Danny Masterson was expelled from the Church of Scientology after being convicted of rape that landed him in prison for 30 years, can reveal.
The actor was declared a “suppressive person” – or “SP” – which the church defines as someone whose behavior is intended to hinder the spiritual progress of those around him.
The designation means other Scientologists, including his wife Bijou Phillips and his family, must cut all ties with the convicted rapist.
But despite the expulsion, the church remains convinced that Masterson is innocent of all charges, according to insiders.
The shocking development was revealed by longtime private investigator Jeffrey Augustine on his website The Scientology Money Project, which has been dedicated to exposing alleged wrongdoings by the church since 2014.
Danny Masterson has been labeled a “suppressive person” by the Church of Scientology following his high-profile rape trial earlier this year
The disgraced actor (pictured in court in 2020) is currently serving a 30-year sentence behind bars after being found guilty of raping two women last month
Former Scientologists with knowledge of the situation confirmed the news but say the church continues to maintain Masterson’s innocence
In an exclusive interview with , Augustine, himself a former Scientologist, explained the reasons behind the radical decision to cut ties with a member they had publicly supported during two lengthy criminal trials.
Augustine, 66, said the Church of Scientology had not planned to go public with the news and was still telling members that Masterson was innocent and that former Scientologist Leah Remini conspired with other vengeful former members to kill him to be reduced.
Jeffrey Augustine revealed that Masterson was labeled a suppressant by the Church of Scientology
“According to my sources, Danny was declared a suppressive person, meaning he would be expelled from Scientology,” Augustine said.
“They tell Scientologists that he will appeal and that he is innocent of the charges for which he was convicted.”
“They (church officials) declared Danny a suppressive person because he did not adhere to the high ethical standards of the Church of Scientology and for other reasons – but not because he was convicted of rape,” Augustine added.
Masterson, 47, was convicted of two counts of rape in May. He was sentenced to his long prison sentence in September. A third rape allegation ended in a jury verdict. In an earlier trial, the jury was deadlocked.
Chrissie Carnell Bixler, the prosecutor whose case ended without a guilty verdict, attended Saturday’s protest along with one of the women whose testimony condemned the “That ’70s Show” star.
Asked whether Masterson was deemed suppressive, Bixler told : “They should have declared him SP when I originally went to them.”
Bixler and the two other women he was convicted of raping are suing the convicted rapist in a separate civil lawsuit, another possible reason for his deportation.
Augustine said, “Many Scientologists complained that they have friends and family members with whom they cannot speak because they are viewed as oppressive.” They questioned why Danny Masterson was allowed to be a respected Scientologist when he had to contend with his serious convictions Rape brought such a terrible PR situation to the church.
“So members are wondering why their friends and family were reported for reading the Internet, watching the Leah Remini show, and doing other things far below what Masterson was charged with?”
Augustine said he was not surprised by the decision to leave Masterson behind because the church’s controversial leader, David Miscavige, needed to save face.
While Masterton (pictured in the court sketch in May) was convicted of raping two women, the jury was deadlocked on a third charge of raping Jane Doe No. 3, who appeared to be his ex-girlfriend Chrissie Carnell-Bixler
Masterson’s wife, Bijou Phillips, who stood by the actor throughout the trial, filed for divorce shortly after he began his sentence
The former That 70s Show star agreed to give Phillips both legal and physical custody of the couple’s daughter while he serves time in prison
“Miscavige is hosting the International Association of Scientologists event in London.” It is the first major multi-million dollar fundraising event since the pandemic.
“I think Miscavige is clearing the stage at the IAS in London, so he won’t be asked about Masterson.” In other words, he wants it handled. He doesn’t want Danny Masterson to be the center of attention.
“They will not make a public announcement. They’ll tell everyone at this big, posh event in London not to talk about it and not to mention Danny. He has now become a person whose name must not be mentioned.”
“They still maintain his innocence and say he will appeal and that is not the reason he was declared, but no one is allowed to talk about that,” he said.
The Church of Scientology did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Scientology leader David Miscavige wants the Masterson case to go away, says Jeffrey Augustine
Augustine, a licensed private investigator and longtime critic of the church, is married to former Scientologist Karen de la Carriere, one of the church’s highest-ranking members who worked with church founder L. Ron Hubbard. She left the church in 2010 after 35 years.
He spoke out while attending a protest outside the Church of Scientology’s Celebrity Center in Hollywood on Saturday, where dozens of former members and alleged victims of sexual abuse spoke out against the injustices of the “cult.”
Two of the three women who accused Masterson of rape were among the protesters.
“The lawsuit is imminent and Scientologist does not want to be held accountable.” “They will say they have nothing to do with Masterson anymore,” Augustine explained.
Masterson grew up in a family of practicing Scientologists. His stepfather, Joe Reaiche, and his mother, Carole Masterson, were members of the Sea Org, the “clergy” of the controversial faith.
Reaiche himself was eventually labeled oppressive for questioning certain teachings and has had no contact with his children since.
Like his own father, who was kicked out of the church, Masterson may not even be aware that he has been declared a suppressive person and will find out when everyone cuts ties with him.
“I don’t think Bijou would ever want to visit him in prison. She was just awarded custody of her daughter.
“I personally believe that Bijou Phillips will leave the Church of Scientology, that is my prediction.” “It has brought her nothing but heartache, heartache and heartache,” Augustine added.
Augustine and his wife Karen de la Carriere are both former members of the Church of Scientology. They took part in protests in front of the church on Saturday
Former Scientologist Joe Reaiche is the biological father of actors Alanna and Jordan Masterson and stepfather of actors Danny and Christopher Masterson. He was expelled from the church after questioning its teachings and has had no contact with his children since
Jordan and his younger sister Alanna Masterson, 35, are half-siblings of Danny, 47, and Christopher Masterson, 43, through their mother Carol
On Saturday, protesters marched through Hollywood carrying signs criticizing the Church of Scientology and saying it protects predators
Zoey 101 actress Alexa Nikolas led Saturday’s protest on behalf of her “Eat Predators” movement, which she founded to denounce sexual predators and the networks that protect them
Phillips, 43, stood by her husband throughout his two trials – the first ended in a hung jury – and showed up to court hearings each day on his arm.
But just 12 days after his sentencing on September 7, she filed for divorce after 12 years of marriage.
In her filing, she revealed that she and Masterson – who is currently in L.A. Central Men’s Prison awaiting a decision on where he will serve his sentence – had been living apart for five years.
“I think she’s going to turn to Billy Baldwin and Chyna Phillips and their Christianity,” Augustine said. “That’s what I think will happen to Bijou when she gets out. “There’s no reason for her to stay in Scientology.”
Augustine said the news for the church has only gotten worse. He said the next thing that could happen would be for the Internal Revenue Service to revoke the church’s tax-exempt status.
“That would mean they are not a religion,” he said.
“They are currently protected by the religious protections of the First Amendment and would become a for-profit corporation.” That wouldn’t allow them to get away with covering up rapes, pedophiles and white-collar criminals – all of that would end.
“They have a culture of covering up sex crimes, and that’s what happened with Danny Masterson for 20 years,” Augustine said.
Alexa Nikolas of Nickelodeon’s Zoey 101 led the protest on behalf of her “Eat Predators” movement, which she founded in 2022 to denounce sexual predators and the networks that protect them. Nikolas was never a Scientologist.
The actress led the protest, which lasted more than three hours, with supporters chanting: “Protect survivors, not Scientology, a cult is a predator… Power the survivor.”
“Separation is oppressive.” “Scientology stops it,” said a former member who calls herself Lara FM, holding a sign that read “Declared Suppressive Person.”
She confirmed, “Yes, it is 100% true that Danny was expelled.”