Scientology, “speedrunners,” and the content that’s gone missing

Good morning. It’s Friday, May 1. Expect typical May weather for its annual debut: clouds in the morning dissolving into a sunny, just-right afternoon. 

In today’s newsletter, we have an announcement from a soon-to-launch museum, the struggles of a studio real estate baron, and some things to do this weekend. But first, content creators who have been storming Scientology buildings get hit where it hurts: in the clout.

Now that we've been live for a little over a month, we want to hear from you!

Until recently, the Church of Scientology Information Center on the Hollywood Walk of Fame was, by some measures, one of the most welcoming buildings in Los Angeles. Staffers would stand outside the doors, hand out pamphlets, and encourage passersby to enter. “ALL ARE WELCOME” is emblazoned on the facade multiple times.

But this week its doors were closed, the smart glass windows electronically frosted over. Heavy cords were visibly wrapped around the interior door handles. The exterior handles were removed entirely.

The building was locked down because — as a staff member keeping watch outside on Monday morning confirmed to us — content creators have been running inside and making videos about it.

Videos of “Scientology runs” or “Scientology speedruns” have been a full-blown social media phenomenon for a month now. The concept is that creators, who are often teens, rush a Scientology-owned building and try to get as far inside as they can. Early videos featured one or two runners, but an incident on Saturday afternoon involved what the L.A. Times described as “dozens.” Some of the posts have shown runners pushing or otherwise making physical contact with staff. Maps of various Scientology properties, meanwhile, are now being collectively constructed online by runners and their followers.

And so the Information Center is now closed. But it wasn’t the only thing taken offline this week as a result of the speedruns — one by one, the videos and accounts of the creators who filmed and posted them are also being shut down.

Internet scholarship site Know Your Meme credits the first run to TikTok user @5.0arrodo on March 30. His account has since disappeared from TikTok.

The next credited creator, @swhileyy, posted his run on April 1. The videos of his runs have disappeared from TikTok, and his Instagram and Facebook accounts are gone.

@isdurpyy? @whitewallstuntz_? @hrnt_na? All of these creators have seen their run videos or entire accounts disappear. Were they deleted by their owners to avoid legal scrutiny? Or was it part of a removal campaign across social media platforms — either conducted by the platforms themselves or by some other means?

We spoke to one run creator who asked to remain anonymous for fear of retaliation from the Church of Scientology or law enforcement.

He told us that he had lost multiple accounts, but not voluntarily. Instead, he’d woken up one morning this week to find notices from social media platforms that he’d been permanently banned — for violating standards related to pornography.

The creator categorically denies anything resembling such an offense, and believes that such a quick, decisive ban was likely the product of a sophisticated campaign. His fellow runners have seen their content removed for other alleged violations, he said, sometimes causing them to accumulate enough strikes on TikTok and other platforms for their accounts to be suspended. Meta and TikTok did not immediately respond to requests for comment. 

The creator said that he hasn’t, however, been contacted by police — though the L.A. Times reported Wednesday that LAPD’s Major Crimes Division was investigating Saturday afternoon’s incident as “an alleged hate crime.”

We reached out to the Church of Scientology about its response to the run content, and whether the Church has been involved in any campaigns to have those responsible removed from social media. The Church responded with a statement that, in part, disputed the use of the term “speed running” for the videos: “In reality, they involve organized trespasses into religious and public information facilities for social media attention.” The statement also described heightened incidents that have “damaged Church property, and endangered staff, parishioners and visitors.”

“During the large-scale incident Saturday evening,” the statement continued, “dozens of individuals rushed into buildings without permission. Staff members were knocked down in the chaos, and the Church is reviewing all available remedies to protect its personnel, visitors and property.”

“In response to the escalation, the Church has taken additional security measures to protect staff, visitors, parishioners and religious sites. Those measures are not the story,” the statement went on. “The story is that a house of worship and public information facilities have been repeatedly targeted by people seeking internet attention.”

But what about the creator we spoke to? Is he planning on opening a new account and seeking internet attention again?

“Realistically I probably should — but right now I’m kind of burnt out on content.”

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CURATORS OF THE LOST ARK: The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art, set to finally open in Exposition Park this September, has announced its inaugural exhibitions, including installations dedicated to children’s stories, Norman Rockwell, and comic art from the likes of Moebius and Alison Bechdel.

RETURN OF THE RED-EYE: The California Energy Commission is reporting the lowest stock of jet fuel in more than two years as the result of the war in Iran — a shortage that has the potential to both continue to increase airfares and, as covered in this story from NPR, make fighting wildfires much more expensive for taxpayers.

THE EMPIRE STRIKES HACK: Hackman Capital Partners, the beleaguered studio owner fresh off a default on Radford Studio Center in Studio City earlier this year, has now also defaulted on its former Sony Pictures Animation campus in Culver City. The lot “appears to be completely vacant” after the animation studio left in 2024, reports The Real Deal.

ATTACK OF THE PHONES: MyLA311, the also-beleaguered city service system for Los Angeles, got a new app interface last year that many argue made the product worse. Department of Public Works staff are “frustrated by the rollout” and now multiple city officials are arguing for another fix, reports LAist.

REVENGE OF THE FIFTH: Tonight at 6 p.m. marks the seasonal return of “Jazz at LACMA,” now in the shadow of the new David Geffen Galleries on the museum campus. Staying on theme, the Academy Museum next door is hosting “A Day of Celebrating the Force” on Sunday, including an “R2-D2 and BB-8 meet and greet.” 

THE LAND BEFORE TIME OFF: In celebration of International Workers’ Day, the Los Angeles May Day Coalition is organizing a march today that kicks off in MacArthur Park at 10 a.m. LAist has a rundown on other marches and rallies taking place throughout the day.

TACO: THE MAN AND HIS DREAM: You voted for the winner of L.A. Taco’s Taco Madness tournament, now eat it this weekend at their annual festival in Grand Park where the winner will be announced and many tacos will be on offer — including Villa’s Tacos, the competition’s only three-time winner, which gracefully opted out of the tournament this year.

THE FANDOM MENACE: Quick and Funny Musicals, a troupe known for converting pop culture phenomena into quick and funny musicals, is debuting “Heated Rivalry: The Musical Parody!” at the Elysian Theater in Echo Park tonight and tomorrow night.

BEFORE YOU GO: L.A. Material is looking to talk to folks who are competing in Clockshop’s annual Kite Festival competition happening next Saturday May 9th. If that is you, email [email protected].

For today’s peek inside our subscriber-only Discord server, @seqarts shares some fine dining signing in #foodchat.

AND FINALLY… A poem to pair with your morning coffee: “All My Friends Are Finding New Beliefs” by Christian Wiman.

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