Niece of Scientology leader uses TikTok to criticize church

(NewsNation) — The niece of Scientology leader David Miscavige has long been an outspoken critic of the church, and now, she’s doing so with a new TikTok page.

Jenna Miscavige entered the Church of Scientology as a young child and left as an adult in 2005. Since then, she says, she has committed her life to exposing what she considers a dangerous cult, despite what she says are the organization’s attempts to intimidate her. Her latest strategy, creating TikTok videos, could offer a measure of protection, Jenna Miscavige told “Banfield.”

“I feel comfort and safety in speaking out, but it’s obviously not fun to be followed by private investigators,” she said Wednesday. “Initially, speaking out about Scientology was very dangerous, but now people can find their own platforms, on TikTok and YouTube, and there is safety in numbers and in corroboration.”

Who is the niece of Scientology leader David Miscavige?

Jenna Miscavige is the daughter of David Miscavige‘s older brother, Ron. 

She was a third generation Scientologist, after her parents and grandparents joined the church. She grew up in the Sea Organization, or Sea Org, a group of the most devout Scientologists.

She said she was separated from her parents at the age of 8 to live on a children’s commune in accordance with the religion’s rules. Here, she said, she was subjected to rigorous manual labor. Both her parents and grandparents left the church but were not allowed to take her with them, she said. 

In 2004, she met another Scientology member, Dallas Hill, on a church mission to Australia. There, the two were able to access the internet, where they found material, including the website Operation Clambake, that criticized the church. The two got married and left the church when Hill was 22 years old.

In 2013, she wrote a book exposing the church called “Beyond Belief: My Secret Life Inside Scientology and My Harrowing Escape.”

“In the last couple of years, I’ve just become reinspired to start talking about Scientology, by certain YouTube channels and TikTok channels,” Jenna Miscavige told “Banfield.”

What is Scientology?

Scientology describes itself as a religion founded in the 1950s by science fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard. 

Hubbard based the religion on the theory that people could be held back by “engrams,” or past negative events, some even from previous lives. He suggested that engrams could be overcome by an “auditing” process, in which trained Scientology members would use E-meters — devices that somewhat resemble lie detectors — to measure reactions.

David Miscavige is called the “ecclesiastical leader of the Scientology religion” and also serves as chairman of the board of the Religious Technology Center, according to the church’s website. 

Where is Shelly Miscavige?

Shelly Miscavige had been considered the de facto first lady of the church, but she reportedly has not been seen publicly since 2007. 

Her disappearance sparked concern among former members of the religion, including actress Leah Remini, who filed a missing person’s report in 2013. After an investigation, the Los Angeles Police Department said Shelly Miscavige was “alive and safe” and closed the case, People reported.  

Jenna Miscavige offered an explanation about where Shelly Miscavige is today, based on information she says she has received.

After a “falling out,” her aunt works at a Scientology base in Twin Peaks, Calif., where church members “put Scientology scripture onto titanium plates so that they can survive nuclear holocaust,” Jenna Miscavige said.

“It’s a very secretive, special job, but she has been seen eating at local restaurants, going out to see Marvel movies and seen at the chiropractor. So, she’s there of her own choosing,” she said.

“I don’t want to say everything is great in her life because she’s still in a cult, and that’s not great for anybody,” the niece continued. “But that’s where she chooses to be. She’s an adult.”

Scientology response to Jenna Miscavige claims

The Church of Scientology declined to have a representative appear on Wednesday’s “Banfield” but sent a statement shortly before the show aired. The statement, in part, attacked Jenna Miscavige for contradicting herself in her videos and said she doesn’t offer evidence to prove her “outlandish” claims.

The organization said she was expelled from the church for misconduct, a reason why Jenna Miscavige is now criticizing the Church of Scientology.