Scientology critics cite 2007 prediction of Jett Travolta's death
Avid critics of John Travolta's church, the Church of Scientology, are now linking to a website that eerily predicted his son Jett's death in 2007.
The critics claim that Jett was autistic and was not given the proper diagnosis and/or treatments because Scientology disapproves of psychiatric and drug treatment of autism, also rejecting psychiatry as a pseudo-science.
A 2007 post on Hollywood Interrupted told of a meeting between a Florida restaurant manager named Tim Kenny, the father of an autistic child, and Travolta. Kenny is said to have asked Travolta what special treatment Jett was getting.
"I don't think it's a stretch to call their treatment of Jett child abuse," Ocala, Florida restaurant manager Tim Kenny tells Hollywood, Interrupted. Kenny claims he met Travolta at his restaurant in February, and, after "comping" the movie star and his daughter a meal per restaurant policy for celebrities, he asked him, "as one autistic child's father to another," if he "was doing anything special in terms of therapy" for Jett. Aghast, Travolta responded, "Well, we involve him in the arts." Then, he offered to send Kenny a book, and high-tailed it out of the restaurant.
"If I ever received a Scientology book from him [Travolta], I'd find him, and throw it back at him," says Kenny. "Scientology is keeping him from acknowledging his son's autism. They see it as a weakness. That's what the space aliens are telling him I guess."
In an article in the Telegraph, the couple's lawyer, Marty Singer, said claims that the Travoltas were negligent in their care of Jett were outrageous.
"The Travoltas are wonderful, loving parents, and their priority is their children," he said. "They have [taken] and they continue to take the best possible care of their children. To suggest anything to the contrary is very hurtful to a loving family and also would be false and defamatory."
A posting on the Anonymous forum at Why We Protest, details how the church will handle Jett's death. Here's another posting from former Scientologist Michael Pattinson on Jett's death and the church's reaction.
What do you think?
Related posts:
Family lawyers say Jett's death caused by head trauma.
John Travolta's son, Jett, 16, dies in the Bahamas.
Click here to see some touching photos of Jett.
Photos:WireImage
Keep reading to see a heartbreaking video of Jett's life.
Looking at these photos/videos, this couple's love for their child is palpable.
Well, those critics were wrong, weren't they?
Because the attorneys for the Travolta family have released the information that Jett Travolta was treated for several years with the medication Depakote.
I hope that restaurant owner is able to look back at his behavior and see how incredibly rude he was - to assume, to confront John Travolta, and then to make such disparaging public statements.
What a jerk.
Jett's death is tragic and this is speculation.
The speculation appears to be well grounded though.
I am very much on the fence on whether this should be discussed or not.
On one hand, if his parent's beliefs prevented him from getting proper treatment, this needs to be known. However, if the allegations are not true these speculations are horribly painful and the last thing a family in grief needs.
I am so sorry for your loss, I pray that God will comfort you and give you some peace of mind at some point in your life.
"The critics claim that Jett was autistic and was not given the proper diagnosis and/or treatments because Scientology disapproves of psychiatric and drug treatment of autism, also rejecting psychiatry as a pseudo-science."
You know, there is no real drug treatment for autism. And there isn't really any treatment that "works." It IS stupid and silly to make the claim that all they had to do was give him pills and he would have been fine and not have hit his head. Good lord, what is wrong with people?
Spreading hysteria and rumors is the M.O. of the anti-scientologist's. Copy & pasting speculations, suppositions, and outright fabrications, from various internet postings, then claiming they are legitimate is their thing. Real criticism of the church, or any organization is damaged by these foolish and irresponsible miscreants. I happen to know that John's kid was given the best medical care possible. Saying they don't belive in doctors is utter hogwash---a medical exam is required of all scientologist's who hae any physical troubles. Period.
Turning this childs death into a "controversy" is an abomination. God bless the Travolta's, and may their son rest in peace.
Actually there are many treatments for autism that do work. No there are not drugs but therapy that could have enabled him to communicate. Especially to a family with monetary resources.
The travoltas are just a regular normal parents ,they lost their son ,the pain they feel is just the same like ours,and we all love our children ,i'm so sorry about their loss ,leave them alone.are you a parent?
If you are ,you will understandif you are not ,you will when you become one. Thanks.
People just need to mind their own business. This is about a family that just lost a member. Holy crap!!
Mind your own business!!
I decided to go look up Tim Kenny, the restaurant owner in Ocala, and I found that he committed suicide in the spring of 2008:
http://www.facesofsuicide.com/location.php?state=Florida
so, I'll apologize for calling him a jerk.
It disgusts me how some couples take having children and a family for granted (the Travoltas are a great example of that). It's very sad that they chose a cult like Scientology over the health and welfare of their own child. No sympathy for the family here. they caused the death of their child and abused him by not acknowledging his illness and getting him the treatment he desperately needed (autisim CAN be treated, I have a friend whose child has it). Mary, the Travolts attorney has NEVER released such information at all.