MEAWW.COM / NEWS / CELEBRITY NEWS

Scientology built a soccer pitch for Tom Cruise to rope in 'friend' David Beckham and his wife Victoria

'It was built for one purpose only: so Tom Cruise could woo his friend David,' claims former Scientology member Mike Rinder in his book

Tom Cruise and his relations with Scientology are not new, with the church having played a significant role in his marriage and relationships as well as his professional career. Now, Mike Rinder, a former senior member of the Church of Scientology, has revealed the lengths to which Cruise went in order to rope in other celebrities to join the church. 

In his new book, 'A Billion Years: My Escape From a Life in the Highest Ranks of Scientology', Rinder claims that the church built a professional-grade soccer pitch for Cruise to impress celebrated English footballer, David Beckham, and his fashion designer wife, Victoria. This was part of Cruise's plan to "court celebrities other than those with whom he was working on films" reported Page Six. 

RELATED ARTICLES

Ex-Scientologist claims he was tasked with 'hiding' John Travolta’s same-sex lover accusations

Are Jada and Will Smith scientologists? Truth behind resurfaced rumors

According to the outlet, Rinder said, "A professional-grade soccer pitch was constructed on the property at Gold [Base, church headquarters in San Jacinto, Calif.]. The ground was leveled, irrigation installed, perfect turf, goals raised. It was built for one purpose only: so Tom Cruise could woo his friend David to come to Gold. This, however, never happened."

The influence of Scientology on Cruise's life has been far-reaching. Rinder claimed that the church helped the actor with his relationships and love life. When in 2004, Cruise was dating Penelope Cruz, a Scientology center was set to be opened in her hometown in Spain. The 'Parallel Mothers' actor however broke up with him before its completion. Rinder writes, "Tom had been dating Spanish actress Penelope Cruz, which was a contributing factor as to why so much money was spent to buy and renovate the beautiful building there. So it’s a bit ironic that by the time it was completed Penelope had broken up with him." 

In fact, after the ribbon-cutting ceremony, Cruise complained to Rinder, "Can you believe Lee Ann can’t set me up with a girlfriend?" Lee Ann is Cruise's sister, who he also hired as his publicist. David Miscavige, the leader of the Church of Scientology, along with senior member Greg Wilhere held "auditions" to find a significant other for the 'Mission Impossible' star. Following this, the actor had a brief relationship with fellow Scientologist, Nazanin Boniadi. Finally, in 2005, he began dating and later married Katie Holmes. The 'Dawson's Creek' star, however, filed for divorce after six years of marriage. 

Recalling an incident from 2005, when Cruise entered a debate with Matt Lauer on the Today show, Rinder described the actor as, "The perfect example of what a Scientology celebrity should be doing — speaking with absolute certainty, unashamed of what we Scientologists believed and knew to be true, no matter how bats**t crazy."

Rinder's claims in his new book have been rubbished by the Church of Scientology. A spokesperson for the organization told Page Six, "Mike Rinder is an inveterate liar who seeks to profit from his dishonesty. He supports himself by orchestrating the harassment of his former Church and its leader through false police reports, incendiary propaganda and fraudulent media stories."

As per reports, the former Scientologist's own entry into the religion came at the age of five when his parents took him to their local church in Adelaide. Eventually, he skipped university to join Sea Org, which has been described by the Chuch of Scientology as a "fraternal religious order, comprising the religion’s most dedicated members." From working as their international spokesperson to negotiating the organization's controversial tax exemption from the IRS, he eventually decided to leave at the age of 52 in 2007.

Since then, he claims, he has been hacked and spied upon but maintains that he will "always respond truthfully," especially for his children and family who "disconnected" with him. "I brought two children into that world and they know no better. I want them to have a chance to think for themselves and make up their own minds," he said