Paris (Texas)

An A$AP Rocky Cra$h Cour$e

This week marks the release of Harlem MC A$AP Rocky's major label debut Long.Live.A$AP. One of the most anticipated hip-hop releases of the year, the album marks the culmination of three years of some of the most buzzed about and consistent output in rap today. For those of you late to the A$AP Part ... More >>

Scientology President's Son Died of Prescribed Methadone While Sick With Pneumonia

I talked earlier today to Ed Winter, assistant chief coroner of Los Angeles County, who tells me that he's ruling Alexander Jentzsch's death an accident. The 27-year-old son of Scientology president Heber Jentzsch was found dead on the morning of July 3 at the home of his in-laws. Winter has now d ... More >>

Voice Readers Raise Thousands For Couple That Refused to Spy for Scientology

We've always been suckers for the final scene of It's a Wonderful Life. No matter how many times we see it, we tear up at the sight of George Bailey's friends coming to his aid in his time of need, proving to him that he really is the richest man in town. Over the last couple of days, we watched so ... More >>

Scientology to Marc and Claire Headley: Spy For Us and We'll Forget the $43K You Owe

The Voice has obtained a remarkable document -- a letter from Scientology's attorneys which explains how the church would agree to forgive almost $43,000 in court costs if Marc and Claire Headley agree to turn over information about former Scientology executive Marty Rathbun and "others involved in ... More >>

The Voice Reads Maureen Orth's Story about Scientology in Vanity Fair

See also our Voice Exclusive: Paul Haggis reacts to Scientology's attack on Nazanin Boniadi We managed to find a copy of the new Vanity Fair today, and we've read Maureen Orth's story, "What Katie Didn't Know," about Tom Cruise and his Scientology-approved search for a new wife. As advertised, the ... More >>

Scientology President Heber Jentzsch Told His Brother: "I'll Never Get Out of Here Alive" ALSO: Alex Jentzsch's Last Phone Call?

David Jentzsch, 80, tells me that the last time he spoke to his brother Heber, 76, was about three years ago. And at that time he urged his younger brother to break out of Scientology's International Base near Hemet, California. "He said, 'I don't think I can ever get out of here.' But I told him, ... More >>

Scientologists Told that Alexander Jentzsch Died of Reaction to "Prescribed Painkiller"

As the Los Angeles Coroner's office continues to investigate the July 3 death of Alexander Jentzsch -- the 27-year-old son of Heber Jentzsch, the Church of Scientology's president -- Alexander's mother, Karen de la Carriere, continues to hear from people in and outside of the church about the days l ... More >>

10,000 Scientologists Got This E-Mail Today About "Disconnection," their Church President, and a Mysterious Death

This morning, more than 10,000 Scientologists found an e-mail from Karen de la Carriere in their inboxes, written in jargon that they will understand, and informing them of the controversy surrounding the death of her son Alexander Jentzsch. As we reported first on Thursday night, de la Carriere le ... More >>

No Memorial Service for Scientology President's Son? "So Despicable, It's Almost Beyond Words"

Thursday evening we broke the surprising news that Alexander Jentzsch, 27, son of the Church of Scientology International's president, Heber Jentzsch, had been found dead at the home of his estranged wife's parents in Los Angeles on Tuesday morning. Last night, about 24 hours after our story appear ... More >>

Scientology, "Disconnection," and Homophobia: Derek Bloch's Story

Derek Bloch just wanted to share his story. He wanted to tell other people what he'd been through, growing up in Scientology, getting kicked out of its hardcore "Sea Org" when it turned out that he was gay, and then increasingly becoming disaffected with his parents' religion as he became more edu ... More >>

SCIENTOLOGY SETTLES WITH DEBBIE COOK

It's turning into quite a day of revelations for Scientology Watchers. Earlier this morning we reported that charges had been dropped against Scientology executive Jan Eastgate in Australia. And now, another stunning development: Marty Rathbun just reported at his blog that the Church of Scientolo ... More >>

One Year Ago Today: Did the Squirrel Busters Mark the Beginning of the End of Scientology?

On April 18 last year, a man named Marty Rathbun opened his door at the sound of knocking and was presented with the sight you see here. Three men on his porch holding video cameras, and with backup cameras strapped to their foreheads. They were each wearing sky blue T-shirts that featured the same ... More >>

Scientology Admits Connection to Slimy Anonymous Attack Websites

We've pointed out in the past that Karin Pouw, the Church of Scientology's spokeswoman, appears to be struggling, having been thrust into the role of chief mouthpiece since Tommy Davis vanished sometime last year. But her latest gaffe is more than simply an embarrassing moment for her and the churc ... More >>

Scientology Greenery: Commenters of the Week!

Note: We'll have a special St. Patrick's Day report at 1pm this afternoon. Please come back for that after you check out these comments of the week! We went to Mecca and back this week -- Scientology's Mecca that is, the town of Clearwater, Florida to celebrate L. Ron Hubbard's 101st birthday. And ... More >>

Scientology: Dear Judge, Protect Us from Rathbun and Rinder!

Yesterday, we reported that Debbie Cook had gone on the offensive in the lawsuit filed against her by the Church of Scientology. The church had earlier filed a motion for summary judgment, asking the Bexar County, Texas court to award it an early win in the case; Cook answered back that she wants t ... More >>

Scientology Counterattack: Commenters of the Week!

There's been so much enturbulation in the underground bunker lately, it's been hell on the cats, who just want to catch up on their sleep. So we installed one of those kitty hi-rises this week and it was an instant hit. The little carnivores are remaining more calm in their tiny carpeted condos whil ... More >>

SCIENTOLOGY FILES FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT AGAINST DEBBIE COOK

As they promised, Scientology's attorneys have filed for summary judgment in their lawsuit against former church executive Debbie Cook, and we have the document for you. Here's our first impression: After Cook's explosive testimony in a Bexar County, Texas courtroom made news around the world and h ... More >>

Nightline's Scientology "Exclusive": What was Exclusive About It, Exactly?

I had a strange and powerful case of déjà vu last night while watching Nightline's interview with Debbie Cook as she talked about being held in "the Hole" at Scientology's international base in California, where executives who fall out of favor with church leader David Miscavige are sent to rot in ... More >>

DEBBIE COOK COUNTERSUES SCIENTOLOGY: We Have Her Counterclaim, and the Church's Legal Salvos

The Voice has learned that Debbie Cook filed a counterclaim against the Church of Scientology Monday afternoon, the first significant development since her stunning victory against the church in a Texas courtroom on February 10. In her counterclaim, Cook is aiming directly at Scientology's ultimate ... More >>

Sundance Film Festival 2012: Queen of Versailles Review

Queen of Versailles, the latest film from documentarian and photographer Lauren Greenfield (Thin), follows David and Jackie Siegel, the 70-something Westgate timeshare mogul and his 40-something trophy wife who were in the middle of building the largest single-family home in America when the financ ... More >>

Scientology on the High Seas: L. Ron Hubbard Frets Over His Sexy Crew

In November we started a new feature here on Fridays: the Voice has obtained hundreds of copies of L. Ron Hubbard's previously unpublished "Orders of the Day," which he gave to crew members as he sailed the Mediterranean. Our documents cover the period from late 1968 through 1971, and this time we'r ... More >>

Scientology in the Village Voice: 2011 in Review

Here at the Voice we wrote 234 stories on Scientology this year. They generated more than a million pageviews and more than 20,000 comments from our loyal readers. Our first story of the year was posted in February, when we lauded Lawrence Wright's excellent, lengthy New Yorker profile of church de ... More >>

Scientology Kids: Fully Indoctrinated by 18

​On Sunday, we published a disturbing new document which was produced by Scientology recruiters in Australia. It purports to be the testimony of an 18-year-old named Denny Chang, who extols the virtues of Scientology's most hardcore contingent, the Sea Org, and urges other young church members ... More >>

Scientology Sunday Funnies: In the Sea Org at 18 and on Top of the World!

​Scientology doesn't really have a Sunday service. They like to say that they do, because they crave mainstream acceptance. But unless Xenu rested after six days and L. Ron Hubbard just forgot to mention it, there's no reason for Scientologists to treat Sunday any differently than every other ... More >>

Scientology Story of the Year: Cast Your Vote Now!

​This has been some year of Scientology reporting and commenting here at the Village Voice, and with the calendar about to flip, we wanted to hand out some awards. But first, we need your help. We're asking our many loyal readers to help us choose three major year-end awards for Best Sciento ... More >>

Scientology Sinking Like a Cruise Ship: Time for Thursday Stats!

Each Thursday at 2 pm, Scientology workers madly dash to finish up their work before turning in their weekly statistics. We like to do the same thing here at the Voice, and on Thursday afternoons add up the wins and losses for the church around the world. We took last week off in order to highli ... More >>

Q&A: Ted Lee And Steve D'Agostino Of ZEBU! On Naked Shows, Germany, And The Brilliance Of Nick Nolte

​The ZEBU! song "Your Band Is Nothing"—from Hookers In Sweatpants (Feeding Tube, 2006)—is pretty hard to argue with. Guitar-slinger Steve D'Agostino pinches off mammoth riffs that somehow conflate hair metal, Molly Hatchet, bubblegum bliss, and peevish Peavy blare while scrappy sin ... More >>

Dear Single Women of NYC: It's Not Them, It's You.

The plight of the single lady

Frederick Wiseman at MOMA

The curious (meticulous, ravenous) work of the 80-year-old filmmaker

The Best of 2007

Voice writers pick their favorite 20 books of the year

A Critics' Duet on 'Nashville'

From the 'Voice' archives: Remembering Robert Altman through the words of Voice critics past

Radical Comfort

Hey Mr. Sax Man, you're the hidden king of rock and roll, or whatever it is

Culture Clash

'86–'95: From Evangelicals to Trannies, the First Gulf War to Tupac Shakur

Senator Goes Missing

Where are the soldiers? The issue the press never asks McCain about.

Yasir Arafat, 1929–2004

The undefeated take their turn at writing history

Convention of Hate

The presidency cannot be built—and should not be won—on slander and vitriol.

Bully for Us

You talkin' to me, world? You talkin' to me? I'm the only empire around.

Pebbles at the Palace

Volunteer Now in Civilization's Battle Against George the Boy King

Criminalizing Librarians

Is Victor Arroyo a 'Traitor to Cuba'?

Two-Bedroom Apartment in New Building

Nation

Nation

Bright Young Thing

How Michael Powell Rose From GOP Obscurity to a Shot at Becoming the First Black President

Class of ’33

Haiti’s Virtual Government

Nation on the Brink of Civil War

Letters

The Isaacson Connection

AOL's Love-Hate Relationship With 'Time'