A former scientologist who worked in the church’s security unit named Brendan Tighe went on NBC’s Megyn Kelly Today on Wednesday and revealed that during his time with the church, he saw reports that suggesting women were being auditioned to date the church’s most famous member: Tom Cruise. He claims he saw the report after they were accidentally sent to his printer, and there’s one name he remembers: Scarlett Johansson. He even added that their interaction allegedly didn’t go well. Today, Johansson gave a statement to The Hollywood Reporterdenying the claims and rejecting the very idea she would undergo that kind of process.
“The very idea of any person auditioning to be in a relationship is so demeaning. I refuse for anyone to spread the idea that I lack the integrity to choose my own relationships. Only a man aka Brendan Tighe would come up with a crazy story like that,” the actress said.
In addition, the Church of Scientology denied Tighe's claims, particularly as they relate to his role with Cruise.
"Brendan Tighe was a Church of Scientology Flag Service Organization security guard/night watchman from 2002 to 2009,” Karin Pouw, from the Church of Scientology International, told Megyn Kelly. “The 'access' he boasts of having was largely limited to viewing security cameras from a guard booth. He was removed from that position for dereliction of duty."
Still, this is not the first time rumors of dating auditions have been alleged at the Church and Tom Cruise in particular. A 2012 Vanity Fair article alleged that existing Scientology members auditioned to date Cruise, and actress Nazanin Boniadi passed the test. The two dated for a few months between November 2004 and January 2005.
