Media tycoon Rupert Murdoch took to Twitter today urging people to ‘watch’ Katie Holmes and Tom Cruise’s divorce, even labelling Scientologists as 'creepy and evil’.
The outspoken octogenarian tweeted: ‘Watch Katie Holmes and Scientology story develop. Something creepy, maybe even evil, about these people.’
His warning comes as Ms Holmes claimed that her every move has been tracked by a team of mystery men - who she believes have been sent to spy on her by the cult
Murdoch also posted that Cruise was ‘number two or three’ in the ‘very weird cult’.
The News Corporation chief executive sparked an immediate backlash with his controversial tweets.
He first tweeted this morning: 'Scientology back in news. Very weird cult, but big, big money involved with Tom Cruise either number two or three in [hierarchy].'
Murdoch was quickly attacked for his comments with one user throwing the ‘creepy and evil’ insult right back at the 81-year-old tycoon.
However, Murdoch refused to back down tweeting later: 'Since Scientology tweet hundreds of attacks. Expect they will increase and get worse and maybe threatening. Still stick to my story.
After one user asked Murdoch for his views on Mormonism, he replied: ‘Mormonism a mystery to me, but Mormons certainly not evil.'
Katie Holmes, 33, filed for divorce from 49-year-old Tom Cruise, her husband of five years, in New York on Thursday.
Meanwhile, unknown people in two cars have been seen tailing Ms Holmes since before she filed for divorce, prompting speculation they are rogue Scientologists, it was claimed yesterday.
The church insists the men have nothing to do with it, with the lawyer for the Church Gary Soter told TMZ that the Scientology movement is 'not following Katie or conducting surveillance on her in the wake of her divorce with Tom Cruise'.
But it has been claimed this tracking has been going on for weeks - even before Friday's shock announcement the pair will divorce.
According to TMZ, 'there have been several 'mysterious' men and vehicles around Katie's New York apartment and following her when she's out.
'Specifically ... a white Cadillac Escalade and black Mercedes SUV have been seen near Katie's NYC apartment for the past week.'
The site claims sources believe these cars' occupants are not journalists, but their identity has never been established.
The Dawson’s Creek star is seeking for sole custody of Suri, the couple’s 6-year-old daughter. This would enable her to remove her daughter from the Church of Scientology, which she is alleged to dislike and distrust.
With a financial pre-nuptial already in place, it is thought that Holmes purposefully filed for divorce in New York state and not California because New York dislikes giving warring parents joint custody.
However, the divorce will not be recognised by Scientology, according to the church's doctrines.
The religion offers little advice to those for whom divorce has become the only option, preferring to focus on providing couple's therapy to fix relationships.
According to the official website, marriage is considered essential to family life along with the belief that the religion will strengthen bonds between partners.
Scientologists also claim that people who follow the religion are more likely to stay married.
If a couple runs into a problem, they can take courses on how to improve their marriage or speak to counselors.
However Stephen Kent, a religion professor at the University of Alberta, told ABC: 'There's no real annulment in the church. Many members have been divorced, even founder L. Ron Hubbard was married three times.'
Murdoch also used Twitter today to criticise Mitt Romney’s campaign.
'Met Romney last week. Tough O [Obama] Chicago pros will be hard to beat unless he drops old friends from team and hires some real pros. Doubtful.'
He followed it up with a second tweet: ‘US election is referendum on Obama, all else is pretty minor.
If members of the church are tracking Ms Holmes, it would not be the first time that Scientologists have turned on those who have left the cult.
The church refers to people who leave the group but practice independently as 'squirrels.
Last year, bizarre footage emerged of a group of 'squirrel busters' who fitted cameras to their heads to 'stalk' one of its defectors.
Marty Rathbun, once one of its highest-ranking members, left the church a few years ago but continued to practise independently.
He was reported to be in on the secrets of the church and 'audited' some of its high-profile members - including Tom Cruise.
And last April a group of four men wearing skyblue T-shirts and black caps with the words 'Squirrel busters productions' turned up at his door and said they were there to look at his 'PC meters' - a piece of scientology equipment - and check his 'tack'.
The T-shirts bore the image of a squirrel with Mr Rathbun's head superimposed onto it.
During the standoff, which lasts a couple of minutes and a video of which was on YouTube, Mr Rathbun asks the men if they are going to 'stick around' at his house and Mr Allender answers: 'Yeah, Marty, we are here for weeks. Weeks and weeks.'
Another added: 'As long as it takes.'
Mr Rathbun apparently called the police, and a deal was struck where he agreed not to bring harassment charges against the 'SquirrelSquad' and they would not peruse assault charges for grabbing a microphone.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2167406/Katie-Holmes-Tom-Cruises-divorce-develop-says-Rupert-Murdoch-brands-Scientologists-evil.html#ixzz1zSBBpz3H
The outspoken octogenarian tweeted: ‘Watch Katie Holmes and Scientology story develop. Something creepy, maybe even evil, about these people.’
His warning comes as Ms Holmes claimed that her every move has been tracked by a team of mystery men - who she believes have been sent to spy on her by the cult
Murdoch also posted that Cruise was ‘number two or three’ in the ‘very weird cult’.
Evil Creeps: Rupert Murdoch, left, took to Twitter on Sunday telling people to 'watch' the divorce between Scientologists Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes saying there was 'something creepy, maybe even evil, about these people'
He first tweeted this morning: 'Scientology back in news. Very weird cult, but big, big money involved with Tom Cruise either number two or three in [hierarchy].'
Murdoch was quickly attacked for his comments with one user throwing the ‘creepy and evil’ insult right back at the 81-year-old tycoon.
More...
However, Murdoch refused to back down tweeting later: 'Since Scientology tweet hundreds of attacks. Expect they will increase and get worse and maybe threatening. Still stick to my story.
After one user asked Murdoch for his views on Mormonism, he replied: ‘Mormonism a mystery to me, but Mormons certainly not evil.'
Katie Holmes, 33, filed for divorce from 49-year-old Tom Cruise, her husband of five years, in New York on Thursday.
Meanwhile, unknown people in two cars have been seen tailing Ms Holmes since before she filed for divorce, prompting speculation they are rogue Scientologists, it was claimed yesterday.
Controversial: The outspoken octogenarian first tweeted this about the Top Gun's position within Scientology
Backlash: Murdoch faced online attacks after posting this tweet but later refused to back down saying that he was 'sticking to his story'
TOM CRUISE AND THE THETANS: THE TEACHINGS OF SCIENTOLOGY
- The Church of Scientology was established in 1954 by science-fiction writer L Ron Hubbard
- It numbers up to 15million members worldwide and likes to cultivate celebrity followers
- Among its more famed acolytes are the actors Tom Cruise and John Travolta
- Hubbard claimed that each human being has hidden secret powers required for the lifelong journey towards spiritual freedom and happiness
- The Church holds that humans are descended from an exiled race of aliens called Thetans
- Once a worshipper reaches a higher state of awareness called 'the Clear', he becomes an Operating Thetan who can address deeper psychological dilemmas of his own existence
The church insists the men have nothing to do with it, with the lawyer for the Church Gary Soter told TMZ that the Scientology movement is 'not following Katie or conducting surveillance on her in the wake of her divorce with Tom Cruise'.
But it has been claimed this tracking has been going on for weeks - even before Friday's shock announcement the pair will divorce.
According to TMZ, 'there have been several 'mysterious' men and vehicles around Katie's New York apartment and following her when she's out.
'Specifically ... a white Cadillac Escalade and black Mercedes SUV have been seen near Katie's NYC apartment for the past week.'
The site claims sources believe these cars' occupants are not journalists, but their identity has never been established.
The Dawson’s Creek star is seeking for sole custody of Suri, the couple’s 6-year-old daughter. This would enable her to remove her daughter from the Church of Scientology, which she is alleged to dislike and distrust.
With a financial pre-nuptial already in place, it is thought that Holmes purposefully filed for divorce in New York state and not California because New York dislikes giving warring parents joint custody.
However, the divorce will not be recognised by Scientology, according to the church's doctrines.
The religion offers little advice to those for whom divorce has become the only option, preferring to focus on providing couple's therapy to fix relationships.
Sticking to his guns: The media mogul refused to back down when he was attacked on Twitter about his controversial remarks
There is a belief in the church of Scientology that marital problems come from 'withholds' or 'overts' - undiscussed issues or problems.According to the official website, marriage is considered essential to family life along with the belief that the religion will strengthen bonds between partners.
Scientologists also claim that people who follow the religion are more likely to stay married.
If a couple runs into a problem, they can take courses on how to improve their marriage or speak to counselors.
However Stephen Kent, a religion professor at the University of Alberta, told ABC: 'There's no real annulment in the church. Many members have been divorced, even founder L. Ron Hubbard was married three times.'
Murdoch also used Twitter today to criticise Mitt Romney’s campaign.
'Met Romney last week. Tough O [Obama] Chicago pros will be hard to beat unless he drops old friends from team and hires some real pros. Doubtful.'
'Weird cult': Murdoch alleged that Top Gun actor Tom Cruise was number two or three within Scientology's hierarchy
If members of the church are tracking Ms Holmes, it would not be the first time that Scientologists have turned on those who have left the cult.
The church refers to people who leave the group but practice independently as 'squirrels.
Last year, bizarre footage emerged of a group of 'squirrel busters' who fitted cameras to their heads to 'stalk' one of its defectors.
Marty Rathbun, once one of its highest-ranking members, left the church a few years ago but continued to practise independently.
He was reported to be in on the secrets of the church and 'audited' some of its high-profile members - including Tom Cruise.
And last April a group of four men wearing skyblue T-shirts and black caps with the words 'Squirrel busters productions' turned up at his door and said they were there to look at his 'PC meters' - a piece of scientology equipment - and check his 'tack'.
The T-shirts bore the image of a squirrel with Mr Rathbun's head superimposed onto it.
During the standoff, which lasts a couple of minutes and a video of which was on YouTube, Mr Rathbun asks the men if they are going to 'stick around' at his house and Mr Allender answers: 'Yeah, Marty, we are here for weeks. Weeks and weeks.'
Another added: 'As long as it takes.'
Mr Rathbun apparently called the police, and a deal was struck where he agreed not to bring harassment charges against the 'SquirrelSquad' and they would not peruse assault charges for grabbing a microphone.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2167406/Katie-Holmes-Tom-Cruises-divorce-develop-says-Rupert-Murdoch-brands-Scientologists-evil.html#ixzz1zSBBpz3H
