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NPR Topics: News1 min read
Scientology ‘speed running’ trend has Hollywood abuzz and church unhappy
TL;DR
A new trend of 'speed runs' at the Church of Scientology's headquarters in Hollywood has emerged, primarily involving young men seeking social media fame. The church has condemned these actions as trespassing and harassment.
Key points
- Young men are rushing the Church of Scientology's headquarters.
- The trend is driven by social media fame and curiosity about the church.
- The church condemned the actions as trespassing and harassment.
Mentioned in this story
Church of ScientologyHollywood Boulevard
On any given day, Los Angeles’s Hollywood Boulevard teems with tourists and street performers clustered near the area’s many landmarks. But in recent months, the strip has been set abuzz for a new reason.
Throngs of mostly adolescent boys and young men have been rushing the Church of Scientology’s international headquarters on the famed street.
The so-called “speed runs” appear to be bids for social media valor – clips of the raids have amassed millions of views on TikTok – as much as they are an outgrowth of public intrigue surrounding the church, which has previously drawn accusations of being a cult. Some users have developed blueprints for the building based on information gathered from videos of the raids.
The church issued a Wednesday statement to the Guardian about a “large-scale incident” on Saturday, during which “dozens of individuals” forced their way into its facilities, knocking down staff members in the process.
“These are peaceful spaces designed to welcome parishioners, visitors and members of the public. Turning them into targets for viral stunts is not journalism, protest or civic activity. It is trespass, harassment and disruption of religious facilities,” the church wrote.
Church officials said they are “reviewing all available remedies” and have made reports to law enforcement. At least one staff member has sustained injuries that required medical attention from the incidents, spokesperson David Bloomberg said.
Los Angeles police have received five reports of trespassing incidents – two of which appeared correlated to speed-running attempts, according to the Los Angeles Times.
No arrests have been made, an LAPD spokesperson told the Guardian.
An 18-year-old content creator with the handle Swhileyy appears to have initiated the trend. In March he posted an Instagram video, which has since been removed, showing himself breaching the property. Swhileyy said he heard of the church through Streets LA, a TikTok account with over 330,00 followers.
Swhileyy, who has not been publicly identified, has distanced himself from the trend.
“I do not condone what I did, even though I didn’t break any laws,” he told the Hollywood Reporter. “I never once in any video or any comment section or anywhere promoted the idea of running through there or beating my record.”
Scientology, founded by sci-fi writer L Ron Hubbard in the 1950s, has been the subject of fierce scrutiny and public speculation. Many celebrities, including Tom Cruise and John Travolta, belong to the church, which has an outsize presence in Los Angeles.
Defectors, including the actor Leah Remini, have accused the church of fostering a culture of abuse.
Last week, Remini weighed in on the social media trend, calling it “unhelpful”.
Q&A
What are the 'speed runs' at the Church of Scientology?
The 'speed runs' involve groups of young men rushing into the Church of Scientology's headquarters, often for social media content.
Why is the Church of Scientology unhappy about the 'speed running' trend?
The church is unhappy because it views these actions as trespassing, harassment, and disruption of their religious facilities.
How have social media platforms reacted to the 'speed runs' trend?
The trend has gained significant attention on TikTok, with videos of the raids amassing millions of views, contributing to the public intrigue surrounding the church.
