MovieChat Forums > Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath (2016) Discussion > The CoS following them

The CoS following them

posted 8 years ago by wesperkins
10 replies | jump to latest

I like the show, but the only part that bothers me or I don't get is their fear of the people following them. In the last episode, they passed a car on the side of the road that was still there after passing it before, saw a car twice at an intersection, and a woman came out and asked for their name while they were filming, and Leah acted like they were about to be killed and they were very dramatic about it. The threatening music played and they built it up with "cut ins" explaining what was going on. I never felt like they were in any danger or that anything sinister was going on. They were by the HQ and people from the church were filming them back and watching them. What did they expect? I wish they didn't make it like someone was about to get shot every time they see someone from the church. I know they went through some crap earlier in their lives but that was when they were members and in a private area away from the world. I just haven't felt like they have been in any real danger, more that it was annoying being followed than dangerous, but they ham it up too much for me.

[–] candacbap-88-377616 8 years ago

I was thinking the same thing although I get the distinct feeling that Remini is afraid of them, more so than the others. But I didn't get why the producer was so concerned about being watched. I don't think they're in danger so maybe it's for dramatic effect.

[–] wesperkins 8 years ago

Yes I got the feeling she was very afraid. I know bc I wasn't there it's easier for me to think "what's the big deal about being followed? She is by their HQ and filming them at the same time. Plus she should be used to paparazzi following her". I think bc they have seen more, maybe their fear is real but being overplayed by the producers. I haven't seen anything scary or intimadiing done to them yet, but they act like the church sent a hit squad after them. I do think their fear is real, I just think the current situation is being over hyped for the show. They are not gonna kidnap and beat up theA&E team filming. The church is not that stupid. But I dont think Leah would put it past them, whereas most non Scientology viewers think it could not happen. It reminds me of the History channel show Curse of Oak Island, where they play the dramatic music and use teasers to make you think they find something big, but turns out it's a bottle cap lid.

[–] brigwyn-99121 8 years ago

You would need to watch more confrontation videos posted by ex-scientologists. Some of these "stalkers" or "investigators" take their job of "protecting" the image of the COB and Scientology as serious as any other extremist from any religion. Some of these include violence, sabotage, even falsely claiming that the one being followed initiated the violence or accident.

Add to this that most of this show is filmed in the "holiest" spot for Scientologist, Clearwater Florida, and you can see a reason for concern.

Remember, this is the same organization that managed to escape prosecution for allegedly being negligent in the death of a member. Along with several other similar type incidents.

I'm not trying to spread anti-scientology propaganda. All of this is public record for one to make up their own mind.

[–] msliberry-1 8 years ago

Exactly brigwyn. I think I'd be afraid if I were them, too. Some of the videos I've seen of CoS following, screaming, and harassing former members is pretty scary. I can imagine, as more people watch this series and documentaries like Going Clear and their true nature is discovered, they will become more desperate to cover it up. Desperation makes people do crazy things.

[–] wesperkins 8 years ago

Yes I am agree when you look at the past, there is a lot more to it and her fear is real and justified. But just in the context of the one show on Tuesday, she passed a car that was parked on the side of the road for a while, saw a car at an intersection going a different direction and had seen it one time before, and a woman came out and asked the producer from A&E what his name was while he was in front of their HQ. They cut to it like something horrible was about to happen, and it was edited like "extra" footage after the show. Nothing of those was bad, and I imagine the press following her is a lot more dangerous than those scenarios shown. I am sure the church has done horrible things and their fear is warranted. I wish the show didn't hype up that particular set of events up like a murder might happen is all I was getting at, not saying the church hasn't done things bad or the fear from Leah wasn't justified. She didn't know what could happen. But the producers of the show knew it wasn't that bad at that moment when they edited the footage, and tried to shock us into thinking some stuff was about to go down. I also agree what church hires PIs and all that. My gripe was more with how it was presented.

[–] CalifDad 8 years ago

I get what you're saying. I think some of what we aren't privy to is the off camera, behind the scenes harrassment that the producers and Leah have experienced. If you read the Aftermath letters from Scientology you get a feel of how each participant is viewed.

Scientoligist already feel they are being attacked just by being questioned or doubted.

Many can react violently (see alledged examples of David Miscavage's behavior when questioned or just for someone failing to do what he expected.)

I agree with you it doesn't help dissipate any tensions by hyping the possibility of violence wven when the probability is probaly lower than we know.

I think Leah Remini addressed this particular point in one of the episodes. She understands that she lives in the publics eye and accepts the hassles that comes along with it. However, being hassled by paparazzi is way different than being stalked. And what you are seeing is an individual(s) being stalked.

For example, how did Scientology know when and where they were going. The only way would either via a leak in the production crew or someone is assigned to stalk their every move.

Scientology has been known to bug rooms, take pictures and video inside people's homes. Tap phone lines and listen in on private calls. As well as open private mail, go through trash and more
All this just to make sure that the target SP isn?t saying or doing anything against Scientology.

One more thing. Scientology is extremely legigistic. They have no problem threatening or even filing frivolous lawsuits. So that alone is reason to feat them. Maybe not a murderer but worse, a lawyer. ?

[–] CaptainStanley365 8 years ago

The way I've been interpreting it is they are just pointing out that they ARE being followed. It shows what lengths the CoS goes to and really proves that they're not like any other "church". What church hires PIs to follow people who leave the religion or make documentaries about them? This is what they're spending money on. The money that comes in that they don't have to pay taxes on.

It took me three hours to figure out that FU was Felix Ungar.

[–] superstarlet_04 8 years ago

Look up the Squirrel Buster videos. The church uses the "followers" to harass anyone who leaves.

[–] animerika 8 years ago

I just haven't felt like they have been in any real danger, more that it was annoying being followed than dangerous

How would you feel if you were being stalked by scientologists?

I don't think Leah was in the same situation as Mike, she was a celebrity after all, maybe she is not used to that. She knows about it, but she is not like the other ex members, they can't do that to her so easily because she's a public figure.

[–] wesperkins 8 years ago

How would you feel if you were being stalked by scientologists?

If I was being stalked I would find it disturbing. But while you can call it stalking, seeing a car at an intersection and having people film you, while you are hovering around their HQ filming them is not the definition of what I call stalking. Yes the church has done it before and it is despicable. A crazy ex spouse menacing you while you are out and alone is stalking. But she had a camera crew and knows they aren't going to try to hurt her while she is filming a documentary. Especially a celebrity. I'm not in any way trying to defend COS. But she wasn't exactly just minding her own business either. My point was that the show over dramatized the "stalking" incident and she made it out like she was in real danger to me. She probably has more paparazzi following her in the past than what the church sent at her. I think she simply hammed it up for the show, or at minimum just made too big a deal of it bc of the things the church has done in the past. Maybe it's easy for me to say that not being in the situation. I get that. And I am not trying to take anything away from the rest of the show. I just didn't feel like there was eminent danger and she acted like at any moment they might attack. It was just a little too much for me. Other than that I liked the show.