WIll Smith: "I Am Not" A Scientologist

Fox News ran into Will Smith this week, and asked him about Scientology:

This year, news broke that Will had funded a school in suburban Los Angeles that used one of Scientology's study programs. It seemed like Will and Jada were making a statement. But they didn't actually make a statement.

Monday night, I ran into Mr. and Mrs. Smith at the premiere of "Lakeview Terrace," which Will has produced with partner James Lassiter. Jada was there, too. And here's the thing about Will and Jada: they are immensely likable. They are incredibly gracious. Even when Will's overzealous security guard, the size of the Cleopatra column, attempted to block and neutralize me, Smith intervened quickly.

I told him I'd heard he'd given a press conference to the group called Anonymous, which protests Scientology.

"Not exactly a press conference, but I did talk to them," he said. Mind you, Will had just gone to the buffet and was carrying a plate of food. This was up at the swanky new Empire Hotel rooftop following the premiere of "Lakeview," which stars Samuel L. Jackson and Kerry Washington.

So, what's the story? Is Will a Scientologist? "I am not," he told me. The school is using one of Scientology's teaching tools, but Will said, "You can take different parts of things you like and put them all together."

That follows reports like these:
The school Smith founded teaching with Scientology
Smith defending Tom Cruise and his religion
Smith denying Scientology following in March
Smith supposedly distributing Scientology vouchers as a wrap gift
Smith told Men's Vogue that Scientology is like the Bible

Comments

[LiberalBuzz]

I believe him completely.

The thing about those losers at the Church Of Scamology is that they would not hesitate for a single second to start claiming him as one of their own in huge paper advertisements and meetings. They could care less about any nondisclosure statements, all they would do is claim someone put that info out there and then say, what the heck as long as it's out there we might as well go for it.

Besides there is something else. Will like his money, HELL he loves his money. Ever see his house? Lordamighty. So he might throw a mil or so around for a school or help program but he is savvy enough to know they would be headed straight for his bank accounts if he let them brain wash him.

As for his movies. Look at how many stars out there only have to release ONE movie a year that brings in hundreds of millions of dollars.

So I believe Will but I also believe the Church of Scamology is working him hard to get him to convert.

[useyourbrain]

I don't think it does a celebrity good to be associated with scientology in the business or with the public. If executives and producers had their druthers, they wouldn't associate with them at all but for now, there are some big shots in the program. Cruise will fade away as a box office drawer and will end up on cable.

[Tokhtamish]

Cruise has already faded away. He is no longer a bankable star.

[Mort]

I'm not a Scientologist. I just play one in real life.

[anghiari]

Sorry black folks don't do Scientolog­y...beside­s for those out of the loop...Wil­l's now deceased father was a minister..­.

[postman606]

Forrest Whitaker, Issac Hayes, how about it?

[Mattie]

what an odd thing to say!

[aaawyeah]

oh for chrissakes, who cares?!

[andvoodoo2]

Did Will forget to mention that all of the staff at the school are Scientologists, too?

[ReelBusy]

Let's keep all religion out of our schools.

[macintoshsauce]

Let's also keep from brainwashing kids that the theory of evolution is fact.

[rini]

Macintoshsauce??

Are you kidding me?? Scientific method is always about questioning and re visiting old theories. That's why they are called "theories.­" There is no dogma or "doctrine.­" Sure some scientists are not perfect and lose perspective, but they are not following true scientific method, which is based on pure observation.

Evolutionary theory, however, is accepted by most scientists, not because they are brainwashed, but because it makes sense. One cannot begin to go through fossils or even understand bacterial resistance without the theory of evolution. What other theory explains vestigial organs and adaptation with so much simplicity? What other theory has accurately predicted what fossils might be found before they are found? What other theory explains the persistence of sickle cell disease due to resistance to malaria? There are so many facts out there that fit into the puzzle, that to reject evolution is to reject a lot of what we know. Sure, if a new theory explains things better, so be it. I have yet to see this, though.

So, if you believe in modern medicine and technology and don't live in a cave.....e­volutionar­y theory is part of it.

[whiteboyblues]

The Game:
http://rutube.ru/tracks/1001686.html?v=e2df3410d0469b6be26fd51f36896d5e

[awww]

Scientology is a tax shelter - nothing else....

[josephbua]

Will, we have no problem with you being one if you are.

Heck, I don't see your movies anyway. Too loud. I like smaller films.

But if you are, you should really say so, though I suspect that you are worried about the ol' fan base.

I hear that they send out scores of people from the Celebrity Center every time a member has a movie out to buy up extra seats and make the sale numbers rise. That might be good for you.

The aliens living inside your body thing? I dunno, sounds like something from a July 4 movie premiere, not a "religion.­"

[HWNA]

Yeah, I'm sure Will Smith has to worry about filling seats when his movies come out. He could have a string of box office failures for the rest of his career and still be sitting on a mountain of cash so high, and a body of work so acclaimed by audiences around the world, that it wouldn't matter at all.

As for the "aliens living inside your body" thing, how is that any more outlandish than worshiping a zombie whose dad lives somewhere in the clouds?

After all, a religion is defined as "a specific fundamental set of beliefs and practices generally agreed upon by a number of persons or sects". That's it. There is no requirement that those beliefs or practices be considered rational.

[MaxPowerXP]

Oh boy, another boneheaded "christianity is the same as Scientology" comparison.

I'll tell you how it's more outlandish; the Vatican won't require you to drain your life savings before they tell you about the resurrection, won't require you to sign bogus billion-year contracts to become an altar boy, and won't tell your neighbors you're a child rapist should you decide to quit coming to church. It probably also won't murder you while you're in church-sponsored rehab. The biggest difference? Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, Discordianism, etc etc etc don't charge you outlandish amounts of money to tell you silly things.

I don't personally care if you decide to believe in Xenu and his space planes, but the 'Church' of Scientology is not a church, it is a moneymaking enterprise that destroys lives and has committed countless crimes. The only thing that claiming equivalency between Scientology and the world religions does is expose how dramatically ignorant you are of the CoS.

[hypnotoad72]

He's a good man. Solid marriage, decent actor (catch "Enemy of the State" as incontrovertible proof he can handle drama as easily as he did "Fresh Prince")..­. if he is a Scientologist, at least he's far more decent a person than those certain celebrity buffoons..­.

[cutter]

You can put lipstick on a scientologist, but its still a....

[mredder4]

To paraphrase Paul Mooney from the Chappelle's Show "Ask A Black Dude" segment: "Everybody wants to be a Scientologist, but don't nobody want to BE a Scientolog­ist."