John Travolta and his involvement in Scientology is well-known. When Travolta’s son Jett died in a tragic accident, he and wife Kelly Preston found comfort in their Scientology beliefs.
Back in 2000, John Travolta doubled down on his devotion to Scientology when he produced and starred in Battlefield Earth, a movie based on a story by Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard. The film flopped spectacularly, eventually settling at a Rotten Tomatoes rating of 3%. It swept the Razzie Awards in 2000 when it was released, and won the Razzie for Worst Picture of the Decade in 2010. It even won the “Worst Drama of Our First 25 Years” Razzie in 2005.
From 1985 to 2009, John Travolta often brought into his films a relative. Sam Travolta is John Travolta’s nephew. He has appeared in movies produced by or starring John Travolta, including Perfect, A Civil Action, Swordfish, and Wild Hogs.
Sam Travolta says that he himself used to be involved in Scientology.
“My Uncle John never pressured any of his family to join Scientology. But he appeared to be ‘friendlier’ to you when he knew you were involved with the religion,” he has said.
But Sam Travolta says that he left the organization. And he claims that, after he left, he suffered persecution from the Scientology leadership that even John Travolta was unable to stop.
“Scientology almost killed me!” Sam Travolta told Enquirer.
“It’s psychological warfare, and after a while it gets to you. Things got so bad that I tried to jump off a bridge in Los Angeles in January 2007, trying to kill myself!”
Tales of what ex-Scientologists say is abuse of so-called “suppressive persons” have been spread in today’s Internet-connected society. Sam Travolta seems to speak of the same treatment. He has accused Scientologist operatives of “planting drugs on me,” and “spreading rumors around town that I was psychotic, and even worse – a pedophile!”
Sam says he asked John Travolta for help in calling off Scientology’s attacks.
“My Uncle John told me, ‘Sorry, Sam, I can’t help you. They don’t care who I am.’”
He does say that John Travolta helps him out with money monthly.
“I’m a struggling screenwriter living in a tiny one-bedroom apartment, so John’s money helps”