John Travolta has described Scientology as “beautiful” and said it would be a “crime” for him to say anything negative about it, in response to an HBO documentary claiming he is a “captive” of the church.
The actor said he had not seen Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief, and has no plans to do so.
He insisted the church “has been nothing but brilliant for me” and said he would not have coped with the death of his son, Jett, without the help of Scientology. Jett died in 2009, aged 16, after suffering a seizure.
“Oh, my God, I wouldn’t have made it. Honestly,” Travolta said.
“I’ve been brought through storms that were insurmountable and [Scientology has] been so beautiful for me that I can’t even imagine attacking it.
“I’ve helped so many people through hard times. Loss of children, loved ones, physical illnesses. Through many tough, tough, life situations I’ve used the technology to support them and help them. It’s always worked.
“So why would I even approach a negative perspective? That would be a crime to me, personally, to do that.”
Speaking to Florida newspaper the Tampa Bay Times, Travolta declined to comment on specific allegations in Going Clear except to say he hadn’t “experienced anything” mentioned in the film.
“I’ve been so happy with my experience in the last 40 years that I really don’t have anything to say that would shed light on [a documentary] so decidedly negative.”
He dismissed the film as the testimonies of “disgruntled” former Scientologists.
Going Clear is based on a book of the same name by Lawrence Wright, which alleges some members are blackmailed when they attempt to leave the church.
A Scientology spokesman has denied all claims and said the book and film are based on accounts by "admitted liars and professional anti-Scientologists".