-
HOME
-
WHAT IS STANDOur Mission Our Values Our Help Contact
-
WHAT WE FIGHT FORReligious Freedom Religious Literacy Equality & Human Rights Inclusion & Respect Free Speech Responsible Journalism Corporate Accountability
-
RESOURCESExpert Studies Landmark Decisions White Papers FAQs David Miscavige Religious Freedom Resource Center Freedom of Religion & Human Rights Topic Index Priest-Penitent Privilege Islamophobia
-
HATE MONITORBiased Media Propagandists Hatemongers False Experts Hate Monitor Blog
-
NEWSROOMNews Media Watch Videos Blog
-
TAKE ACTIONCombat Hate & Discrimination Champion Freedom of Religion Demand Accountability
The Night I Met David Miscavige—and Why I’ll Never Forget It
When you meet someone extraordinary, you know it. It doesn’t resemble an ordinary encounter—it stands apart immediately. It leaves a mark, and you don’t forget it. Maybe you’ve met someone like this at least once, if you’re fortunate.
This happened to me when I met David Miscavige, ecclesiastical leader of the Scientology religion. I was attending a special reception in Los Angeles, which he was also attending. There were many people at this event and being in Los Angeles, many were highly recognizable artists and celebrities. It was the kind of gathering you don’t take for granted being invited to.
Even though we were surrounded by people, it felt as if the entire room had fallen away.
At one point I was standing looking around at the various interesting people attending the event when Mr. Miscavige approached and struck up a conversation. What followed was anything but ordinary. To begin, even though we were surrounded by people, it felt as if the entire room had fallen away. I had never experienced someone listening with that level of focus and presence. I felt 100% heard and understood.
What struck me next was that Mr. Miscavige is incredibly intuitive, because within moments, he recognized I had a problem I’d been grappling with for years without resolution. He began asking me questions to better understand what I was facing. And again, despite the crowd around us, his attention never wavered—it felt like no one else existed.
In very short order—just minutes at most—Mr. Miscavige had completely grasped everything I was struggling with and offered a direct, elegantly simple solution.
I’ve never experienced a conversation like that before or since, especially with someone I had only just met. I still think back to that moment—to what it felt like to be understood so completely.
It was incredible.
I took Mr. Miscavige’s advice, and acted on it—and it resolved the problem that had festered so long.
That night has stayed with me ever since, and I extend my deepest gratitude to Mr. Miscavige for his care and help.
