Paul Haggis speaks out against Scientology in massive New Yorker profile
Paul Haggis, the Ontarian writer-director of Million Dollar Baby and Crash (who we’ll always remember as the co-creator of Walker, Texas Ranger), has gone and made himself Scientology’s number one enemy following an article in this week’s New Yorker. Haggis quit the church in 2009 after it supported Proposition 8, the California legislation banning gay marriage, and dished about his exit to the magazine’s Lawrence Wright for a 24,000-word colossus called “The Apostate.”
Haggis calls the church “a cult,” and admits to spending some $400,000 and 34 years learning the tenets of Scientology. He also said he “would gladly take down the church” due to allegations of child labour in relation to the so-called Sea Org group. Haggis’s pal Josh Brolin weighed in too, referring to an incident where John Travolta allegedly used Scientology to heal Marlon Brando’s leg as “really fucking bizarre.” Wright himself is likely next in line for the position of Scientology Enemy Number One: his book on Haggis and the movement, The Heretic of Hollywood, is expected later this year.
• Paul Haggis, Josh Brolin speak out against Church of Scientology [National Post] • Canadian Oscar winner Haggis opens up about Scientology [Toronto Star] • The Apostate [New Yorker]
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