Church of Scientology blasts TikTok 'speed running' trend as viral videos circulate - BERITAJA

LOS ANGELES — A Church of Scientology building successful the bosom of Hollywood removed its doorway handles and restricted nationalist introduction this week aft a bizarre societal media inclination prompted young group to unreserved wrong and title done its halls.

Videos of the trend, immoderate of which person picked up millions of views connected TikTok and Instagram, characteristic participants signaling themselves “speed running,” arsenic if successful a video game, done Scientology’s buildings successful Hollywood. They are often seen dodging screaming religion members and information guards until they are yet escorted out.

Scientology is simply a fiercely backstage belief group that follows the teachings of laminitis L. Ron Hubbard and has celebrity adherents, including A-list stars for illustration Tom Cruise and John Travolta.

The religion slammed participants successful a connection Wednesday, accusing the “speed running” participants of “trespassing, harassment and disruption of belief facilities.”

“Over caller weeks, individuals person many times forced their measurement into Church properties connected Hollywood Boulevard, disrupted belief and nationalist facilities, damaged Church property, and endangered staff, parishioners and visitors,” the Church said.

Turning its spaces into “targets for viral stunts is not journalism, protestation aliases civic activity,” it added.

The handles to the doors of a Church of Scientology location connected Hollywood Boulevard successful Los Angeles look to person been removed arsenic of Tuesday. Marlene Lenthang / Beritaja

Police told NBC Los Angeles that they are monitoring the ongoing inclination aft having received aggregate calls to Scientology buildings successful the Hollywood Division. Four of the calls came Monday.

Police said the inclination was further fueled by a station connected X offering a financial inducement for videos of “speed runs.” So far, nary 1 has been arrested successful relationship pinch participating successful the trend. But officials said a mates of cases person been documented arsenic hate-crime investigations, depending connected what a fishy said aliases did during a “run.”

Police said they are conducting other patrols successful and about the area to deter further incidents.

The religion specifically referred successful its connection to a “large-scale incident” Saturday erstwhile dozens of group rushed into the L. Ron Hubbard Life Exhibition and the church’s nationalist accusation center, some connected Hollywood Boulevard, without permission.

“Staff members were knocked down successful the chaos, and the Church is reviewing each disposable remedies to protect its personnel, visitors and property,” the connection said.

Video of the incident appears to show a ample group of group — including a personification successful a Jesus costume and 1 successful a Sonic the Hedgehog costume — yanking unfastened the doors to the L. Ron Hubbard Life Exhibition, moreover arsenic a information defender tries to support the doors unopen connected the different side.

Once the doors open, the video shows, astatine slightest a twelve young people, galore of them wearing look coverings aliases skis masks, large wind into the building and tally into different rooms inside. Someone chases aft the group yelling: “You are trespassing, please leave! The constabulary person been called!”

The video, which had amassed complete 1.4 cardinal views connected Instagram arsenic of Wednesday, ends pinch the group being ushered disconnected the premises by Scientology personnel.

Police officials said that they are alert of the incident and that astatine slightest 2 suspects successful that group are wanted connected suspicion of crimes, 1 connected suspicion of burglary and different connected suspicion of felony vandalism.

Police said officers astatine the segment completed a study for vandalism and artillery pinch a dislike crime involved.

The religion said it documents and reports each incident to rule enforcement and has taken “additional information measures” to protect unit members, visitors and parishioners.

“The Church welcomes lawful visitors,” its connection said. “It does not invited mobs forcing entry, damaging property, disrupting belief spaces aliases endangering group for views.”

The 18-year-old contented creator who is purported to person started the inclination precocious told The Hollywood Reporter that he wants the copycats to stop.

“I do not condone what I did, moreover though I didn’t break immoderate laws,” the creator, who goes by Swhileyy online, told the outlet. “All I did was research the building. I was ne'er asked not to travel backmost to the premises.”

“I ne'er erstwhile successful immoderate video aliases immoderate remark conception aliases anyplace promoted the thought of moving done location aliases beating my record,” Swhileyy added.

Swhileyy, who does not stock his existent sanction online aliases pinch the Hollywood Reporter, did not respond to Beritaja’ petition for comment.

Actor Leah Remini, a erstwhile Scientologist who is an outspoken professional of the religion, besides urged group to extremity participating successful the trend, saying she believes it is “unwittingly helping Scientology.”

“If personification is brainwashed for years into believing the extracurricular world is filled pinch vulnerable lunatics who wish to impede Scientology, a group of group moving done a Scientology building is only going to corroborate that belief and lead them to dedicate themselves moreover much to the origin they judge in,” she wrote connected X.