Will Smith Gives $122,500 To Scientology

Will Smith gives generously to many causes, and one of them is the Church of Scientology. A Fox News report on his charitable foundation's tax return shows that $122,500 was donated to Scientology causes, out of $1.3 million given overall.

He also gave a combined $122,500 to the Church of Scientology, broken into these donations: $67,500 to the New York Rescue Workers Detoxication Fund, $50,000 to the group's Celebrity Center in Hollywood and $5,000 to ABLE, another Scientology offshoot. Smith and his wife have also supported a private school called New Village Academy they opened this fall in suburban Los Angeles that uses Scientology learning concepts.

Smith has talked about his study of Scientology and also said he is not a Scientologist.

Comments

[greenmba]

I'm no scientologist by any stretch of the imagination, but from what I've gathered it's no crazier than any other religion and it's probably responsible for a lot less death and destruction than christianity's history. Is there anything Scientologists lay claim to that is inherently evil? So what if they're different? My poots smell different at least every other day, maybe more. And they're probably very different than yours, but they all stink.

[A Watcher]

And what exactly have you 'gathered' about Scientology? OT III may be funny to you, but go up to any Scientologist and ask them about Xenu and they'll look at you like ' Who? That's made up! We don't believe in Xenu!'

The truth is, the average Scientologist doesn't even KNOW who or what Xenu is or even aliens. They are told that it was made up by people who wish to discredit the 'church'. And those 'elixers' used by them can be FATAL. narconoexposed.org has more on people who gave the COS thousands of dollars, barely excaped with their lives and became even worse off than before.

It's not about the COS being 'different'. They have done things that would make even extremist Islamic terrorists and fundamentalist Christians say, 'Okay, that is just SICK AND WRONG!' Go to exscientologykids.com to get a clearer picture. It's run by three young women who managed to escape the cult. One of them is Jenna Hill, the NIECE of Scientology's current leader, David Miscavige.

[flymic]

What?!!! say it aint so Will.

This is starting to get rediculous. What is the deal with Scientology? Is it a real church (ergo Jesus and bible etc)??!! I thought it was all based on alians or something????

Why does it attract celebraties in larger proportions? I mean, is there a large following of non-stars??!

and finally:

WTF Will... seriously W........T...........F?!!!

[Sutungpo]

So, Will, I guess this means that you think that Men In Black was a documentary?

I had thought you were smarter than this. Looks like I overestimated you.

[Laryssa]

why doesn't he come out of the scientology closet??

[DarthDerisive]

he has another closet he needs to come out of 1st! *mmmmmmkay face*

[45245]

"Workers Detoxication Fund" to Huntington post the word is Detoxification

[damali]

to 45245 the word is Huffington

[lucky4111]

The word is detoxication. Detoxication is the process of preventing toxic entities from entering the body in the first place.

[ChuckFarley]

He'd been better off giving 1225 ppl $100 bills...

Kind of an odd #, must of been mostly for tax purposes

[Clare53]

Hasn't Will smith learned anything from watching Tom Cruise's career take a dive?

[Bocado]

Ya, that wasn't a wasted donation, not at all.

Will Smith isn't a brilliant actor anyway, same loud mouth, apparently "witty" characters and funny, but really not.

Even his interviews are all the same with his "YYYOU KNOW" and "you know" and "PSHHH, KNOW WHAT I'M SAYINGGG.........ah-HA---ah-HAHA!"

zzzzzzzzzzzzz

[flyteeskee]

I agree 200%. If I have to hear him and Jada give their expert relationship advice one more time, I am going to scream. Do they think they are the only blended family in America doing well? Neither one of them can act their way out of a wet paper bag. I don't know what the attraction is but I will be glad when it is over!

[villagertwist]

Thank you...wonderful when these stars give relationship advice...

[LuvDaH8ters]

Watch 6 degrees of separation and tell me will smith cant act.

[ck one]

I wonder how much money he gave to real causes and organizations that could use a celebrities money and endorsement. He couldn't give money to the Boys and Girls club or any number of organizations that are not a brain washing cult? What a disappointment. Next thing you know he'll be jumping on the couch too.

[mapleaforever]

Oh well, cross another one off the list.

[JohninFL]

Or rather, Another one on the list. The list of actors not to watch!

[john stevens 26]

What's the surprise, a lot of these Hollywood idiots are in love with the concept or support Scientology...

[propitiousmoment]

Scientology targets them because they have lots of money. They tell them all kinds of ego-boosting stuff about how important they are and how much better than everybody else. It is a way to get their money. The whole thing was started by a science fiction writer who wanted to prove that he could start a religion. It's sickening. If you have the least bit of common sense (or no money) they are not interested in you because you can easily see through and resist their scam.

[harriettubman]

The last I checked, Will made his own money so that means he can donate to whomever he wants.

[mapleaforever]

I guess all criticism should stop, then.

[roddyz]

You're right, our awesome rights in this country give us the freedom to choose to say and do most anything - however - it doesn't mean people will agree with you.

And I believe Scientology is not a religion, but a money-making scam/cult that harms people. And they are very aggressive. They also would love to slip into the school system ...

Guess who Tom Cruise invited to one of his movie premiers a few years ago? Dr. Rod Paige, who was Secretary of Education.

[john stevens 26]

That education would be better than the subversive communist teachings of Bill Ayers...

[GreyWolfSC]

You are correct, and I make my own money and may choose to not spend it on a cult-supporter if I choose.

[ilovevegas]

You know if Will wants to throw money away like that why doesn't he help a cause thats not so stupid its a cult thats all it is and I thought he would be smarter than that. I guess not.

[Arbereshe]

From Wiki:

"According to The Visual Encyclopedia of Science Fiction, ed. Brian Ash, Harmony Books, 1977: "... [Hubbard] began making statements to the effect that any writer who really wished to make money should stop writing and develop [a] religion, or devise a new psychiatric method."

The founder of scientology himself said that it's all about money.

[nippyfan]

I'm a writer, I've been considering my own religion...mmmmmm But no, I don't want to go to hell for a dollar.

[GreyWolfSC]

Just leave hell out of your religion when you create it and you'll be fine. :)

[DeeW]

Thank you - I thought I was the only one old enough to remember that. Or maybe you're not that old, you're just good at research. But back in the 70s this was a well known fact, which is why most people thought of Hubbard as a nutbar.

[villagertwist]

I was told by someone who knew Hubbard well...it was actually a friend of his, a fellow science fiction writer, who suggested starting a religion, because Hubbard was continually in debt and always one step ahead of people he owed money to. That's why he started scientology. The person who'd be most appalled or amused at these folks would be Hubbard himself.

[Arbereshe]

I'm disappointed in Will Smith. I expected him to be smarter than falling for this so-called "religion".

[villagertwist]

Why would you expect him to be smarter?

[AurigaRa]

he gone.