s done is it’s aligned itself as per its policies. There are Scientology policies that say, ‘Safe-point yourself to the area police department because then nobody will attack your good works,’ so it’s all very pointed and calculated.”
Do you think the Church of Scientology is responsible for covering up allegations against their members? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.
To learn more about the Church of Scientology, read these articles:
- Woman Claims Scientology Forced Her to Get Abortion
- New Book Reveals Scientology’s “Alien Space Cathedral” in New Mexico
- Leah Remini Reports Church of Scientology’s Leader David Miscavige’s Wife “Missing,” Police Respond
Photo: nydailynews.com