Scientology

Bijou Phillip's divorce filing against Danny Masterson seemed shocking considering her very public support of the actor, but behind the scenes, it wasn't a big surprise ... TMZ has learned.

Sources close to the estranged couple tell TMZ Masterson knew the divorce docs were coming, so he wasn't blindsided as many had suspected. We're told Danny and Bijou's main concern now is to protect their daughter from upcoming appeals and legal challenges.

As we reported, Danny was sentenced to 30 years to life behind bars for two rape convictions.

Many speculated Bijou's divorce filing could be an attempt to protect their daughter's future assets if civil lawsuits follow ... though the exact reason she filed is still unclear.

As we reported, Bijou was steadfast in her support of Danny throughout his trial ... even writing a letter to the judge and praising Danny for his character and her trust in him as a father and partner.

Bijou Phillips is showing more signs her divorce from Danny Masterson is more a legal matter, and less a personal one -- because she's still rocking her wedding band.

BP was still wearing her bling Tuesday in Los Olivos, CA ... stepping out of a real estate office the day after she filed papers to start the divorce process.

It's obviously interesting, wearing your ring the day after calling off your nearly 12-year marriage -- and it fuels speculation that the split is purely strategic.

BTW, Los Olivos is in Central California's Santa Ynez Valley, and Bijou and Danny own a home and farmland there.

As we reported, Bijou wrote a letter of support for her husband only weeks ago, ahead of his sentencing of 30 years to life ... pleading for the judge to give him a light sentence, saying he's a "life-saving" father who's always looked out for others.

She also was reportedly wailing in the courtroom when Masterson was found guilty in May, so her turning around and filing for divorce less than 2 weeks later came as a shock ... at least, on a personal level.

Bijou Phillips está dando pistas de que su divorcio con Danny Masterson es una cosa más legal, que personal, ya que todavía la hemos visto luciendo su anillo de bodas.

Este martes en Los Olivos, California, Bijou todavía llevaba su roca en el dedo, al menos cuando la vimos salir de su oficina de bienes raíces, un día después de presentar los papeles para iniciar el proceso de divorcio.

Obviamente es interesante que lleve su anillo un día después de acabar con su matrimonio de casi 12 años, y alimenta la especulación de que la separación es solo estratégica.

Por cierto, Los Olivos se encuentra en el Valle de Santa Ynez, en California Central, donde Bijou y Danny poseen una casa y tierras de cultivo.

Como informamos, Bijou escribió una carta de apoyo a su marido hace solo unas semanas, antes de que este recibiera su sentencia, en la que suplicaba al juez que le diera una sentencia leve, diciendo que es un padre protector, que siempre ha cuidado de los demás.

También se ha informado que Bijou estuvo llorando en la sala del tribunal cuando Masterson fue declarado culpable, por lo que su cambio de opinión y presentación de la demanda de divorcio solo 2 semanas más tarde fue un shock, al menos a nivel personal.

5:32 PM PT -- Danny Masterson suena confiado de que conseguirá la anulación de sus sentencias en el proceso de apelación.

Uno de los abogados de Danny, Shawn Holley, dice a TMZ: "Durante los últimos meses, un equipo de los mejores abogados en apelación del país ha estado revisando las transcripciones del juicio, y han identificado importantes cuestiones probatorias y constitucionales que abordarán en los tribunales de apelación estatales y federales."

Holley continúa: "Los errores que se produjeron en este caso son sustanciales y, lamentablemente, condujeron a veredictos que no están respaldados por las pruebas".

"Y aunque tenemos un gran respeto por el jurado en este caso y por nuestro sistema de justicia en general, a veces se equivocan. Y eso es lo que ocurrió aquí", agrega.

El abogado concluye: "El Sr. Masterson no cometió los delitos por los que ha sido condenado y nosotros, y los abogados de apelación, los mejores y más brillantes del país, estamos seguros de que estas condenas serán anuladas."

Danny Masterson finalmente ha recibido su condena a 30 años en prisión, después de meses de ser declarado culpable de dos cargos de violación.

La estrella de "That '70s Show" fue sentenciado el jueves por un tribunal de Los Ángeles. Enfrentaba 30 años de cárcel después de ser declarado culpable de dos de sus tres cargos, por lo que la sentencia no es tan sorprendente.

Como informamos, fue declarado culpable de estos dos cargos en mayo. Se le acusó por primera vez en 2020, cuando tres mujeres declararon que los incidentes se habían producido entre 2001 y 2003, mientras él trabajaba en la serie de comedia.

Recordemos que Masterson tuvo un juicio en octubre pasado, pero terminó nulo un mes más tarde después de que el jurado no pudiera llegar a una decisión. El equipo del actor intentó que se desestimara, pero finalmente fue juzgado de nuevo y condenado.

Su abogado, Philip Cohen, nos dijo tras la anulación del juicio de Masterson que el caso "no trataba de otra cosa más que de la credibilidad de las tres denunciantes y que la credibilidad sólo se podía determinar comparando, contrastando y centrándose en las declaraciones en constante evolución de las mujeres."

Danny Masterson has finally been sentenced, months after he was convicted on 2 rape counts, to 30 years to life behind bars.

The "That '70s Show" star was sentenced Thursday to 30 years in a Los Angeles court. He was facing 30 years to life after being found guilty on 2 of his 3 counts ... so the sentence isn't all that surprising.

As we reported, he was convicted on the 2 counts in May, but the jury was hung on the 3rd count. He was first charged back in 2020, with the 3 women saying the incidents went down between 2001 and 2003 -- as he was working on his comedy series.

Remember, Masterson had a trial last October, but it ended in a mistrial a month later after the jury was unable to reach a decision. The actor's team tried to get it dismissed, but he was eventually retried and convicted.

His attorney, Philip Cohen, told us after Masterson's mistrial that the case was "about nothing other than the credibility of the three accusers and that credibility could only be determined by comparing, contrasting and focusing on the ever-evolving statements given by the women."

After being found guilty, we learned Masterson wasn't put in lockup with the general population at the L.A. County Men's Central Jail -- where he's been awaiting his sentence -- but instead was in "administrative segregation" ... where high-profile inmates like O.J. Simpson and Suge Knight have stayed in the past.

The Church of Scientology is clapping back at former member Leah Remini, dragging her for a lawsuit against them -- something the Church claims is total BS.

In an intense statement issued to TMZ from the church Thursday, they call the actress an "anti-free speech bigot." The church says Leah's "a horrible person and toxic to so many who have the misfortune to come in contact with her."

The church even compares her to "an anti-Semite complaining about the Jewish Anti-Defamation League for exposing the anti-Semite's bigotry and propaganda."

It claims Leah's been making a fortune on her "obsession" to take Scientology down since publicly leaving the religion in 2013 ... pointing towards her recent lawsuit by adding, "If Remini can no longer get a job, she has nobody to blame but herself."

The church says it's "not intimidated by Remini's latest act of blatant harassment and attempt to prevent truthful free speech. If Remini does not believe in free speech, then she should consider emigrating to Russia."

David Miscavige, leader of the Church of Scientology, is playing a cat-and-mouse game with lawyers trying to serve him a trafficking suit -- at least that's what the lawyers think now that he's allegedly vanished.

Over a four month period, Miscavige has reportedly eluded process servers a whopping 27 times at Scientology offices in L.A. and Clearwater, Florida, where the group is headquartered.

Security guards at both locations keep refusing to accept the suit, saying they have no idea where Miscavige is hiding ... according to multiple media reports.

Three plaintiffs, who formerly belonged to a Scientology sect called Sea Org, claim they were forced into the church as kids and worked into adulthood for nominal pay.

Valeska Paris, along with Gawain and Laura Baxter (who are married), eventually quit Sea Org and filed a civil complaint against Miscavige in 2022.

Last month, one of the plaintiff's lawyers filed docs, saying ... “Miscavige cannot be permitted to continue his gamesmanship" -- and a federal judge says she will soon decide whether Miscavige can be considered officially served.

What's weird about Miscavige's alleged disappearance is that some people believe his wife, Shelly, has also vanished. She was reported missing in 2013 by ex-Scientologist Leah Remini, who is one of the org's chief critics.

The police report said Shelly hadn't been seen since August 2007, but her lawyer issued a 2012 statement, saying, "Any reports [Shelly] is missing are false."

As for the Miscaviges' current status, there's been no update from their reps or lawyers.

The Church of Scientology had a serious issue with Tom Cruise while he was with "negative influence" Nicole Kidman ... this according to a former church officer that was once high up in the religion.

Mike Rinder's new book, "A Billion Years: My Escape From a Life in the Highest Ranks of Scientology," is peeling back the layers of the always-secretive world of Scientology ... and Mike's revealing a time when the Church began to drive a wedge between Tom and Nicole.

Mike claims the church got worried when Tom began ignoring calls from Church honcho David Miscavige ... while away filming Kubrick's "Eyes Wide Shut" in London.

Miscavige was super worried he might lose his grip on Tom, so he sent a top exec to the UK to audit the actor -- meaning he'd be walked through the negativity in his life to become "clear" once again.

Mike claims Tom eventually returned to the fold, which caused a serious divide between him and Nicole. He says the Church was so threatened by Nicole's influence, they allegedly hired a PI to spy on her and tap her phone.

The Church denies the wiretapping claims ... telling Page Six, "Mike Rinder is an inveterate liar who seeks to profit from his dishonesty. He supports himself by orchestrating the harassment of his former Church and its leader through false police reports, incendiary propaganda and fraudulent media stories.”

Danny Masterson's rape accusers -- who sued him and The Church of Scientology for allegedly stalking them -- are facing an uphill battle ... because the church's own leaders will ultimately get to play judge and jury in their case.

According to a new court order obtained by TMZ ... Chrissie Carnell Bixler -- along with her husband, Mars Volta singer Cedric Bixler-Zavala -- and another rape accuser entered into a written agreement when they were still members of the church, which says "any dispute, claim or controversy" that arises between them must be resolved by the church ... instead of by the courts.

The L.A. Superior Court ruled on Wednesday that this agreement is binding, and requires them to "use Scientology internal Ethics, Justice, and binding religious arbitration procedures" for such disputes.

The arbitration clause goes on to say these issues will be resolved by "application to senior ecclesiastical bodies, including, as necessary, final submission of the dispute to the international justice Chief of the Mother Church of the Scientology religion."

As we reported ... Bixler and 3 other women who've alleged Masterson sexually assaulted them filed their suit in August 2019, claiming they've been mercilessly stalked by the Church of Scientology in an effort to silence them.

The Church of Scientology has gone on the attack against A&E, alleging a glaring double standard by cancelling "Generation KKK" but touting its Leah Remini anti-Scientology program.

TMZ obtained a letter Scientology's lawyer fired off to A&E, in which it scoffs at the network's decision to pull the plug on the 'KKK' show because producers paid some of the Klan members money. A&E said it was a direct violation of its policies to pay the subjects of a documentary.

The Scientology lawyer counters in the letter, "Church of Scientology understands that two on-air accusers/participants in Leah Remini's docuseries, "Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath" received substantial cash payments for their participation, in violation of the same standards."

The letter goes on to essentially accuse A&E of becoming partners in Remini's show, giving them "free advertising and promotion for anti-Scientology books they have published."

And the lawyer says, "It is hypocritical for A&E to proclaim its intent to 'expose and combat racism and hatred in all its forms' in cancelling the KKK show and at the same time promote Leah Remini's program which promotes hatred that A&E claims that it wants to stop."

An official at A&E tells us there's a difference in the 2 shows because Remini is an executive producer on her show and she's "not the member of a hate group."

We reached out to Remini's rep but so far, no word back.

Mariah Carey was ordered out of the house she was sharing with billionaire James Packer, but she's staying put and demanding that he buy her an L.A. mansion as PART of a settlement in what has become a nasty breakup ... so say sources connected to Mariah.

Our Mariah sources say she doesn't blame the breakup on James ... she blames it on famed, former Scientology bigwig Tommy Davis ... who worked closely with Tom Cruise until Davis broke from the org.

Mariah believes Davis has had an extreme influence on Packer, whom they say has not been himself since Davis got in his ear. Our Mariah sources believe Davis poisoned the relationship, complaining to Packer he was spending an exorbitant amount on lavish gifts for her.

Other sources tell us Packer brought Davis in partially to help curb wasteful spending, and he immediately ID'd gifts to Mariah as prime examples. BTW, Davis played a similar senior role as Chief of Staff for Tom Barrack's private equity firm, Colony Capital. This situation became a very contentious thing between Davis and Mariah's manager, Stella.

One source pointed out that Mariah has a multi-million dollar home in NY.

As we reported, Mariah said peace out after an alleged incident on a yacht in Greece between James and her assistant. Our sources say when she returned, she was ordered out of their Beverly Hills home, but she refused.

TMZ broke the story ... Mariah is demanding $50 mil from Packer, partly because she uprooted her family to be with him in L.A. and partly because the breakup left her so distraught she had to cancel a leg of her tour.

We're told part of Mariah's demand is that Packer buy her a home in L.A.

Our sources say Packer is expected to respond to Mariah's demand Monday.

President Obama, Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton may not all be square politically, but they're all in the same boat, because they're now part of an LAPD death threat investigation.

Law enforcement sources tell us cops have been on the case since September. According to docs -- obtained by TMZ -- a woman sent a message on the Church of Scientology website saying, "I hate the United States Because I never get anything I want 100%. I hate President Obama, Hillary Clinton, Donald Trump, all Gerontologists ..."

She goes on ... "This is why I will gladly serve you to the satan ..."

Cops are not saying how serious it is, but they're calling it a death threat investigation. They've served a search warrant and believe they know the identity of the suspect, but she hasn't been arrested.

Tom Cruise has been pulled into the middle of a police investigation surrounding a potential suicide bomber who made alarming threats to the Church of Scientology.

Cops say the man called the Church back in April asking, "Are there any bombings I can do?" The man, who ID'd himself as a Muslim, said he "liked to do suicide bombings."

According to police docs, the caller began singing, "Allah Akbar, Tom Cruise" ... the phrase some terrorists have used as they attack. He then hung up.

The guy who allegedly threatened to kill Scientology leader David Miscavige is a free man ... after pleading no contest to making death threats and stalking the church leader.

Andre Barkanov, a 47-year-old Illinois resident, was sentenced to 1 year in county jail, but got credit for time served and won't have to spend another day behind bars.

Barkanov was also hit with five years of formal probation and a 10 year protective order, requiring him to stay clear of Miscavige and the church. He also has to complete a 1 year substance abuse program.

The father of Scientology leader David Miscavige appeared on 20/20 Friday night as a victim of his son's wrath, but sources connected with the Church say his dad is the real bad guy.

Church sources tout this pic of Ronald Miscavige in a Nazi uniform, taken a few years back. They also point to several letters sent to a publisher of a book Ronald wrote about his time in Scientology, warning them Ronald was a racist who was not afraid to hurl the n-word. One of the musicians claims one of Ronald's favorite lines was to sing and chant, "There is a n***** in the alley with a hard-on, spread the lard on, rub it in." They say he'd sing it to the tune of the National Emblem March.

Ron's people tell us the letters were sent at the behest of the Church to block publication of the book.

A rep for the church tells TMZ "The behavior exhibited in this photo and described in the letters is an anathema to David Miscavige and was what compelled him to try to find a way to keep his father in check." The rep says David has now disowned his dad.