The Slatest

Scientology Leader’s Father to Write Tell-All Memoir

The Church of Scientology’s community center in Los Angeles. If you’ve seen HBO’s Going Clear, this image will not trigger happy thoughts.

Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images

St. Martin’s Press confirmed on Wednesday that Ronald Miscavige Sr., father of Scientology leader David Miscavige, will write a tell-all memoir called If He Dies, He Dies. The elder Miscavige introduced his son to Scientology in the 1960s, but recently left the church and is, by most accounts, somewhat alienated from his son. David has led the church since its founder, L. Ron Hubbard, died in 1986. He played a key role in securing a tax exempt status for Scientology, thereby allowing the church to amass a massive fortune.

That fantastic title, by the way, refers to a line from a Los Angeles Times story which revealed that David hired two detectives to surveil his dad. When Ronald clutched his chest in pain, an investigator relayed to David that his father may be experiencing a heart attack. The investigator asked whether he should call for help. David allegedly responded: “If he dies, he dies.”

The Church of Scientology issued this statement to the Hollywood Reporter after it reported the news, first broken by Tony Ortega, of Ronald’s memoir:

Mr. Miscavige has always taken care of his father and continues to do so. Beyond that, as a matter of policy, neither the Church nor Mr. Miscavige comments on members of his family. The Church knows nothing beyond media reports about any purported book. … So let me be clear: No such conversation with Mr. Miscavige ever took place and any claim that one did is provable bullshit.

Update, July 1: This post has been updated to reflect the fact that Tony Ortega broke the news of Miscavige’s memoir.