‘The Complex’ author John Duignan cites Tom Cruise control
Tom Cruise is denying that he pressured Amazon to stop selling a book critical of the Church of Scientology.
On Oct. 31, Irish publisher Merlin released “The Complex,” in which John Duignan, identified as “a former high-ranking member” of the church in Britain, describes his “dramatic escape” from its “elite para-military group,” the Sea Organization. Five days later, Cruise dropped by Amazon’s Seattle headquarters to glad-hand staffers and host a sneak peek at his new movie, “Valkyrie.”
A few days later, Amazon’s British Web site stopped selling “The Complex,” explaining to customers that someone mentioned in the book had alleged it defamed him with “false claims.”
“U.K. law gives us no choice but to remove the title from our catalogue,” Amazon said in a statement.
“I believe Tom Cruise influenced them,” Duignan tells us.
Cruise’s rep denies that charge.
So does Amazon spokeswoman Patty Smith, who insists it was simply Britain’s tough libel laws that forced Amazon.co.uk to yank “The Complex.” The book, aÂvailÂÂÂable on Amazon.com as of last Tuesday, is now “temporarily out of stock,” according to the American Web site.
Lawyers for the complaining member, a noncelebrity, want to keep it that way: They’ve demanded the “destruction” of the books.
Smith says: “We definitely want to offer it to our Amazon.com customers. We just don’t have the inventory.”
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See Also
• Still want to read a book on Scientology? See A Piece of Blue Sky: Scientology, Dianetics and L. Ron Hubbard Exposed