A weird new TikTok development is sending thrill-seeking influencers sprinting straight into Church of Scientology buildings throughout LA — racking up tens of millions of views whereas blurring the road between prank and trespass.
The viral craze, dubbed the “Scientology run,” challenges customers to cost by the entrance doorways of the properties and see how far they will make it earlier than being stopped and kicked out.
Some of the-watched clips — posted by TikTok account swhileyy — has already pulled in additional than 35 million views in a single week, displaying the creator bolting right into a Hollywood location earlier than being intercepted.
Based within the Fifties by science fiction creator L. Ron Hubbard, the faith teaches people are immortal non secular beings often known as “thetans,” with limitless potential.
A key follow of the faith, “auditing,” makes use of a tool known as an “E-meter” to establish non secular trauma, with followers aiming to succeed in a state known as “clear.”
The church’s presence in Los Angeles runs deep.
At this time, the group maintains a serious footprint within the metropolis, together with a distinguished Sundown Boulevard headquarters that was expanded in 2010 into an “Preferrred Org,” together with its Celeb Centre catering to entertainers and public figures.
Hollywood has lengthy amplified the church’s visibility, largely as a consequence of high-profile members resembling actor Tom Cruise and John Travolta, who’ve each served as its most recognizable public supporters.
Different well-known members of the church have included actresses Elisabeth Moss, Catherine Bell, Jenna Elfman, and Nancy Cartwright, greatest often known as the voice of Bart Simpson on “The Simpsons.”
Estimates of lively Scientology members worldwide differ extensively, with unbiased researchers and former employees inserting the quantity between roughly 10,000 and 35,000.
Again on TikTok, nonetheless, the eye is concentrated much less on doctrine and extra on daring.
Movies present contributors sprinting by lobbies, racing down hallways and even utilizing skateboards to push deeper contained in the premises — all attempting to set what customers name the “deepest recorded run.”
Most makes an attempt finish shortly, with employees stepping in or safety escorting contributors out, typically by aspect exits earlier than they will get far.
In a single clip, a teen skates towards an entrance just for the doorways to close behind him mid-run.
Whereas on-line pranks concentrating on Scientology areas aren’t new, this fast-paced run format has surged in reputation in latest weeks.
To this point, although, nobody has managed to make it very far inside Scientology HQs — however that hasn’t stopped others from attempting to go additional subsequent.
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