Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.) went back and forth with a journalist over his review of the film “Top Gun: Maverick.”
On Sunday, Kinzinger tweeted, “The new [Top Gun Movie] was awesome.”
Yashar Ali, who contributes to New York Magazine and HuffPost, reacted to the review.
“Not kidding when I say this tweet will be shown to Scientologists as an example of Tom Cruise’s excellence and how he is the most dedicated Scientologist,” Ali wrote.
He added, “Stuff like this, particularly from elected officials, is what leads Scientologists who are having doubts to reconsider.”
Not kidding when I say this tweet will be shown to Scientologists as an example of Tom Cruise’s excellence and how he is the most dedicated Scientologist.
— Yashar Ali 🐘 (@yashar) May 30, 2022
Stuff like this, particularly from elected officials, is what leads Scientologists who are having doubts to reconsider. https://t.co/8h2HvG19Im
Kinzinger replied, “WHAT??”
WHAT?? https://t.co/cUuq5DKRTN
— Adam Kinzinger (Slava Ukraini) 🇺🇸🇺🇦 (@AdamKinzinger) May 30, 2022
Ali then explained, “We’re happy to educate you on how Scientology weaponizes tweets like yours against its members. If it sounds crazy that’s because it is.”
He quoted a tweet from actress Leah Remini who has criticized the organization in the past.
“Instead of investigating Scientology for its abuses, its intimidation of IRS officials, among other things, you’re promoting the project of its second in command. Got it,” Remini wrote.
Kinzinger responded, “I liked the top gun movie bro. Chill.”
I liked the top gun movie bro. Chill
— Adam Kinzinger (Slava Ukraini) 🇺🇸🇺🇦 (@AdamKinzinger) May 30, 2022
In July 2020, Remini spoke out about Cruise’s image and his involvement in the Church of Scientology.
She said in a statement to Us Weekly, “I think it’s time for people to start waking up to the real facts here. Tom has for years manipulated his image to be the good guy.”
Remini added, “Although I believe there was a time when Tom was a decent and kindhearted person, he has morphed himself into David Miscavige [leader of Scientology] and is completely dedicated to Scientology’s mission to ‘clear’ planet Earth — which means making 80 percent of the world’s population into Scientologists.”
She became a member of the organization as a child but later left in 2013.
Fox News reported the film raked in a projected $151 million at the box office during Memorial Day weekend.
