ABC News yanks 20/20 investigation of Tom Cruise and Scientology
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Reviewers, please use Easy Peer Review per these instructions. -Article last amended: Sep 9 at 19:58:42 UTC (history) Please check the talk page history before reviewing. |
Sunday, September 9, 2012
An investigation into Scientology and Tom Cruise which was set to air this past Friday on the American television program 20/20 was removed from broadcast by ABC News. This is not the first time that ABC News has pulled an investigation into Scientology from airing on 20/20.
Image: Jim.henderson.
A press release published by ABC on Thursday announced the scheduled airing of the investigation, which it described as "an in-depth look" by Elizabeth Vargas into the recent report on Tom Cruise and Scientology by journalist Maureen Orth for a Vanity Fair in its October publication.
An analysis of the situation by Editor-in-Chief Tony Ortega of The Village Voice pointed out that in 2008, actor and former Scientologist Jason Beghe was interviewed by Elizabeth Vargas after he had flown to New York. Beghe recounted to Vargas his experiences within Scientology and his decision to cease activity in the organization. However, this interview by Vargas was never shown on ABC.
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ABC caved again, and this time much more publicly. | ![]() |
—Editor-in-Chief Tony Ortega, The Village Voice |
Ortega noted, "Then, Friday night, ABC caved again, and this time much more publicly." He highlighted a television screenshot which displays clearly the description given by ABC for the 20/20 program scheduled for Friday: "20/20. New. 'Lovestyles of the Rich and Famous; The Camera Never Lies' Journalist Maureen Orth discusses her recent article in Vanity Fair on Scientology and actor Tom Cruise; celebrity".
According to Ortega, this was to be a significant investigation into Scientology covering topics including the recent divorce of actress Katie Holmes from Tom Cruise, the role of minors within the Scientology organization, biographical material on Scientology's chief David Miscavige, and controversy within the elite Scientology group known as the Sea Org. Ortega was himself interviewed as part of the investigation which he was told would comprise an hour-long broadcast.
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We just got word that both ABC 20/20 & Nightline have pulled the TV shows that were going to air tonight. | ![]() |
In addition to Ortega, former Scientologists Marc Headley and his wife Claire were interviewed by ABC News for the 20/20 piece and what they were informed would be complemented by a news segment on Nightline. Claire told the camera of her two mandatory abortions she experienced while a member of the Sea Org in Scientology; Ortega reported that this interview moved the ABC television crew to tears.
Marc Headley confirmed via a post Friday to a legal fund webpage he setup to support his family with litigation costs from Scientology, that he had learned of the ABC News decision: "We just got word that both ABC 20/20 & Nightline have pulled the TV shows that were going to air tonight. It appears that someone at OSA is trying to sandbag the downstats over the next few weeks." OSA is an abbreviation for the Office of Special Affairs - a department within Scientology which has been compared to an intelligence agency which handles legal affairs and public relations. Downstat refers to a negative impact on statistics gathered by Scientology members of the Sea Org due to critical investigations of the organization by the media.
Related news
- "Women reveal accounts of forced abortion in Scientology" — Wikinews, June 15, 2010
- "Blown for Good author discusses life inside international headquarters of Scientology" — Wikinews, November 13, 2009
- "YouTube accounts of Scientology critics suspended" — Wikinews, April 18, 2008
Sister links
Sources
- Tony Ortega. "ABC Once Again Delays Broadcast of a Scientology Story" — The Village Voice, September 9, 2012
- Marc Headley. "The Golden Error Musicians put it..." — Headley Family Legal Fund, September 8, 2012
- ABC News. "Press Release: On Tomorrow's Two-Hour Edition of 20/20 on ABC" — American Broadcasting Company, September 6, 2012