Kelly Preston and John Travolta: Devoted Scientologist couple tried to resurrect son Jett after his tragic death
Actress and former model Kelly Preston died at the age of 57 following a two-year-long battle with cancer, her husband John Travolta has confirmed. In an Instagram post, Travolta shared, "It is with a very heavy heart that I inform you that my beautiful wife Kelly has lost her two-year battle with breast cancer. She fought a courageous fight with the love and support of so many."
Preston and Travolta underwent great personal tragedy in 2009, when their eldest son, Jett Travolta, aged 16, died due to a seizure while the family was on holiday in the Bahamas. Jett was described as suffering from Kawasaki disease as an infant and had a history of seizures. After his death, his parents confirmed that their son had autism.
Both Travolta and Preston have credited their following of Scientology as helping them cope with Jett's tragic death. In an interview with Health magazine, Preston said, "To be honest, [it was] the Scientology Center. I don’t know if I would have made it through without it." In an interview with Amanda de Cadenet, Preston said, "In Scientology, we have what’s called ‘auditing’ and that helps you to address things in your life and to strip them away ... It's a path of spiritual enlightenment. Also, it helps rid the mind of painful experience completely. Through that, the people at my church literally held my hand and got me through ... I will forever be indebted." Further, Travolta told Us Weekly, "The church never left our sides for two years. I don't know if I would have made it through without their support. Our church is the number one thing that keeps us grounded."
Travolta has been an active member and supporter of the religious organization since he joined in 1975 while filming 'The Devil's Rain'. Other celebrities like Tom Cruise, Elisabeth Moss, Michael Peña, Laura Prepon, Kirstie Alley, and Riley Keough are affiliated with the church as well. While Travolta has been a follower of Scientology for longer, it is Preston who was a more fervent believer, an “anchor” for Travolta and was completely inured to negative claims about Scientology from the press, according to a report from The Daily Beast who spoke to Mike Rinder, a former Scientology spokesman. Travolta's and Preston's first wedding ceremony was conducted by a Scientology minister.
Sam Domingo, former daughter-in-law of legendary opera singer Plácido and former Scientology member claimed that Travolta and Preston even tried to "resurrect" their son according to the Daily Mail. She said, "Scientologists believe the spirit Thetan doesn't pick up a body until birth. If you lose a baby before it's born, then it's just an empty shell, nothing to worry about. It's the same with death. To them, once your body is of no use, your Thetan can just go out and pick up a new body and carry on right where you left off." However, Travolta's representative claimed Domingo's claims were false and ridiculous.
The church is one of the most controversial religious organizations and has been called out as an unscrupulous commercial enterprise that harasses its critics and brutally exploits its members. Many former members have come forward to speak out about the church and the negative effects its teachings have had on them, including celebrities such as Leah Remini.
