Did Rebecca Minkoff really say that Scientology has no secrets?

We were pretty busy with Lisa Marie Presley’s memoir last week when the new episode of Real Housewives of New York aired on Bravo and then spawned numerous press stories about Rebecca Minkoff’s scene in the last few minutes of the show.

But we did want to get your thoughts on the way she’s being brought into Season 15 of the long-running franchise. We’re told that the way the Real Housewives setup works, she has been brought in as a “friend” to the regular cast of housewives, and if she turns out to be a drama magnet and creates enough viewer interest, she might be added as a regular housewife cast member in future seasons. So a lot is at stake for the handbag designer, who admitted in a recent Elle interview that the pandemic was brutal for her company and she could use some more public visibility to bounce back.

At the end of this week’s episode, the women begin traveling to Erin Lichy’s house in the Hamptons. Minkoff joins regulars Brynn Whitfield and Jessel Taank in a helicopter ride. And it’s during that ride that Brynn, who seems to be something of a shit-stirrer, brings up Scientology to Rebecca. What ensues then are a series of short “confessionals” from the women about their thoughts on Scientology, and Brynn then has the last word. Here’s our transcript of these final few minutes of the episode.

Brynn: Can I ask you something?
Rebecca: Yeah.
Brynn: I’ll just jump in. People, and we should, this is what we have to do. If people ask us about this Scientology shit, what do you want us to say?
Rebecca: No comment?
Brynn: No comment?
Rebecca: Yeah. And also, if you’re like, I don’t know what to say, here’s what someone asked me, like come to me.
Brynn: No, I know, I know. I’m saying in press…
Rebecca: Oh.
Brynn: Because once you’re announced and it’s out there…
Rebecca: Oh no, no, no, you should read the text message I got right now, from the Daily Mail.
Brynn: What are they saying?
Rebecca: They’re like, we’re going to run this story it’s about … and I was like, great.
Brynn: I’m sorry, I’m sorry.
Rebecca: This was right before we started filming.

Brynn (v.o.): This weekend, all of these news articles came out…

[On screen, headlines from Us: What Rebecca Minkoff has said about being a Scientologist before ‘RHONY’ …and Reality Tea: Why Rebecca Minkoff’s Alleged RHONY Casting Is Already Controversial]

…about Rebecca, and being in Scientology, so there’s more questions than answers.

[Back in the helicopter]
Brynn: And I know you say ‘no comment,’ that kind of doesn’t work. I’m a publicist, (pointing to Jessel) so is she.
Rebecca: I just tell people, if you’re curious, read a book. That’s it.
Brynn: Right, yeah.

Rebecca (confessional): You’re curious, let’s talk about it when you can actually hear me talk. First of all we’re in a helicopter and it’s loud. I am not uncomfortable talking about it. But I want to talk about it when there’s a genuine interest, and it’s not just like, tell me about the movie. Do you want your friend to tell you about the whole movie or just, just go see the movie?

[Back in the helicopter.]
Jessel: Just to play devil’s advocate, Scientology is something that is like celebrity-heavy. People like to talk about it. They’re interested and curious, you know what I mean?
Rebecca: They’re a world-recognized religion, there’s nothing secret, there’s nothing weird, you know?

Brynn (confessional): The response I’m getting is very like I’m talking to ChatGPT.

Ubah (confessional): (Producer’s voice: Do you have any opinions about Scientology?) Not really.

Erin (confessional): Actually, John Travolta… Oh, I can’t say this on camera, never mind. (Producer: No, come on.) I can’t. No, I can’t, I actually can’t.

Jenna (confessional): Every single religion, or organized religion has an extreme version of it. And if you only look at that, that’s actually not a fair assessment. (Producer: So maybe you’ll look into Scientology?) I have my religion. It’s called ice cream and puppies.

Sai (confessional): Listen, the upside of it is that at least Scientology has pretty-looking celebrities.

Brynn (confessional): This is not the time or the place for this conversation, but I feel like I’m talking to like a door-to-door salesman who’s like trying to sell me snake oil. Between us, you guys, you know, it’s weird.

[Brynn Whitfield]

Wow, did Rebecca Minkoff really say that there’s nothing secret about Scientology, when one of the most basic, bedrock concepts from founder L. Ron Hubbard is that new people should not be exposed to upper-level materials and ideas because they need to learn on a “gradient”? In other words, Scientology keeping secrets from its own people, not to mention the outside world, is one of the most essential parts of of how it works?

This, of course, is when it would be so helpful if one of the other cast members had actually watched Going Clear or Leah Remini’s show and could ask an actually useful question when Minkoff tries out the usual “if you’re curious, read a book” response that all Scientologists are trained to give in public settings.

Wouldn’t it be good TV, for example, if one of these women were to ask Rebecca, “hey, so where is Shelly, anyway?”

But we were encouraged by Brynn’s attitude, especially there at the very end. She seems to see through Rebecca’s obfuscating. But will she get the opportunity to ask Rebecca about the snake oil she’s selling? We have our doubts.

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Scientology’s landlord in Adelaide found a buyer

In June we told you about an odd situation that Scientology found itself in down under in Adelaide, Australia.

The “org” there is a rare example where Scientology is only a renter and does not own the building that it is in. And there’s something else unusual about the place: It serves as the address that Scientology in England uses to avoid paying taxes.

We noted in June that the owner of the building had put it up for sale, and now the local press there is reporting that the edifice has changed hands for an undisclosed amount (but guesses are that it’s about $3 million).

Despite the impression you might get from some reports, this news did not catch Scientology by surprise. For many years the organization has planned to move into a new “Ideal Org” there, and in 2019 a building was purchased by Scientology for that purpose.

As usual, however, there’s no way of knowing how long that property will sit idle, waiting for an Ideal Org makeover and then a grand opening starring church leader David Miscavige.

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Thank you for reading today’s story here at Substack. For the full picture of what’s happening today in the world of Scientology, please join the conversation at tonyortega.org, where we’ve been reporting daily on David Miscavige’s cabal since 2012. There you’ll find additional stories, and our popular regular daily features:

Source Code: Actual things founder L. Ron Hubbard said on this date in history

Avast, Ye Mateys: Snapshots from Scientology’s years at sea

Overheard in the Freezone: Indie Hubbardism, one thought at a time

Past is Prologue: From this week in history at alt.religion.scientology

Random Howdy: Your daily dose of the Captain

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