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☆ Julian Assange’s mission was to change the world - but at what cost?
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-27 | by ( Lauren Said-Moorhouse | Claudia Rebaza | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +14 min

Julian Assange leaves a Melbourne court after facing charges of computer hacking in 1995. WikiLeaks/ReutersUnder a global spotlightAs WikiLeaks continued its disclosures, Assange found himself the latest cause célèbre – his every movement intensely scrutinized. … He liked the fuss that (the disclosures) caused but he was oddly incurious actually about the documents.”Others offer alternative explanations for Assange’s eccentricities. There were mounting calls for Assange to leave WikiLeaks and, when he didn’t, many cut ties with it. Outside the confines of his diplomatic shelter, the world questioned whether Assange was trying to circumvent justice.

Persons: London CNN — Julian Assange, ”, He’s, Chelsea Manning, Joe Biden, Assange’s, Anthony Albanese, Assange, “, ” –, Julian Assange, Ian Kenins, Sarah Palin’s, Atika Shubert, Shubert, ” Shubert, célèbre, Fidel Narvaez, “ Assange, ” Narvaez, James Ball, Joe Raedle, ” Ball, Ball, …, Narvaez, Hans Crescent, Lenin Moreno, Moreno, Abu Hamza al, Masri, Stella Assange, Daniel Leal, Stella, “ I’m, Nick Vamos, It’s, Alice Jill Edwards, Agnès Callamard, El País, Der Spiegel, Jameel Jaffer, Xiaofei Xu, Alex Stambaugh Organizations: London CNN, WikiLeaks, Court, Ecuadorian, Army, Australian, Pentagon, NASA, University of Melbourne, Fairfax Media, of Scientology, Republican, CNN, Chelsea, Apache, Reuters, Guardian, Ellingham, Hans, London’s Metropolitan Police, US Justice Department, of Justice, Britain's, Getty, Peters & Peters, Prosecution Service, Human Rights, UN, Amnesty, The New York Times, Columbia University Locations: United States, Australian, London’s, Australia, Townsville, Queensland, cybercrime, Melbourne, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, Iraq, London, Afghanistan, ”, Sweden, Ecuador, UK’s, Belmarsh

☆ Brooke Shields says she's glad Tom Cruise publicly criticized her antidepressant use — he accidentally brought awareness to under-discussed mental health struggles
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-10 | by ( Julia Pugachevsky | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

In 2005, Tom Cruise criticized Brooke Shields' use of antidepressants for postpartum depression. At the 2024 PHM HealthFront, Brooke Shields said his comments "backfired." AdvertisementIn one of the most controversial moments of Tom Cruise's career, the actor criticized Brooke Shields for talking about her use of antidepressants to treat postpartum depression. Almost 20 years later, Shields says Cruise accidentally raised awareness around the issue and drove people to fight for better treatment. Desiree Navarro/Stringer/Getty ImagesCruise initially called Brooke Shields "irresponsible" for using antidepressants in a 2005 "Access Hollywood" interview.

Persons: Tom Cruise, Brooke Shields, HealthFront, —, Tom Cruise's, Shields, Cruise, Rowan, Desiree Navarro, Stringer, Matt Lauer, Cruise's, Rowan Francis Henchy, Grier Hammond Henchy, Dave Kotinsky, weren't, Mark Wilson, who's Organizations: Service, NBC, Getty, Scientology Locations: PHM

☆ Leah Remini earns college degree from New York University at age 53
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-28 | by ( Elizabeth Wagmeister | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Leah Remini is living the life she always wanted, and wants her followers to know that it’s “never too late” to pursue a dream. The “King of Queens” star shared on Thursday that she has earned an associate’s degree from New York University, and is currently working on achieving her bachelor’s degree. “Three years ago, I embarked on a terrifying journey: becoming a college student at the age of 50,” Remini wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. “I desperately wanted a higher education for many years but didn’t move forward because I feared I was not smart enough,” Remini wrote on Thursday. I have read many of your comments and drawn inspiration from them,” the star wrote.

Persons: Leah Remini, “, ”, Queens, ” Remini, Remini –, –, Remini, I’ve, “ It’s Organizations: CNN, New York University, Twitter, of Scientology, NYU

For the second year in a row, a religious Super Bowl ad campaign promised viewers that Jesus “gets us.”Two commercials shown Sunday night centered Jesus’ message to love your neighbors — even across ideological divides. “Our goal is to really show that Jesus loved and cared for anyone and everyone,” He Gets Us campaign spokesperson Greg Miller told The Associated Press on Monday. The “He Gets Us” campaign is now under a new charitable organization, Come Near, meaning the Servant Foundation is no longer overseeing it. This is the 12th consecutive year the Church of Scientology has premiered a new ad during the Super Bowl, said spokesperson Erin Banks. “The audience of the Super Bowl allows us to do that with the greatest potential reach.”___AP Religion News Editor Holly Meyer and reporter Deepa Bharath contributed.

Persons: Jesus “, Jesus, Greg Miller, Roe, Wade —, —, ”, “, Mark Wahlberg, Erin Banks, Banks, Ron Hubbard’s, Tom Cruise, John Travolta, Mary, ” Miller, Holly Meyer, Deepa Bharath Organizations: Associated Press, Servant Foundation, Defending, Hobby, Paris Olympics, NFL, Republican, Democratic, of Scientology, Mental, “, ”, Lilly Endowment Inc, AP

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Bijou Phillips has filed for divorce from Danny Masterson, days after the former “That '70s Show” star was sentenced to 30 years to life in prison for two rape convictions. Phillips, a 43-year-old actor, filed a petition in Santa Barbara Superior Court on Monday to end her nearly 12-year marriage to the 47-year-old Masterson, according to the court's website. An attorney for Phillips did not respond to emails, and a representative for Masterson declined comment. Political Cartoons View All 1169 ImagesIn a letter to the judge prior to Masterson's sentencing, Phillips praised him as a husband and father. Kutcher and Kunis apologized after their own letters to the judge seeking leniency for Masterson became public and spurred criticism.

Persons: Bijou Phillips, Danny Masterson, Phillips, Masterson, “, Danny, ” Phillips, ”, Papas, John Phillips, Genevieve Waite, Ashton Kutcher, Mila Kunis, Topher Grace, Kutcher, Kunis Organizations: ANGELES, Santa Barbara Superior Court, “, Fox, Los Angeles, of Scientology Locations: Santa, Santa Barbara County, Ireland, Los

TORONTO (AP) — After a three-and-a-half-hour documentary on his life, Paul Simon had only sympathy for the audience. The 81-year-old Simon, himself, hadn't watched the film before its debut, and he didn't watch it Sunday, either. “In Restless Dreams,” which takes its name from a lyric in “The Sound of Silence” ("In restless dreams I walked alone"), also intimately captures Simon painstakingly assembling his latest album, “Seven Psalms," which was released in May. “I haven’t accepted it entirely, but I’m beginning to,” Simon told the audience of his hearing loss in a post-screening Q&A. “Having the truth about me depicted by an observer is very interesting to me," Simon said.

Persons: Paul Simon, Simon, hadn't, “, ”, Art Garfunkel, ” Simon, Gibney, “ Sinatra, ” “, Jake Coyle Organizations: TORONTO, South, ”, Twitter Locations: Queens , New York, Wimberly , Texas

LOS ANGELES (AP) — “That ’70s Show” star Danny Masterson could get as much as 30 years to life in prison at his sentencing Thursday for the rapes of two women two decades ago. A jury of seven women and five men found Masterson guilty of two counts on May 31 after seven days of deliberations. The women blamed the church for their hesitancy in going to police about Masterson. Masterson was not charged with any counts of drugging, and there was no toxicology evidence to back up the assertion. Masterson starred with Ashton Kutcher, Mila Kunis and Topher Grace in “That ’70s Show” from 1998 until 2006.

Persons: Danny Masterson, Charlaine F, Olmedo, Masterson, “, Reinhold Mueller, they’ve, Ashton Kutcher, Mila Kunis, Topher Grace, Kutcher, Harvey Weinstein, Weinstein Organizations: ANGELES, Los Angeles Superior, Fox, Prosecutors, Scientology, ”, Associated Press, Netflix, LAPD, Hollywood Locations: Masterson’s Hollywood, “, Angeles

☆ Danny Masterson sentenced to 30 years to life in prison
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-07 | by ( Angela Yang | Corky Siemaszko | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

"That '70s Show" star Danny Masterson was sentenced Thursday to 30 years to life in prison for raping two women more than two decades ago at his Hollywood Hills home. Masterson had been charged with raping three women — identified at trial as Jane Doe #1, Jane Doe #2 and Jane Doe #3 — between 2001 to 2003. His second trial ended with the actor being convicted of raping Jane Doe #1 and Jane Doe #2 but not Jane Doe #3. All three accusers are former members of the Church of Scientology, to which Masterson still belongs. Both trials focused unwanted attention on the controversial church, which the women have accused of trying to cover up the allegations.

Persons: Danny Masterson, Masterson, —, Jane Doe, Read, NBC News Masterson's, Judge Charlaine Olmedo, Karin Pouw Organizations: Hollywood, NBC News, of Scientology, Scientology Locations: Los Angeles

☆ 'That 70's Show' actor Masterson sentenced to 30 years to life in prison for raping two women
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-07 | by ( Rollo Ross | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Actor Danny Masterson is arraigned on three rape charges in separate incidents between 2001 and 2003, at Los Angeles Superior Court, Los Angeles, California, U.S., September 18, 2020. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson Acquire Licensing RightsLOS ANGELES, Sept 7 (Reuters) - "That '70s Show" actor Danny Masterson was sentenced on Thursday to 30 years to life in prison for raping two women about 20 years ago in a case that stirred controversy around the Church of Scientology. Judge Charlaine Olmedo announced the sentence in Los Angeles Superior Court. The Church of Scientology denied that claim and said Masterson's religion should not have been an issue in the case. The women said Masterson drugged and raped them in separate incidents between 2001 and 2003 at his house in the Hollywood Hills.

Persons: Danny Masterson, Lucy Nicholson, Judge Charlaine Olmedo, Masterson, “, ”, Jane Doe, Lisa Richwine, Jonathan Oatis, Cynthia Osterman Organizations: Los Angeles Superior Court, REUTERS, of Scientology, Scientology, Hollywood, Netflix, Thomson Locations: Los Angeles , California, U.S, Los Angeles

CNN —The actress Leah Remini has filed a lawsuit against the Church of Scientology and its leader, David Miscavige, claiming she has suffered years of harassment, intimidation and defamation as part of an organized campaign of retaliation for her criticism of the church since leaving it a decade ago. After leaving the church in 2013, though, the actress became a fierce and high-profile critic: She published a memoir in 2015, “Troublemaker: Surviving Hollywood and Scientology,” and went on to host three seasons of the docuseries, “Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath,” on A&E. “Leah Remini has become what she once vowed she would never be: ‘This bitter ex-Scientologist,’” the church said in a 2016 statement in response to the series. People walk past the Church of Scientology in Los Angeles in 2012. The church allegedly paid social media companies to promote the posts targeting Remini, the lawsuit says, adding Scientology’s “old-school, mob-style tactics” extend beyond social media.

Persons: Leah Remini, David Miscavige, –, ” Remini, “, Kevin James, Queens, ”, “ Leah Remini, Remini’s, Lawrence Wright, Remini, ’, Mario Anzuoni, Remini “, Ms Organizations: CNN, of Scientology, Superior Court, Scientology, CBS, Hollywood, HBO, Warner Bros . Discovery, Religious Technology, Remini Locations: Los Angeles, New York

☆ 'That 70s Show' actor Danny Masterson convicted on two rape counts
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

May 31 (Reuters) - "That '70s Show" actor Danny Masterson was convicted on Wednesday of raping two women at his Hollywood Hills home. Masterson, 47, got his break-out role in the 1998 to 2006 television comedy series "That '70s Show," in which he played a rebel adolescent. The actor had pleaded not guilty to the rape charges. According to City News Service, Cohen questioned the credibility of the alleged victims and said their stories had been tweaked over the years. The case drew attention in part because Masterson met the women through the Church of Scientology, and two of the accusers said the organization discouraged them from contacting law enforcement.

Persons: Danny Masterson, Masterson, Greg Risling, Philip Cohen, Cohen, Lisa Richwine, Stephen Coates Organizations: Hollywood, Los Angeles County, City News Service, of Scientology, Scientology, Thomson

☆ Danny Masterson Is Convicted of Raping Two Women
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-31 | by ( Michael Levenson | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

Another accuser, who was identified in court documents only as Christina B., said in the same statement that she was “devastated” that the jury had deadlocked on the charge that Masterson raped her in 2001 when they were in a relationship. About 20 or 30 minutes later, she felt “very disoriented,” the brief states. According to the brief, Masterson raped her after she regained consciousness on his bed. She reached for his hair to try to pull him off and tried to push a pillow into his face, the brief states. When Masterson heard a man yelling in the house, he pulled a gun from his night stand and told her not to move or to “say anything,” adding expletives, the brief states.

Persons: “, Danny Masterson, Masterson, Christina B, ”, Jen B Organizations: of Scientology, Los Angeles County, Attorney’s Office Locations: ”

☆ An Elon Musk documentary is in the works from the director who examined Theranos, Enron, and Scientology
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-06 | by ( Sarah Jackson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

An Elon Musk documentary is currently being made by acclaimed director Alex Gibney. Gibney has examined Theranos, Enron, Scientology, and more in his previous documentaries. Gibney's other documentaries have tackled Scientology, Enron, Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes, WikiLeaks, Steve Jobs, and more. Gibney's Jigsaw Productions is producing the film alongside production companies Closer Media, Anonymous Content, and Double Agent. "Now is the moment for a rigorous portrait of Elon Musk, who is undeniably one of the most influential figures of our time.

☆ Danny Masterson to face second trial on rape charges
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-10 | by ( ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +4 min

Prosecutors announced on Tuesday that they will pursue a second trial against Danny Masterson, after a jury deadlocked on three rape charges at the actor’s first trial in November. Masterson, 46, is accused of forcibly raping three women at his home in the Hollywood Hills from 2001 to 2003. Defense attorney Philip Cohen argued that it was unlikely that any jury would vote unanimously to convict. The women, who have all since left Scientology, said they feared being excommunicated from the church for going to the police. Cohen argued that Scientology was irrelevant to the case, and he sought to minimize any mention of it.

LOS ANGELES — The jury weighing the rape charges against “That ‘70s Show” star Danny Masterson announced Wednesday it was hopelessly deadlocked and a mistrial was declared. Masterson has also denied assaulting a fourth woman, identified as Jane Doe #4, who told the court she too had been raped by him. While the judge allowed testimony by Jane Doe #4, Masterson was not criminally charged with raping her. The panel, on Nov. 18, sent Olmedo a note saying they had been “unable to reach a unanimous decision” on any of the three forcible rape counts against Masterson. “You have been deliberating for an insufficient amount of time,” Olmedo said before excusing them for the holiday break.

LOS ANGELES — The jury weighing the rape charges against “That '70s Show” star Danny Masterson announced Friday it was deadlocked. Los Angeles County Superior Court Charlaine F. Olmedo told the panel to come back on Nov. 28 and try again. It was an unexpected twist in the closely-watched trial in Los Angeles County Superior Court. He has also denied assaulting a fourth woman, identified as Jane Doe #4, who told the court she too had been raped by Masterson. Dua Anjum and Diana Dasrath reported from Los Angeles and Corky Siemaszko from New York City.

LOS ANGELES — The fate of “That ’70s Show” star Danny Masterson is in the hands of a jury. Unlike his other accusers, Jane Doe #4 was never a member of the Church of Scientology, which Masterson still belongs to. But Jane Doe #4’s testimony mirrored in many ways the testimony of the three women Masterson is charged with raping. “That is going to be your power.”Mueller also took aim at Cohen’s suggestion that Masterson’s accusers colluded against him. “It became about Scientology,” Cohen said.

LOS ANGELES — “That ’70s Show” star Danny Masterson told the court Monday that he would not testify at his own rape trial. His announcement came after a fourth woman testified last week that he raped her twice, more than two decades ago after they had met on a movie set. Masterson is not charged with raping the woman, an actress identified in court as Jane Doe #4. Unlike the three women Masterson is charged with raping, Jane Doe #4 is not a former or current member of the Church of Scientology. Cohen made his third request for a mistrial after Jane Doe #4 finished testifying and was again rebuffed by the judge.

LOS ANGELES — The fourth woman to accuse “That ’70s Show” star Danny Masterson of rape told the court Thursday that she sent a supportive message to the actor’s brother two years before she told police that she, too, was a victim. Danny and you looked out for me.”Under questioning by defense attorney Philip Cohen, Jane Doe #4 confirmed that she had written the note. He is not charged with sexually assaulting Jane Doe #4. Smith, who said she also has known Masterson since he was a teenager, said Jane Doe #2 confided in her about the alleged assault in 2003. But two of the women Masterson is charged with raping have testified they were rebuffed when they told Scientology officials he sexually assaulted them.

☆ Filmmaker Paul Haggis found liable by jury for $7.5 million in rape suit
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-10 | by ( The Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +6 min

The jury also decided that additional punitive damages should be awarded, but the amount is to be decided later. Haggis, 69, said the publicist was flirtatious and, while sometimes seeming “conflicted,” initiated kisses and oral sex in an entirely consensual interaction. Jurors sided with Breest, who said she suffered psychological and professional consequences from her encounter with Haggis. Four other women also testified that they experienced forceful, unwelcome passes — and in one case, rape — by Haggis in separate encounters going back to 1996. No witnesses said they knew that Haggis’ accusers or Breest’s lawyers had Scientology ties, and his lawyers acknowledged that Breest herself does not.

Masterson has been charged with raping three women between 2001 and 2003 but has not been charged with sexually assaulting Jane Doe #4. On cross-examination, Jane Doe #4 said about a month later, Masterson assaulted her again at her home. Asked by Deputy District Attorney Reinhold Mueller what happened the next morning, Jane Doe #4 said "Danny was there." Unlike the other accusers, Jane Doe #4 was not a Scientologist. Dua Anjum reported from Los Angeles and Corky Siemaszko from New York City.

LOS ANGELES — The judge in the rape trial of “That ‘70s Show” star Danny Masterson dealt the defense a potential setback Monday by allowing a fourth woman who says she was assaulted by the actor to testify. Jane Doe #4 was not in cahoots with Masterson's accusers or a Scientologist, Mueller said. He said the jury should be aware there is another woman "out there with similar experience with Mr. Masterson who also was interviewed" by detectives from the Los Angeles Police Department. The judge had initially barred the testimony of Jane Doe #4, who told police she was sexually assaulted by Masterson in 1996. Dua Anjam and Diana Dasrath reported from Los Angeles, Corky Siemaszko from New York City

LOS ANGELES — One Hollywood star claimed he was arrested and charged on multiple counts of rape by police and prosecutors who are biased against his church. Another prominent Hollywood figure charged with rape contends he was set up by members of a church he has publicly renounced. In both cases, the church in question is the Church of Scientology. Haggis denied Breest’s rape allegation in a counter-complaint and accused her and her lawyer of trying to extort $9 million from him. “She decided she had to do something.”In the Masterson case, he and his accusers are all current or former members of the Church of Scientology.

☆ Trial begins for Danny Masterson, 'That '70s Show' actor charged with rape
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-19 | by ( The Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +5 min

LOS ANGELES — A prosecutor described rape allegations by three women Tuesday against “That ’70s Show” actor Danny Masterson from two decades ago that contained some of the same disturbing elements. One of them said he dragged her to his bed where she regained consciousness to find him having sex with her. Superior Court Judge Charlaine F. Olmedo sternly reminded the lawyers that Scientology would not dominate the trial. The Associated Press does not typically name people who say they were victims of sexual abuse unless they come forward publicly. Weinstein’s second rape and sexual assault trial — he’s already been convicted in New York — is happening simultaneously, just down the hall from Masterson’s.

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