John Travolta Breaks His Silence on HBO's Expository Scientology Documentary Going Clear

He says he won't watch it because of its negative perspective

By Francesca Bacardi Apr 07, 2015 2:27 PMTags
John Travolta, Vanity Fair Oscar PartyAllen Berezovsky/WireImage

John Travolta will not be watching HBO's critical documentary, Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief. The film, which shines an expository light on the celeb's church, includes accusations of physical abuse and blackmail of members.

But Travolta, who has been a member for more than 40 years, told the Tampa Bay Times while promoting his new movie, The Forger, that he "doesn't care to" see it. Since its March 29 debut, the documentary has urged people to delve deeper into Scientology and some have even urged members such as Tom Cruise to speak out against it, but Travolta remains faithful.

"I haven't experienced anything that the hearsay has (claimed), so why would I communicate something that wasn't true for me?" Travolta said. "It wouldn't make sense, nor would it for Tom, I imagine."

He also claimed the documentary, which is directed by Alex Gibney and based on Lawrence Wright's similarly titled book, is a product of "people who were disgruntled with their experiences" with the religion, but he insisted it "has been nothing but brilliant" for him.

James Borchuck/Tampa Bay Times/ZUMAPRESS.com

"I've been so happy with my [Scientology] experience in the last 40 years," he said, "that I really don't have anything to say that would shed light on [a documentary] so decidedly negative."

He added, "I've been brought through storms that were insurmountable, and (Scientology has) been so beautiful for me, that I can't even imagine attacking it."

One "storm" that he said Scientology helped him through was when his son, Jett, died while he and his family were vacationing in the Bahamas in 2009. "Oh, my god, I wouldn't have made it," the Pulp Fiction star said. "Honestly."

Although he has received guidance from Scientology and fellow members, Travolta also revealed that he has helped "so many people through hard times.

"Loss of children, loved ones, physical illnesses. Through many tough, tough life situations I've used the technology to support them and help them," he explained. "It's always worked."

Because of his personal successes with Scientology, the 61-year-old star didn't feel the need to watch Going Clear. "Why would I even approach a negative perspective? That would be a crime to me, personally, to do that."